Found Book One

Goodbyes are Hard

"Elaine, I have to leave," a voice draws me from sleep, I sit up with my eyes still closed.

"M-Maggie?" I whisper rubbing my face, "You'll see me in Washington real soon," she whispers. She pulls me into her arms and holds me tightly.

"I'll be fine," I mumble as Glenn makes his way over to us. "Bob wants to see you guys," Sasha says from the priest's office. I look over that way, she motions for all of us to come into the room. Maggie and the Washington group all say their goodbyes to the man. 

Everyone says something to him. Mika gives him a hug and he asks Rick to stay as we all leave the room. Carl takes my hand to lead me out of the room. 

"He's gonna die soon," Mika says, "That why he wanted to say goodbye. " I hug her, she hugs me back, "Go say bye to everyone," I tell her. Maggie comes back over to me, "I love you kid," she says as she hugs me again, "You too," I mutter. Glenn walks toward us. 

"Stay safe," he says to me, "You keep her safe," I say waving a finger at Glenn. He nods with a smile as he holds out his hand for her to take.

Rosita walks over next. "I'm gonna miss you while we're away," the Latina woman mumbles. "I'm gonna miss you too," I whisper.

I wrap my arms around Rosita's neck and hug her tightly. She pulls away and looks over at Carl. "If you hurt her in any way shape or form, you won't live to see the daylight," she growls.

The boy beside me chuckles dryly and nods at her. Rosita kisses my forehead and stands, she moves over to Abraham and Tara.

I slowly stand on my feet, Tara walks over to me with her hands on her hips. "You should tell her," I say looking up at her.

"Tell her what?" Tara mutters, I grab her hand. "You know," I whisper pulling her forward.

She laughs and snakes her arms around my waist with a smile. "Here," she says as she pulls away.

"For being my friend," she says pulling the ring from her pinky finger. I shake my head. "Tara no, I can't take that," I say pushing her hand away. She nods and grabs my hand which I ball into a fist.

"Fine you wanna play dirty. We'll play dirty," she says. I laugh and roll my eyes not believing her bluff.

She snatches up my shirt and drops the ring, I feel the cold metal on my skin. "Tara!" I screech as she runs away. She laughs as she gets onto the bus, Rosita grabs my shoulder.

"Tara! Regresa aquí! I'll get her back for you chíca," she says walking out the door with Abraham and Eugene.

I follow them out into the early morning light. "I think that we should leave the doors open today," Carl whispers kissing my cheek as the Washington group climbs onto the bus.

Everyone is lined up on the stairs to wave goodbye. Maggie wipes at her cheeks as she and Glenn climb onto the bus.

Judith babbles in Michonne's arms. Rick rubs her back. I fiddle with the ring from Tara between my fingers.

"Put it on," Carl says I shake my head and look up at him. "If I put it on then that means I accept that we're never gonna see them again.

Even if we all get to Washington," I whisper unhooking the bare chain around my neck. I lace the chain through the hole in the ring, "Here," Carl says taking the necklace.

He hooks it around my neck before pulling my shirt off my shoulder, he presses his lips to my shoulder. 

"Daryl is still missing," I whisper, "What happened to them if they didn't get attacked by the terminus people." I wonder out loud, Carl frowns lightly, "I have no idea what might've happened. Maybe they just ran off," he says. 

I nod because I have no other options and nothing else to believe at this point. No other theories to what might've happened. 

"Mika's gonna be all alone," I say. Carl shakes his head, "No, she won't. She has you if no one else, and you have me and my dad," he whispers. 

"Thank you," I say as I lean my head against his chest. "What are you thanking me for?' he asks, "I thanking you for being there," I say. 

Carl sighs, "You thought I wasn't gonna be there for you?" he questions, "I always hoped you would but I didn't think we would all last this long," I say. I sit down on the pew in front of us, I fiddle with the ring on the necklace. 

"When do you think we'll get to DC?" Mika asks as she plops down beside me, "I have no idea," I say as I wrap an arm around her. 

I hear Sasha sob from inside the office. Tyrese hesitates before he enters the room, Sasha comes out a few seconds after her brother goes in. I stand up, "Is he?" Sasha nods and wipes her tears away with the sleeve of her sweater. 

Michonne grabs her shoulder and squeezes gently. "I can help start," Carl says. Sasha nods and the two of them walk out of the building and into the smouldering heat. 

Everything is so quiet now that there's only ten people here. Judith is asleep and I have nothing to do but watch the people as they prepare to bury Bob. 

I stay inside when bury him in the Georgia soil, most people come back inside. Sasha must still be out by his grave. 

The moon is full and the night is warm and quiet. The silence is deafening, I glance over at Carl. He's asleep, soundly. I watch him as he breathes deeply and quietly. I gently lay my head on his chest, "Still awake?" Carl questions. "Shush," I whisper to him. He wraps his one arm around me. "Love you," he says. "You too," I say as I snuggle closer to him.