Amber Grimes

Twenty Eight

Dad had gone off the grid, he disappeared into the hallway towards the canteen where mom died. He didn't show up for the funerals, I think he was too angry with himself for how he treated mom.

Glenn had the two inmates dig the graves for our loved ones, they wanted to help since we had lost four of our people so quickly.

I was holding my boy in my arms, stroking his small hand. " You ready?" Daryl asked softly, " Yeah" I nodded " I'm ready.".

Everyone was already waiting at the graveyard, mom, T-dog and Carol's graves were already set, but I wanted to put my son in the ground myself. Glenn stood next to the hole in the ground, shovel ready to cover Matthew for me.

A sigh left my lips as I turned to stare at my son, " I love you" I cried, pressing a soft kiss to his head. Daryl gently took him from me, " I would have treated you like you were my own, I would have taught ya everything I know. I love you" he pressed a kiss to his head, knelt down and placed him gently in the grave. Glenn and Daryl threw the dirt over his body and when it was covered Maggie put some blue flowers in front of the cross.

Daryl stepped back and held me, all of us listening to Hershel who read from his Bible and said a prayer for our dead. " God, I ask you to help guide us in this difficult hour, especially young Amber here. She needs your help as a young mother to guide her through her grief. I also ask you to help Rick overcome his guilt.".

" Thank you Hershel, that was a lovely ceremony" I smiled, giving him a hug. " Of course, it's best we send them off the right way. If you need anything Amber, I'm here" " I'm okay, once my tear heals" " That shouldn't take long, once you get to six weeks you should feel back to normal, but if you're worried about anything, all you have to do is ask.". " Thank you Hershel."

We all made our way inside, Beth had made a big pot of soup for us all to eat. While we were handing out bowls, my sister started to cry. I stood up and picked her up from her bed, " Shh its okay" I smiled, " Come on" I shushed her, bringing her into the cells so I could feed her. I lay back on my bed, pulled up my shirt and let her latch onto me.

She was feeding for a while when Daryl came in. " Hey, I brought you some soup" " Thanks, I'm starving", " Id say so, ass kickers been sucking you dry." He smirked, making me roll my eyes. " She has not, shes a new born, all they do is eat.". " You should be eating alot more than you are.". " We need to keep the food, make sure it lasts until we find more" " I'm worried about you" " Daryl, I'm okay.". " No you aint, why won't you talk to me?"

" Can we not talk about this right now?" I asked, " You never wanna walk about it", " Of course I don't! I just lost my mom and my baby, but i have to breastfeed my sister because we don't have enough forumla! My dad is gone crazy and ran off down the uncleared halls of a prison and Carl shot our mom so she wouldby turn into a walker! Of course I don't want to talk about it!" I snapped.

My little sister pulled away and started crying, " Shh" I tried to calm her, putting my breast in her mouth so she'd calm down. " Can we do this later, when I don't have her?" " Fine" Daryl snapped, storming out of the cell.

For weeks that's how it went. Dad would have these hallucinations, Carl was trying to act like he was dad. Glenn took charge of the group while dad was away, and if I wasnt feeding the baby, then I was arguing with Daryl.

The whole prison was silent and awkward, Daryl had stormed off after we had another screaming match which left me to sit with everyone. " You two okay?" Carol asked, Daryl had found her the day of the funeral, she was stuck in a closet with walker bodies.

" We need space, but there isn't much you can get in here" I spat, sitting down and rubbing my head. " Glenn and I are going on a run for baby formula and baby stuff, want to come with us?" Maggie asked. " What if Judith gets hungry?" Beth asked, " We have enough formula for her. Let Amber take a breath and walk around without the baby attached to her. She deserves it, maybe get yourself something" Carol smiled. " Thank you Carol".