Lilly Watkins has always been the strong one compared to her twin. That doesn't change when the dead start walking. Taking care of her family during the apocalypse, she never relied on anyone else. When she meets Daryl Dixon, a more temperamental pe...
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We use a belt to help stop the bleeding before running alongside the shooter, Otis, towards some farm that's supposed to help us.
"Hershel. He'll help your boy," the out of breath obese man says, pointing in front of him. We nod and I help support Carl so we can run faster. A gunshot like this could've killed a young boy before the apocalypse even with the medicine we had. Now, it seems to be a guarantee.
After what seems like ages, we come upon an old white farmhouse. A woman younger than myself is standing on the porch, turning to probably get this Hershel man. A few seconds later, I'm correct.
"Was he bit?"
"Shot," we reply in unison to the elderly man.
"By your man," Rick clarifies.
"Otis?" someone questions behind him.
I nod. "He said to get Hershel. I'm assuming that's you?"
He gives an affirming nod, going to the boy in our arms while Rick pleads with him, gone beyond comprehension at this point. All he can focus on is having Carl helped.
"Get him inside!" Hershel orders us and we follow behind. He barks commands to the rest of his household and has us lay Carl on the bed.
"Pillowcase?" he's looking at Rick.
"Is he alive?" Rick is in shock, so I hand a pillowcase to the doctor. "Is he alive?" the Sheriff repeats.
Hershel ignores him. "Fold it like a pad. Put pressure on the wound." I follow his instructions.
The older man puts a stethoscope to Carl's chest, listening for a sign of life. "I've got a heartbeat. It's faint."
"I got it," a small blonde says, taking over the pressing down duty. Only then I realize I'm shaking.
"Your names?"
"I-I'm Rick and that's Lilly," Rick stutters out.
"We're going to do everything we can, okay. You need to give us some room."
Rick nods but it's clear it isn't registering. I tug him along, pulling him outside. We see Otis and Shane finally running up the field and I just feel exhausted. Shane takes over caring for Rick and I sit down on the steps, hoping that the little boy inside is okay. We can't lose two kids this close together.
Rick and Shane go inside but I stay out, my body still on an adrenaline rush and shaky. When wailing from Carl starts up inside, I shudder, grabbing onto the porch post. I want nothing more than to go in and comfort the boy like I do Ashley, but I know there are already too many people inside.
Everyone suddenly comes outside carrying bags.
I stand up. "What's going on?"
"Otis and Shane are going on a run for supplies," Rick says, placing a hand on my shoulder. Am I still shaky?
Rick gives his gun to Otis. "That's a fine weapon. I'll bring it back to ya in good condition."
The truck drives off with the two, the woman named Patricia shaking her head and going inside.
"Let's check in on your boy," Hershel taps on Rick. I follow them inside this time, wanting to check on Carl myself. I'm shocked at how deathly pale he is.
Taking a seat beside him, Rick joins me. His eyes are trained on me, not the boy. Our eyes meet.
"Thank you. For helping me get him here."
"No problem."
Silence looms over us, Rick breaking it again. "How old was your daughter?"
The question catches me off guard. "I don't know what you mean."
"I don't want to pry. I just noticed the motherly way you are with all the kids, not just Ashley. I figured you had one of your own at some point."
I nod softly. "I had a daughter, twelve, that I lost when all of this went to shit. I don't know what happened to her."
"I'm sorry," the officer says, placing a hand on my shoulder.
I shrug. "It is what it is. I have responsibilities now so I can't dwell on it. I can only move forward."
"Lilly—"
"Really. I'm fine. Why don't you get some air, Rick? I can stay with Carl."
He squeezes where his hand is on my shoulder before going outside. The next second I'm in tears. I didn't want to remember my lost daughter but I see her everywhere, in every child in this group.
Maggie brings Lori back who stays with Carl. I feel like the odd one out, longing to go back to my family, wanting to protect the last healthy child—Ashley.
The day turns dark fairly quickly and Otis and Shane still aren't back yet. I don't even go back inside, knowing the tension will be thick. Maggie, the doctor's daughter, joins me on the porch.
"You can share a room with Beth and I if you want," she says, rocking in her chair.
"That sounds amazing. Thank you." We watch a familiar car come up the drive, T-Dog and Glenn coming onto the porch. Maggie offers them food and brings them inside. Still, I sit on the steps, wishing it was my family that had come in the car.
Rick and Lori step out, both eyeing me for privacy. Sighing, I head inside to the kitchen, cringing when I see T-Dog getting stitches. Maggie hands me a cup of tea and I accept it gratefully.
"They're back!" I hear someone shout and my feet are out the door. Shane unloads the equipment.
"Otis?" Shane shakes his head. "Well, no one tell Patricia until after. We need her for this." He goes back inside while Rick pulls Shane in for a hug.
"They kept blocking us at every turn. We had nothing left. We were down to ten rounds. Then he said he'd cover me and that I should keep going. So that's what I did. I looked back and he...I tried."
Maggie is crying next to me and I slowly pull her into a hug. Thankfully, it's the right move and she sobs into my shoulder. I help her inside into the now empty kitchen, save for Glenn.
"I've known Otis since I was a kid. He ran this farm since before my mother died."
"Who all did you lose? You said you were trying to make it right somehow," Glenn says. Maggie gets up, going to the pictures on the fridge. She points at her stepmother and stepbrother.
