the deceased ❀ glenn rhee

seventeen

THE DECEASED
seventeen | ❝any luck?❞

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ANDREA HAD SCOLDED AURORA FOR not telling her, or anyone, about her disorder. It wasn't a mean scolding, more like one of care, and wanting to help. She made Aurora promise that the next run they do to get supplies, that she gets lithium. And the next time she can't sleep, or feels an episode coming on, that she speaks to someone.

Aurora knew something like that would be said, so she didn't mind. She knew Andrea wouldn't tell anyone. And with that sorted, Aurora decided to go and see if Lori needed moral support.

"Do you mind if I..." Aurora asked, making Lori look up as she entered Carl's recovery room. Lori gestured to the chair on the other side of the bed, and Aurora sat down. Carl looked a little pinker, which was a good sign, she supposed. He stirred a few times, especially when Aurora gently pushed the hair from his eyes.

"He'll get through this, you know," Aurora said to Lori, who didn't take her eyes off Carl, but Aurora knew she was listening. "He's a little fighter."

Lori glanced over at Aurora, her eyes bloodshot. Aurora knew her words were somewhat comforting, so she continued saying whatever she thought would be useful.

"Carl's such a great kid," Aurora smiled, "I don't know whether he told you, but I found a huge pile of comics back in that traffic jam. They're in my bag, ready for when he wakes up."

Lori smiled back, "yeah, he told me. He-"

Lori stopped, and her gaze fell upon the door, where Shane was stood. There was a strange tension in the air. It was uncomfortable, and heavy. Shane seemed to be undecided on whether he should stay in the room with Carl, or leave.

"Stay," Lori whispered to Shane, as if she read his mind. Shane nodded, and took a step forward, but then decided against it. He stroked his now bald head, and walked away. Lori scoffed, returning her gaze back to Carl. As Shane's footsteps quietened, Maggie appeared in the door holding a pile of clothes.

"These are some of mine," she said to Aurora, "you're a bit smaller, but I'm sure they'll fit fine. There's a shower you can use; get yourself cleaned up."

Aurora smiled and thanked Maggie, holding the clothes in a tight hug. She turned around and smiled once more at Lori, then headed out to find the shower. Maybe she could wash off some of the guilt she felt for being so jealous of Maggie. There's nothing to be jealous of, right?

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Aurora had thought that maybe having a shower would have helped her to sleep. Of course, that's not how it worked. She was down to six 600mg tablets, when she usually took 1200mg. A run was needed soon, as withdrawals were the last thing she needed right now.

The clothes Maggie gave her fit better than the ones Lori had given. They were pastel coloured shirts with small flowers - not something Aurora would've picked herself, but clothes were clothes. She was just thankful to not be wearing blood and guts anymore.

Aurora had Glenn's hat on, much to his protests, and was helping move firewood when the sound of a motorcycle filed the air. Aurora hurried around a large tree blocking the view, and saw Daryl on his motorcycle coming towards them. He had been going out each day in search of Sophia.