The Third Dixon [The walking dead]

Chapter four

Measi stayed slumped in the chair, eyelids heavy, her body trembling from fatigue and the lingering dizziness. Every small movement made her stomach lurch, every breath feel like a weight pressing down on her chest. She knew she should try to get to bed, to rest properly, but her legs wouldn't respond. Her arms felt like lead.

A soft knock at the door made her flinch.

"Hey," Glenn's voice said gently as he stepped in, eyes scanning the room. "How you holding up?"

Measi shook her head faintly, a weak, almost imperceptible gesture. "I... can't... move," she admitted, her voice small, vulnerable in a way she rarely allowed herself to be.

Glenn came closer, crouching slightly beside her. "It's okay. You've done enough for tonight. Let me help you."

For a long moment, Measi refused to look at him. Her pride, the instinct to handle everything herself, twisted in her chest. But her body betrayed her—limbs too weak to argue, head spinning, nausea clawing at her.

"I... I don't need—" she started, then stopped, the words catching in her throat.

"Measi," Glenn said softly, his hand reaching out but not touching her, giving her the choice. "You saved Carl. You gave him a chance. Now let me do this one thing for you. Please."

Her fingers twitched on the chair's edge. She took a shaky breath, then another, and slowly, hesitantly, nodded. "Okay," she whispered.

Glenn slid a supporting arm under her back, another under her knees, and lifted gently but firmly. Measi clung to him, the tension in her muscles slowly loosening as she realized she didn't have to fight everything alone tonight. Her body sagged against his, exhausted in a way she hadn't allowed herself to feel since the outbreak began.

Step by step, Glenn helped her down the short hallway, guiding her to a small bed. She sank onto it like it was a lifeline, finally allowing herself to rest. Her sniper leaned against the wall, untouched, a quiet reminder of the vigilance she always carried—but for the first time in hours, she let the weight of the world slip just a little.

Glenn adjusted the blanket around her shoulders, giving her a small, reassuring nod. "You're safe now. Just rest."

Measi closed her eyes, letting the dizziness, the nausea, and the adrenaline fade into the background. The quiet hum of the farm, the soft breathing of Carl somewhere nearby, and the faint rustle of leaves outside became the only sounds she noticed. For the first time in hours, she didn't have to be alert, didn't have to fight or protect anyone but herself.

And slowly, she let herself drift, exhausted and fragile, into the hard-earned peace of sleep.

The first light of morning filtered through the windows, casting long streaks across the room. Measi's eyes fluttered open, dry and heavy, the ache in her muscles reminding her that last night hadn't been easy. Her head still swam slightly, a dull echo of dizziness, but at least she could move. Slowly, deliberately, she pushed herself upright, letting her legs dangle off the edge of the bed.