Solitary {2} : The Walking Dead

Chapter Nineteen.

I'll do better.

"You can have this room" Iris says, looking around the room that was once her sisters, "there's clothes in the draws, books" Iris says, she watches Lydia look around the room, "it was my sisters room" she adds, Lydia sits on the bed and looks up at the woman, "thanks" she says, "my rooms down the hall if you ever need anything" Iris says, she turns and walks out of the room.

Iris sits on the end of her bed, she stares down at the lighter in her hand, her bedroom door opens and she looks up to Daryl standing in the doorway, "you okay?" he asks, looking down at the woman, Iris looks back down at the lighter, "it's just hard... being here without them" Iris says, "i know" Daryl says, sitting down next to her.

Daryl gently holds onto her hand, interlacing his fingers with hers, Iris looks up when she hears a bark and paws coming down the hall, she pats the bed and the dog jumps up and lays down behind them, "he's not allowed on the bed" Daryl grumbles, Iris laughs, kicking off her boots and laying with the dog, Daryl scoffs as he watches the dog curl up to Iris. He lays down in front of Iris and Dog, watching her as she closes her eyes and slowly falls asleep.

Iris wakes up and looks around the dark room, she looks down at Daryl and Dog asleep, she quietly stands and walks out of the room, her eyebrows furrow together when she notices light coming from Lydia's room, she gently knock on the door, opening it when she hears a faint 'come in'. "Cant sleep?" Iris asks, Lydia looks up and shakes her head no.

"i get it... it's new" Iris says, "you'll get used to it. Give it some time" she adds before standing and walking to the door. "Why are you helping me?" Lydia asks, Iris stops and looks at the girl, "because it's what we do... you're part of our family now" Iris says, smiling at the girl and walking away.

.........

"Hey red" Negan says, opening his eyes and looking up at the woman, "i heard you helped Judith" Iris says, Negan sits up in the bed, "couldn't let her freeze to death" he says, he watches Iris as she looks down at the floor, "you okay?" he asks, Iris looks up at him, "do you still see her?" Iris asks, Negan looks down at his hands.

"Yeah, i do" he answers, Iris picks at the skins around her nails, "i'm sorry you lost her... I really loved her. She was my family" Negan says, tears threatening his eyes, Iris stares at him for a minute, "i haven't been able to see her since i came back" Iris admits, the two stay silent for a minute, "thank you for keeping her safe" Iris says before she walks out of the room.

She hugs her coat to her body as she walks through the snow and makes her way to the graves, she looks down at the graves covered in snow, "i'm sorry i didn't protect her kid" she whispers, "i'll do better" she adds before walking away.

..........

"Why does she want to help me so much?" Lydia asks, looking over at Daryl, "she lost people she loved" Daryl mumbles, looking at Iris as she talks to RJ and Judith, "she lost her kid" he adds, thinking about Carl "how?" Lydia asks "he went out to help someone. Got bit... she doesn't want to lose anymore" he explains, Iris looks over to them, smiling at them as they watch her.