One year later

Part Two-Chapter One

Three years later...
"Clementine?" A voice calls out.
It's been almost three years since we left Savannah, and we've been moving around from place to place, never really settling down, "We" being myself, AJ and Lilly. We came across a herd not long after our departure. Molly, well, she ...
I breathe a heavy sigh and walk over to Lilly.
"What is it?" I ask, already knowing exactly what she'll say.
"We're almost out of food. As for water ... We've only got enough to last us another day. Now look," she says, unfolding the map and smoothing it out on the table, "There's a village about ten miles from here, could be food there. Maybe even medicine. We should try it anyway, since most houses around here have been picked clean." I nod and then think about AJ.
"What about Alvie?" I ask. Lilly sighs.
"Well, that's where I'm stumped. If we take him, he'll slow us down and we'll all be at risk. We can't leave him on his own, but it could be difficult out there if only one of us goes." She says, her forehead creased.
"You could stay here with him and I could go, I'll be fine," I insist. "It's not like it still won't be difficult with two people, and I know how to shoot a gun. I'm not stupid." Lilly rolls her eyes, "Look, we'll see. Depending on the weather, and how safe it looks out there."
"Okay," I mutter, begining to head upstairs.
"And get some sleep, tommorow's gonna be a long day." Lilly adds before folding up the map and putting it back into the drawer.
I nod wearily, going into the room that AJ and me share. He's standing up in his crib, looking unhappy. I walk over and pick him up.
"What's wrong?" I ask, forgetting that three year olds generally don't have anything worthwhile to say. AJ holds out a stubby arm, his chin wobbling.
"Ouchy," he says in a hurt voice. I panic slightly but as soon as I see his arm I calm down. It's a red mark, looks to be rope burn. I guess even playing on a swing can be dangerous ...
"That looks like it hurts," I say, putting some burn gel on his arm. He sniffs, looking upset.
"Who wants to play the whirly game?" I ask. AJ's face lights up.
"Me! Me! Me, Cwem!" He gabbles excitedly. I pick him up again and I spin him around. He starts giggling, a huge smile on his pink cheeked face. After a couple of minutes I put him back in his crib.
"G'night Alvie," I say, tucking him up and kissing his forehead.
"Night Cwem," he says in a muffled voice, his thumb in his mouth.
I get into bed and stare up at the ceiling, in no mood to sleep. I'm worried about AJ. He's a sweet, generally happy kid, but what about when he gets older? Will his childhood be taken away from him at a young age ... Or will he continue to act like a kid for a long time? Will he be incredible vunerable, or a the complete oposite? I can't image a stone cold AJ at all, the mere image of it puts a smile on my face, but all the same I'm still worried. I decide that I'll talk to Lilly about when to start teaching him about guns. I don't want to mother him too much, but at the same time we can't show him the real world just yet.
With sleep just inches from my grasp I turn on my side and close my eyes, waiting for daylight.