Weak//c.g ✔️

Chapter Forty-Six

Meadow Fletcher
SEVEN MONTHS LATER

WALKING up and down the muddy bank by the stream, I let out a sigh. This has been my life for the past few months. Digging to find clues, anything, even a body. Maybe Rick was alive, maybe he knew he screwed up so bad that he had to flee or maybe Rick was dead at the bottom of a lake or a walker got to him before we could find him.

Michonne walked up beside me, her stomach huge, "Anything?" She asked, her voice slipping away with hope. I shook my head, "Not since the python," I looked into the river, "It's too cold to go in there, maybe during the summer I can swim around, again?" The wind whipped around us.

She let a fake grin spread on her lips, "Thank you, Meadow." "Don't mention it." I turned, shrugging my jacket closer to my body, "Maybe next time, I'll come out here and you stay at Alexandria, for the sake of your feet." Michonne shook her head, "It's good for the baby, to get exercise."

"I guess." I whispered. "Has Carl come out here yet?" Michonne asked, "Not since," I paused, looking down, "Everything." Michonne nodded, she sniffled, wiping her nose. I looked at her, "Let's get back." She nodded her head.

Michonne shut her door, locking it. Carl's door was shut and so was Judith's. I walked down the stairs and into the kitchen. I opened the fridge, taking out the soup one of the Hilltop ladies sent back with me. Layouts of plans for buildings laid out on the kitchen counter. I turned the stove on, putting the soup on the stove.

I leaned on the counter, writing down measurements and more building ideas. This would go on for twenty minutes, Judith came down, sitting in the stool acrossed from me, she was always smiling. We talked about her day. I turned the stove off, listening to her babble on about the book I read her last night, she talked about a dream she had. It was with Rick.

"He was old and had more face hair." "Oh yeah?" She hummed in response. I placed three bowls of soup on the table. "Go wash your hands real quick while I get Carl and Mommy, okay?" "Okay!" She raced up the stairs. I followed her, much slower.

I knocked on Michonne's bedroom door, she unlocked her door, opening it slowly. "Dinners downstairs." Judith opened the door wider, "Mom! Dinner!" She squealed, "Oh, yes it is, my beautiful girl." Judith held out her hand and Michonne took it, hobbling down the stairs with her.

I turned to Carl's door, my knuckles hit against the door, quietly. I heard his bedsprings as he got himself up. The door opening a bit. His hair was crazy, his bandage looked like it hadn't been changed in weeks. The smell was awful.

"Dinners downstairs." "Not hungry." He went to shut the door and I put my foot in the door, "I don't mean to push you, Carl, just eat dinner with Judith and Michonne." "You're not my mother." He hissed.

"You're right, I'm not. But I am your friend, Carl. I'm here right now because I care about you. So please, go change into some different clothes, change your bandages, and come downstairs and eat with your family." Carl let out a sigh, he nodded his head, "Give me a few minutes." I moved my foot out of the way, he shut his door.

I walked back down the stairs and towards the kitchen. Michonne looked at me, "He'll be down in a bit." I said, looking back down at my plans. Michonne played with Judith for a bit while they waited for Carl to walk down the stairs. The stairs creaked. I continued looking at the house plans.

The dining room table chair squeaked. It was nothing but quiet, the spoons hit against the glass bowls. I tapped my pencil on the counter.

This was my new normal now.