ℕ𝕠 𝕋𝕚𝕞𝕖 𝕋𝕠 𝔻𝕚𝕖 - 𝕋𝕎𝔻 {𝟚}

ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟟: ℂ𝕝𝕒𝕚𝕞𝕖𝕕

WARNING: LONG ASS CHAPTER
LOWKEY GAVE UP IN THE END

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Keeley sat quietly at the table as she played with the dry cereal in her bowl. She kept spacing out while Carl and Michonne joked about soy milk. It was a light-hearted conversation but no matter how hard she tried paying attention to the discussion in front of her, her mind kept going back to the chat she had a couple of days ago with Hershel.

It was immediately after she brought Jay to solitary after he collapsed, and she was sitting on the cold hard metal stairs, running her hand through her messy tangled hair, trying to catch her breath, even a break after all the shit she just went through.

She could hear the heavy footsteps of something coming up behind her and Keeley didn't need to turn her head to see who it was. It was a habit, she could recognize anyone's footsteps in an instant and sadly he told her that doing that was a sign of trauma.

The person slowly but surely took a seat next to her, both not saying a word. Taking in the uncomfortable sounds of dull coughing surrounding them.

"How is he?" Keeley asked breaking the silence, wanting to rip the bandaid off immediately. She just wanted to know his condition so she could prepare herself for another person she cared about dying on her, preparing herself if she needed to shut down again.

"He's stable for now," Hershel spoke next to her, his bandana resting on his neck. "Barely conscious and he managed to stop spitting blood up. I think he's been showing symptoms longer than Sahsa and Glenn but I don't know why he didn't say anything sooner." Hershel concluded.

Keeley shook her head as she connected the dots. "I do." She said softly. "He wanted to see me, which was so stupid because now he's on a deathbed."

"But he's alive, because of you." Hershel tried to reassure her but failed.

"Barely," Keeley mumbled sarcastically as she let out a shaky breath as she clasped her hands together, trying to calm herself down over the small good news. "Shit, I'm sorry Hersh. I didn't mean for that to come out bitchy." Keeley quickly apologized as she realized what she said.

"It's okay, it's been a stressful day for all of us." It was silent before he spoke again, "He was asking for you, wondering why you weren't there with him."

Keeley sighed, "I know. I just can't bear to watch another person I care about die in front of me again. We both know what will happen if I do..." Hershel looked at the stressed-out girl next to her. "We don't know that, you've made so much progress after Andrea and I know for a fact that our monthly therapy sessions have been helping."

Keeley felt her heart pang at the mention of Andrea. God, she missed her... And mom.

"Can we talk about something else?" Keeley asked softly and Hershel knew not to push the girl past her limit.

"How are my girls?" He asked as they both watched Lizzie pour a very exhausted Sasha a cup of tea.

Keeley let out a sigh, she didn't want to talk about Beth but she didn't have a choice. It was either that or going back to talk about Jay and Andrea and Keeley really couldn't find the courage to say her name.

"Maggie's been freaking out about everything. Being separated from Beth, Glenn, you... And I'm worried, I haven't seen her this alarmed since you got bit. But, Beth... I don't know about her, w-we argued yesterday and we haven't spoken since.

Lately, Beth's been behaving differently, and I tried to talk to her about it but she wouldn't budge," Keeley said taking a deep and uncomfortable breath.