Daughter of a Dixon ✔️

11: Extremely Bored

The next morning, I was already feeling a lot better. The man who removed the arrow from my side and basically saved my life was named Hershel, and I found out that he was letting us stay on his farm for the time being. I hadn't seen it for myself yet, since he told me not to walk for at least another day, but I could imagine it was nice from what I saw outside the bedroom window.

Also, I learned what had happened with the group since my absence, and none of it was really good; apparently, Carl had been shot on accident, Hershel's family had lost his wife's son, and, probably the most saddening thing, Sofia still hadn't been found.

When I heard that, it basically crushed me. I didn't want to be pessimistic, but I knew that her odds of still being alive out in the woods, alone, were slim. But, I didn't want to think like that, so I didn't. I got it imbedded in my head that she was still alive. Maybe she had found some people to help her, and was staying with them for a few days. Maybe she found a place to holdup for a few days, with food, and water, and a comfortable bed. Or, maybe it was some other third thing, but whatever it was, I chose to believe she was alive, one way or another. I had to.

After my two, long days in the woods, I thought I would enjoy resting and doing nothing for a few days. But, the truth was, not even an hour into the morning, I was bored out of my mind. Most of the adults were either helping around the farm or searching for Sofia, and Carl was still healing from his gunshot wound. So, I had no one to talk to and absolutely nothing to do. The most entertaining thing I could think of to do was to ball up sheets of paper from the desk drawer and throw them into the trashcan across the room. I couldn't throw right-handed, obviously, so I had to toss with my left hand. I was actually surprised with how well I did left-handed; I made a majority of the shots I threw.

It took awhile, but eventually, the door to the bedroom opened, and someone stepped inside. I immediately turned to see who it was, and couldn't help but grin when I saw it was Rick.

He quickly looked down at me and smiled before taking a seat on the edge of the bed. "It's good to have you back. How're you feeling?"

I nodded my head. "Better. A lot better. How's Carl, is he okay?"

Rick smiled softly. "He's good. Still recovering, but he'll be up and walking in a day or two."

I grinned. "That's good."

Rick chuckled, and nodded. "Yeah... he's gonna be fine," he said with confidence. Then, he looked over to the corner of the room, and saw the crumpled pieces of paper on the floor near the trashcan. He let out a small laugh.

"Shooting baskets, huh?"

I nodded. "Yeah. I'm bored. Like, extremely bored. I mean, I could even read a book right now and even be excited about it."

Rick laughed, and slowly rose from the bed. "Well, I'll see what I can do. Daryl told me to look in on you, he's out looking for Sofia."

I cocked an eyebrow, skeptical. "Really? He said that? No offense, Rick, but I don't think my dad likes you very much, but don't worry; you're cool to me."

He chuckled once again, and nodded his head. "Oh believe me, I know. But, yeah, he did ask me to look in on you. His exact words were, 'look in on Sid for me, but just so you know... you handcuff her to anything, you get an arrow in your skull'."

I couldn't help but to laugh, and Rick laughed right along with me.

Eventually, Rick came back with a jigsaw puzzle and a pack of playing cards. Before he left to go check on Carl, we played a few rounds of a card game called War. It was mostly a game of chance, which was hard for me to believe considering he beat me almost every time. After he left, I got out the puzzle, and spread it out on a food tray I had left over from last night. It was a pretty large puzzle, so it took me awhile to get it started. Once I did, though, I found out I was actually great at puzzles, despite never having done one in my entire life.

I would've finished it before the day ended, if it wasn't for what happened later in the afternoon.

As I was working on my puzzle and dusk was setting in, I began to hear frantic voices from outside the house. I got excited, and actually thought they had found Sofia, so I looked up to the window with a smile on my face. Although, the sight I was met with instantly morphed my smile into a frown.

Out of all the things I expected to see outside the window, Dad being hauled into the house, unconscious and bleeding, wasn't one of them.

It took me a minute to realize it was Dad, but once I did, I completely disregarded Hershel's orders and sprang up from the bed. I regretted it a moment after, due to the sharp pain in my right torso, but I pushed it aside.

With the makeshift splint Hershel had put on my ankle, I was able to walk without moving my ankle, which was less painful. I still had to limp, but it wasn't as bad, or as painful, as before. I hobbled over to the doorway, and peeked it open to look outside in the hallway.

I saw that T-Dog and Rick were hauling Dad into the bedroom across from mine, with Hershel, Beth, and his other daughter, Maggie, following close behind. I watched in silence for a moment, my heart pounding in my chest out of worry for my dad.

After a few minutes, Maggie exited the room, panting and cleaning her hands with a towel. She quickly noticed me peeking out from the doorway, and smiled softly at me.

"You're not supposed to be outta bed," she said in a sweet tone.

"I saw my Dad, out there... what happened to him, i-is he okay?" I asked with a trembling voice.

Maggie quickly nodded to reassure me. "Yeah, yeah honey, he's okay... I'll tell you what. When he's awake, and Daddy's done workin' on him, I'll come get you and let you see him, okay?"

I gave her a grateful smile, and nodded.

She smiled in return. "Okay. Why don't you get back in bed, I'll come get you when he's awake and all fixed up."

I nodded one final time before carefully turning around and sitting back on the bed. I didn't get under the covers or even lie down; I was too nervous to get comfortable.

After awhile of just sitting there, I began to think that Maggie had forgotten about me. I eventually laid down on the bed and looked up at the ceiling, letting out a breath. I let my eyes close, but I knew I couldn't go to sleep.

Then, after a few minutes, I heard the door to the bedroom creak open. I immediately snapped my eyes open and looked over to find Maggie smiling at me.

"Ready to see him?" She asked, grinning.

I nodded my head eagerly, already springing up from the bed.