Team Family (Richonne)

Ch2: Don't Leave

"Michonne? Wake up!" I heard Carl's voice echo in the back of my head and I thought I must be dreaming.

I felt my body shake and Carl yell my name even more but for some reason I couldn't open my eyes.. I couldn't move my body or anything.
And then I felt cold hands touch my shoulders, they began to shake me.

"Michonne!" I heard Rick yell.

He yelled even more and as he did, his voice began to fade. He got quieter but he still yelled... What if this wasn't a dream? I couldn't see anyone or anything and I still couldn't open my eyes.

"DAD SHE'S DYING!!"

"CARL DON'T SAY THAT GO GET DENISE!" Rick yelled

I just laid there, trying to sit up, trying to open my eyes.

The cold hands touched my arms again and then I felt them lift my body to theirs until we were neck and neck.

"Please don't leave me." I realized it was Rick who was hugging me, and shaking me at the same time. I wanted to open my eyes, grab his face and kiss him like I did last night...but I couldn't for some reason I couldn't and I actually felt like I was dying.

I heard Denise run into the house, telling Rick to move out the way and for Carl to get some water.

Denise grabbed my hand and felt over it, "Michonne if you can hear me, squeeze my hand."
I tried my best to squeeze her hand, and although it may have been a soft tug, Denise felt it.

"She hears me... Carl hand me the water," she demanded.
her voice was very low and dreamy like, I was going out of my mind....am I even awake?

I soon felt water drip onto my face, and all at once, I felt a bunch of water run into my nose, and I couldn't breath.
I cough and coughed, trying to catch my breath, and on my final cough, my eyes opened.

There was Denise, practically on top of me, pouring water into my nose...there was Carl, hands over his face in shock, and there was Rick, on his knees beside me staring me right in the eyes... so much worry in his eyes.

I finally caught my breath and sat up.

"Are you okay?" Denise asked

I was but then again I wasn't.

"what just happened to me?" I asked. My body was still shaking uncontrollably and everyone noticed.

"Sleep paralysis...Hypnic jerks, maybe lucid dreaming?"

"what's that? will she be okay?" Carl butted in

"yes, yes of course. Sleep paralysis is when you are asleep, and you want to wake up but your body won't let you, you know? So you kinda just lay there having, what looks to be, a seizure." She said

"I've never felt anything like that in my life..Could that happen again?" I asked

"Yeah... more than likely it will.. but when it does, DON'T panic. Panicking typically makes it worse and longer and sometimes you could lose your breath which would put you unconscious and could maybe even a coma.."

I just sat there, taking in all what she just said. I didn't want this to happen-- ever again..

"how do I stop it?"

"You kinda just let it happen.. but you could get someone to wake you up from it you know..but early on when it happens, maybe start coughing so someone will know you need help."

"she sleeps down here, we won't hear her.. is there any other way?" Carl asked. He sounded so anxious to help and yet so worried, It made me uneasy.

"I suggest she sleep with you--- ugh, not like that-- yeah.. but like.. beside you." sometimes Denise was so awkward it made me want to laugh.

"Carl only has a twin bed, you can sleep beside me." Rick volunteered.

I looked at him and he smiled at me, "It's no problem." he said

"well, it's settled.. need anything, you know where to get me." Denise looked at all of us and was met by a hug by Rick.

"thank you." he whispered.

she nodded and awkwardly walked out of our house and then it was just our 3.

Carl wasted no time to hug me. As soon as Denise left, he ran over and threw his arms over my neck.

As I hugged Carl, Rick stared deep into my eyes, nodded and walked away.

"please don't leave me."

I'm not going to leave you, you handsome bowl legged idiot.