Down by the water • TWD

Moving Fast.

The two rigid lines that spread across her cheeks were what she hated most about herself. The way each uneven layer of skin stood out more than the other.

Sometimes avoiding mirrors wasn't enough. Every time she opened her mouth, she'd feel the constriction of her mobility. It haunted her like the ghost in her bad dreams.

So this morning was no different than the others. Avery stood in front of the bathroom mirror with her face cold and sunken. Eyes trailing the scars back and forth, she pulled her hair into a pony tail tightly.

"They don't make you who you are, you know." Michonne said, standing in the doorway watching the girl. Avery turned her head, startled at first, only to soften moments later.

"I don't know who I am."

Michonne stared at her, sorrow filling her expression. Avery could only avert the woman's heavy gaze, staring at her feet.

"You're the strongest girl I've ever met." Michonne finally spoke again.

Avery looked up to nod her head quickly. Michonne stepped towards her and placed a kiss on her forehead. Her smile was soft when she backed away.

She didn't stay any longer, brushing past Michonne and out the door.

The front door swung open and she stepped out onto the front porch. A smile crept on her face when her eyes landed on Daryl sitting on the railing.

"Morning," she said, walking over to him. A frown took over her smile when he didn't answer, focusing on messing with his crossbow.

She watched his finger slide against the tip of one of his arrows and winced. He shook his finger before sucking the blood off quickly. Which led him to finally look up at the girl standing in front of him with a frown.

"Mornin' Aves," he said, wiping his hands on his pants. Avery studied him with her eyebrows furrowed. Grabbing his hand, she inspected it closely. She wanted to make sure he didn't hurt himself too badly. It wasn't long before he lightly pulled his hand away in protest. "It's fine."

"Have you seen Ranger?" She asked, raising her eyebrows. "I haven't seen him...in like a day."

"He was with Abraham 'n Rick this mornin'."

Avery groaned at the mention of Abraham's name. She hadn't spoken to him since he approached her at the church, and she didn't want to start now. It hadn't been very easy since Ranger had taken a specific liking to the man.

"Ya gotta start speakin' to new people." Daryl glared at her reaction to Abraham's name, knowing how she feels about him. " And Maggie was lookin' for ya earlier."

"I'll find her...and I do." She grinned, "Just not him."

A sarcastic smile formed on her lips as she turned and skipped down the steps. She took a breath of fresh air, closing her eyes.

"Be safe!" Daryl shouted after her.

"Take a shower!" She shouted back, opening her eyes and walking down the road.

Avery walked slowly along the pavement, her steps quiet against the clean concrete, eyes moving from one thing to the next. The houses lined up neatly with their lawns actually taken care of. Curtains in windows that weren't torn or hanging loose. People moved around like this was normal. Like this was how things were supposed to be.

Someone laughed somewhere down the street. Another voice called out from a porch. A kid rode past on a bike, wobbling slightly before catching their balance again.

Avery watched all of it without really reacting. It almost didn't feel real. Or maybe it did, and that was the problem.

This was what life used to be, before everything. Before the world turned into something you had to survive instead of live in.