The Rest of your Life

Chapter 48

The group were resting per Ricks request, however, Rory couldn't seem to relax fully. She looked around the shed, Rick was speaking to Aaron about the way to his community with Michonne, Abraham and Rosita were sharpening their knives, and Maggie and Glenn were sat talking.

Rory couldn't be bothered to be social with anybody else, so she released a breath and walked over to Rosita, standing infront of her and Abraham.

Without so much as a glance, Abraham handed the girl a sharpening block, already knowing what she wanted. The girl promptly walked away and sat down in a corner of the barn and begun to sharpen her already sharp knives. Letting out a quiet sigh, Rory fumbled with her knife for a moment before swapping hands.

She grumbled to herself, seemingly mad at how everyone seemed to be fine, like nothing had happened, like they hadn't lost Beth.

Rory then thought about Aaron and his home. What if they turned out like Terminus, or what if they had some kind of enemy like the Governor?

Even if Aaron was telling the truth, if Rory knew one thing, it was that good things never last forever.

In the midst of her thoughts, the girl hissed sharply, pulling her hand away and dropping her knife as she watched beads of blood flow from the top of her wrist, stretching to the ball of her hand.

Rory winced a little and clutched her hand tightly before breathing out shakily. Pain was temporary... but it was something she could feel.

With a weird sort of fascination, Rory began poking the cut with the tip of her sharpened knife, watching the slow but steady waterfall of red seep through her skin. She found some sort of sick comfort in the dull pain.

A few minutes passed and the blood had slowed down, but Rory couldn't help but glance around the barn and then back to her hand before resting her head backwards and slipping her eyes shut.

The girl released a soft breath. Maybe it would be nice to stop for a while. Stop thinking, stop running. To dive headfirst into that dullness that circulates somewhere in the back of her mind.

Maybe it would be nice to let those stupid, silent thoughts finally end, and to feel the full weight of them.

Like the thought of how she could try and fall asleep where she sat, jacket on her shoulders, the wood of the barn wall rubbing against the back of her head every time she stole a breath, and the warm rays of sun seeping through the cracks in the wood.

And maybe it would be nice to stay that way forever.

Alas, it was not meant for her.

No drowning herself in her own grief and sorrow, or even a moment of stolen relaxation.

Rory cracked her eyes open, turning her head slightly at the sound of boots approaching slowly. She looked up sluggishly, meeting with the unmistakable look of disappointment on Ricks face, maybe even a little bit of panic?

"Hello." Rory greeted the man quietly before rubbing her eyes.

"What you doing?" Rick asked as he crouched down. Rory must have looked confused as not a second later, Rick gestured to the sluggishly bleeding wound.

Rory couldn't help but pale slightly. "I- um... sharpening." The girl told him with a brief nod of her head. She didn't know why she felt like she had to explain herself so quickly.

"You're bleeding." Rick stated, looking slightly pale at his child.

"Knife slipped." Rory whispered bluntly, not able to look the man in the eyes, but still tracked the movement of him nodding grimly. Rick was quiet for a moment before he spoke up again.