𝐄𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬, 𝐁𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 | TWD [Book 1]

LXV. The Truth Continues To Unveil

"I have to live for her, 'cause she'll get herself killed one day. I have to remind her what she's living for, every day," Rick quotes as he leans on the doorframe, a sentiment that resonates deeply with Madeleine who locks eyes with him. "Glenn told me that once, when we were trapped in Terminus. He knew you'd come rescue us."

Madeleine lets a tear fall down her cheek, but she angrily wipes it away. "You promised you'd take care of your kids and you'd do better, after Lori died. For her, for my mother."

"Mads-."

"No!!!" She interrupts him with a scream, her voice echoing with a mixture of grief and anger. "You assumed the responsibility to take care of us all! Now he's dead, Abraham's dead, and Esperanza is gone, and Daryl's gone, who's next?!" Her eyes lock onto Rick's, a storm of emotions swirling within her as she clenches her jaw in pure rage.

"Listen-."

"No, you son of a bitch!" She points a finger at his face, her words cutting through the air like a knife. "You promised me that you would save them over me! You promised me, so why am I here, and they're not?!"

Rick places a comforting hand on Madeleine's shoulder, but she reacts with a swift hit to his chest. Unfazed, Rick stands his ground, securing her wrists as she thrusts around in an attempt to break free.

"Let me go!"

"Never," Rick's voice carries a soothing tone, a balm amidst the profound sorrow surrounding them. "Glenn believed in us, in the goodness that could still exist in this world. We have to carry that belief forward, for him and for everyone else we've lost. It's what keeps us going."

Tears well up in Madeleine's eyes as she hears his words as she locks eyes with her father, and as Rick gently squeezes her wrists, he pulls her into a warm embrace. She leans into the comforting shelter of his chest, her emotions breaking through as tears stream down her eyes.

"Glenn knew you, really knew you. He always told me not to listen to what you'd say, but to search for what you're not saying in your eyes. And you're hurting. And you turn that hurt into anger, 'cause you want to fight through this, but babygirl, there's no fighting him," Rick speaks gently, his words a delicate acknowledgment of Madeleine's struggle as he pulls her even closer to his chest. "But we'll get them back, no matter how long it takes."

"Hey, everything okay?"

Carl's voice booms from behind them, his concern is evident as a soft sniffle escapes Madeleine as she wipes away her tears, and she pulls away from Rick, turning to face her younger brother.

"I'm going to Hilltop," Madeleine announces, Carl's heart breaks when he notices the streaks of tears on her face. "Let me change your bandage first, come on."

She turns around and heads over to the kitchen, Carl exchanges a look with his father before following after her. He hops onto the counter as she grabs the first aid kit, carefully removing the bandage covering his eyes.