I Love You So

Part 35

Amanda and Rick had been running for about 5 miles, nonstop. They maintained each others pace, making sure they checked in occasionally to ensure the other wasn't falling behind, struggling or close to a walker.

"Open the gate!" Rick yelled, "Open it now!"
He yelled, knocking a walker over. He lost his footing, stumbling down alongside the walker

Amanda stopped abruptly, kicking a walker away from Rick before she grabbed him by his collar, helping him to his feet. She pushed him inside the gate first, stumbling behind him, "Judith! Carl!" Amanda screamed, looking around

"Amanda! Dad!" Carl said as he ran over, Judith in his arms. He ran over to Rick, hugging him tightly before he ran over to Amanda, giving her a hug as well

Amanda exhaled deeply, rubbing his back, "I'm so glad you guys are okay." Amanda said, stoking his hair out of his face, "I need to shower." Amanda said, kissing his forehead. She limped inside the house, looking up at Spencer, who was in the kitchen.

Spencer was standing in the kitchen, he was half drunk. He dropped a glass on the ground, looking up at Amanda, "you're alive!" he said, grabbing another glass from the cabinet, "you want some?" he asked, pouring himself another glass of whiskey

"No, thank you." Amanda said, standing in the doorway, "Are you drunk?" She asked curiously

"Almost. I figured I deserved it, you know? My girlfriend is stronger than me but you know what? You know what? I still survived." Spencer said, sniffling, "While you were off running around town with your ex husband!" He screamed

"Spencer, c'mon." Amanda said, shaking her head, "please leave." She begged

"Or what?" Spencer laughed, "You... You'll break up with me? News flash, I'm done being with damaged goods! I mean, look at you!" Spencer said, shaking his head

"Okay, I understand you're angry, just please leave." Amanda begged

Rick knocked on the door, standing in the doorway of Amanda's house, "Everything alright?" He asked, hearing Spencer yell

"Uh oh, here comes the police!" Spencer laughed, dropping the bottle of whiskey on Amanda's floor, rolling his eyes as he walked towards the door. He pushed past Rick, shaking his head as he made his way down the steps

"Don't bother, Rick." Amanda said, "Just leave him." She begged, looking over at him sadly

"Okay, I-I'm gonna go clean up. I'll be back within the hour." Rick said, nodding at Ananda

Amanda nodded at Rick, holding onto the railing as she made her way upstairs. She turned on the shower, exhaling deeply as she unbuttoned her jeans, trying to calm herself. The stab wound on her thigh had dried blood all around it, causing her jeans to stick to her body.
She tossed her clothes into the hamper, standing in front of the mirror, looking at the bruises, cuts and scars on her body. The words 'damaged goods' replayed in her mind, over and over again.
Amanda shook her head, climbing into the shower. She stood under the cool water, watching the dirt and blood fall off her body.
After she finished her shower, she wrapped herself in a towel. She dried herself off before sliding on a pair of overalls and a sports bra, revealing her toned but battered up body. Amanda walked out of her home, squinting at the sunlight. She walked down to the infirmary, smiling softly when she saw Tara kissing a woman, "Hi, I'm sorry to interrupt, I'm Amanda, I'm the lead medic here." She smiled

"H-Hi, I'm Denise. I'm the doctor." The woman said nervously

"Oh! You're a doctor? Neat!" Amanda smiled,
"Looks like I'm working for you, then." She smiled kindly

"No! No, I'm a psychiatrist! I don't know anything about this stuff." Denise said, "I know the bare minimum."

"Okay, no problem." Amanda smiled, "Do me a favor, I'd like to do physicals for every member here - just to look at wounds, see health levels and stuff like that. Do you think you guys can round up some patients for me?" Amanda asked kindly, smiling as Denise and Tara went off.