Down by the water • TWD

False Reality.

The sun's rays peeked through Avery's cell, lighting her up. She had woken up a few hours ago but never made the effort to leave the bed. She was too scared she'd collapse, even though she felt much better than the previous night. Her throat still burned with every swallow, a small price for being able to breathe now.

All she did was lie there trying to remember what happened last night once she lost control of her body. She hadn't known why or how she felt better, but she assumed Daryl had been back with medicine. But she hadn't seen him, so she wasn't so sure. Would he want to come see her after their argument? Did he even know she was sick?

"Avery?" Jackson's voice ripped her from her thoughts, startling her.

"I'm up." Her voice was still strained as she sat herself up, noticing some of her strength had come back. She saw the boy's hesitancy as he walked in. He looked... tired. She's never seen him so drained; his face was always bright.

"How are you doing?" Jackson met her gaze, scanning her with the same fear he had last night. Avery ignored his look and looked down at the room left on the bed, signaling for him to sit.

"I'm okay." She answered as the boy sat down next to her, avoiding her gaze. "Definitely better than before."

"I thought you were going to die."

It was a whisper almost, but she caught it. She looked at him sincerely, waiting for him to meet it. "Me too."

Avery played with the loose strings poking out of her bracelets that she wore on only one wrist. The silence filled the air much quicker than she'd hoped it would. She didn't like this side of Jackson; he wasn't supposed to see her last night, at least that's what Glenn said. But I guess now that she was getting better, it was okay.

"Did Daryl come back with the antibiotics? Is that why everyone's getting better?" She watched him nod his head in response, forgetting to mention to her how Daryl had stayed with her all night.

So he was back, and he didn't come and see her.

Avery looked down, a wave of sadness washing over her. He was the only person she really wanted to see right now. She wanted him to reassure her, comfort her, and tell her she was going to be okay. I guess she didn't have that privilege at the moment.

"They're letting people come in the cellblock now. To see people" Jackson told the girl, finally looking at her. That only made the feeling worse. He was allowed to see her, but he still chose not to. Jackson watched her body become hunched; she clearly wasn't feeling it. "I'll go get you some breakfast." He stood up from beside her as she finally lifted her head to let a tight-lipped smile reach her mouth. He nodded back at her before turning on his heels, leaving the girl alone.

She had almost died.

That thought didn't feel dramatic. It felt factual.

Her lungs still burned when she took too deep a breath. Her limbs felt weak, like they didn't fully belong to her. Even her sitting up made her head swim. She tried to ignore it in front of Jax, but now that she was alone, she couldn't.

But she was alive.

The girl was tired of sitting and sleeping; she wanted to get up and get fresh air. She would never get better if she didn't push herself... right?

Avery swung her legs slowly over the side of the bed. The room tilted for a moment, but she steadied herself against the wall.

You're fine.

You're alive.

A distant rumble interrupted the quiet morning. At first, she thought it was her head again—that dull pounding behind her eyes. Then it came again.