The Wilting Daisy

[3]

"Most everyone in the group tried to stay positive....
... but I knew my little girl was gone."
-Carol Peletier in The Wilting Daisy

iii.| Sophia

-•-

I played a round of follow the leader as Carol led me through the woods, mimicking every movement to not cause alarm. Occasionally the older woman would peek over her shoulder to make sure I was keeping up, slowing down if I fell too far behind as the two of us continued to trek through the maze of trees.

"So, why were you out on your own?" I probed inquisitively, trying desperately to shatter the awkward silence that hung between us. She didn't have to answer, or even speak if she didn't feel the desire to. I just felt it could do her some good to get whatever was weighing her down off her chest.

Carol came to an abrupt stop. It was as if she were a stone statue as she stood there in silence, no doubt thinking over a response in her head. "I needed time to think– let my anger out on something that wouldn't come back to haunt me." she breathed out just as I was about to give up on the idea. "My daughter Sophia... we lost her back on the highway when a horde of Walkers passed through. Rick's son was shot while we were out searching, and that's when we found the farm."

She paused to take a deep breath as I waited patiently. I feared I already knew how this story would end and mentally prepared myself when she continued.

"Most everyone in the group tried to stay positive. They kept saying things like 'we'll find her' and 'she'll turn up', but deep down I already knew my little girl was gone." she admitted, tilting her head back to look up at the sky. "She'd been bit, and when we found her Rick had to put her down."

I blinked, my stomach knotting up as I suddenly felt ill. Her words hit me hard, as I too had lost someone dear to me in this new world. The only difference in our situations was that I had no closure.

    There was a slim chance I'd ever find my sister. I may never know what happened to her after our separation, though maybe that was for the best.

"I'm so sorry Carol," I uttered the words, my voice soft and barely above a whisper.

Carol cleared her throat. "You were bound to find out one way or another." she replied, a small hint of irritation lacing her tone. "The farmhouse is just up ahead, passed the fence and down the dirt road. You can't miss it." As she gave directions, she turned to look at me through tired, bloodshot eyes. "You'll want to speak with Rick. If he asks where I am just say I'm washing up."

I wasn't given time to reply before she was walking off in a different direction from where she said the farm was located. With a soft sigh I looked around, collecting my thoughts before taking the first step into a whole new chapter of my life.

    I would later come to the realization that bumping into Carol was more than just an accident. That my life would never be the same again.