Unbreakable threads

Chapter Fourteen: Finding a Place

Rick glanced over at the campfire, where Alyssa sat alone, her gaze fixed on the flames, lost in thought. He knew she must feel isolated, that her sudden arrival was as much a shock to her as it was to everyone else. But he also understood that he had a responsibility to his family—Carl, Lori, and Alyssa all needed him, each in their own complicated way. With a quiet sigh, he made his way over to Lori and Carl, hoping to ease the strain his daughter's presence had created.

Lori was sitting a little ways off with Carl, her posture tense as she watched Rick approach. Carl's face mirrored hers, his young features set in a hard line as he looked up at his father. Rick tried to offer a small smile, crouching down beside them, hoping to soften the moment.

"Carl," he said gently, reaching out a hand. "I wanted to check in. I know this is a big change for you."

Carl's gaze didn't waver; he held Rick's eyes, his expression stern, guarded. "That's not my sister," he stated bluntly, his voice cold and resolute. "I don't even know her, Dad. Why does she have to be here?"

Rick's heart sank at his son's words, and he cast a glance at Lori, who offered no reassurance, her own expression just as hard. He felt the gap between them widen, an invisible wall built by resentment, confusion, and a loyalty to a past that no longer existed. He'd thought his family would find a way to accept Alyssa, but it was clear that this was going to be far harder than he'd hoped.

"She's here because she's family, Carl," Rick replied softly, choosing his words with care. "She's been through a lot—just like us. I know it's hard, but she's alone here, and she deserves a chance to be part of our family."

Carl looked away, his mouth tightening. "I don't want her here," he muttered, his voice barely audible but filled with the quiet anger of a child who felt his world slipping away.

Rick's shoulders sagged, and he reached out to touch Lori's hand, seeking some form of support. But Lori pulled her hand away, her expression unreadable, her eyes fixed on the fire in the distance where Alyssa sat alone.

"We're not ready, Rick," she said, her voice cold and final. "It's too much, too fast."

Rick nodded, swallowing back the hurt as he looked between his wife and son, understanding that this was going to be a longer, more painful journey than he'd anticipated. But as he looked back at the fire, he noticed a figure moving toward Alyssa.

It was Shane.

Shane, who had been sulking and keeping his distance since Rick's return, now approached the campfire with an almost reluctant stride. In his mind, he fought the frustration and bitterness that had bubbled up ever since Rick's arrival. But something about Alyssa—alone, lost, and clearly struggling to find her place—stirred a faint sense of sympathy in him. For all his resentment, he couldn't help but feel for the girl. She'd been through hell, lost her mother, and now had been thrown into a camp with strangers, a father she barely knew, and a family that clearly wasn't ready to welcome her.

Shane sat down beside Alyssa, clearing his throat, his expression softening as he glanced at her. She looked up, startled, her face guarded, not sure what to make of his presence.

"Hey," he said, his tone uncharacteristically gentle. "Rough day, huh?"

Alyssa nodded, looking back at the flames, her voice quiet. "Yeah. It's... a lot."

Shane let out a slow breath, nodding as he looked into the fire with her. "I know it doesn't mean much comin' from me, but... I get it. This whole thing—it's gotta be hard. You don't know any of us, and... well, family ain't exactly easy around here."

Alyssa shrugged, trying to hide the hurt behind a mask of indifference. "It's not like I'm used to it," she said. "It's always been me and my mom. I didn't even know Rick existed until she... until she was gone." Her voice cracked slightly, and she looked down, her fists clenching as she tried to keep her emotions in check.