The Walshs

Chapter 7

No one slept well that night. Andrea never left Amy's side, refusing to leave her alone. We soon learned that Ed had suffered a similar fate as Amy and was possibly the first to be attacked but none of us heard him because of how far away his tent was. Shane had slept with me and Jason on either side of him, an arm wrapped around each of us tightly but it didn't help me sleep any easier. I lay awake beside my husband and watched the sun slip through the fabric of our tent. Once everyone was awake we began cleaning up the camp, separating our peoples' bodies from the walkers that had attacked them and lining them up in two different rows.

I sat on a log with Jason in my lap, Shane had realised I hadn't slept so he didn't want me doing any heavy lifting. "Momma?"

I looked down at my son who was still terrified from the night before, I could see it in his face. "Yeah baby?"

"Can I go get teddy from the tent?"

I gave him a soft smile and nodded. I looked around and saw Hunter who was helping Cody move a walker body. Once they had put it down with the others, I called Hunter over to me and stood Jason on the ground. "You okay Mrs Walsh?" Hunter asked as he approached us. I nodded and motioned to Jason, "could you take Jason to my tent to get his teddy bear please?"

Hunter nodded with a faint smile and took Jason's hand, walking off to our tent. I had been watching Andrea for what seemed like forever and decided to try talking to her, I didn't want to rush her mourning but I was her friend. I walked over and squatted beside her, rubbing her back gently as I studied Amy's face. She was so pale with blood speckled on her cheeks and neck but she looked peaceful, not terrified like some of the other bodies I had seen. I looked down at the largest bite on her arm, the walker had almost torn down to the bone judging by the amount of muscle I could see. "Andrea?"

She didn't respond but I knew she wouldn't. She was grieving, a whole mess of emotions probably bubbling up inside of her as she knelt by her sister. "I'm so sorry. She's gone," I said as gently as I could but I received no reaction. I took a small breath and actually sat down beside her, still rubbing her back. "You gotta let the guys take her. We all cared about her and I promise they'll be as gentle as humanly possible," I continued speaking softly but again I got no reaction. Andrea was in shock, trying to process the loss and I knew that feeling all too well.

"I know how you feel Andrea and I know everyone says that when you lose someone you love but I truly do," I gently brushed a stray hair from Amy's face as I spoke. "You see two years ago I lost my father and it was a sudden loss. I was at home with Jason, doing my usual mom duties before Shane got home when I get a call from my mom," I spoke quietly but loud enough that she could still hear me.

"She crying and panicking, yellin' about dad and somethin' about an accident. So I immediately put Jason in the car and I race to my parents house, wasn't that long a drive. I get there, mom's standing on the porch with a cop of police officers and there's ambulances and paramedics, the whole show. Lori's there with Carl, she told Carl to wait in the car with Jason until Rick got there. I walk to my mom and she's just hysterical, so I ask the cop what had happened. And what he said to me still haunts me to this day," I said looking at Andrea, reading her face for any expression. There was none.

"He says ma'am your father was involved in a shooting. I just looked at him in total shock, my dad was good with a gun. Turns out our neighbour's teenage son tried to rob our house, shot my dad to steal twenty bucks off him. I barged past them and there he was laying on the kitchen floor, I collapsed beside him and I stayed there until Shane came with Rick and Shane did exactly what I'm doing right now for you with me. I still miss my father to this day Andrea but I know he is always with me just like how Amy will always be with you," I whispered softly and placed one of my hands over hers, rubbing the back of her hand with my thumb gently.