"love is a gentle thing. yours is thicker than a velvet ring." - big theif

the sun was just beginning to rise as we arrived at hilltop, the first light of dawn casting a warm glow over the community. the journey had been long and arduous, but the sight of the fortified walls gave everyone a sense of relief. we were safe, at least for now. michonne led the way through the gates, greeting the hilltop residents who had come out to welcome us. carol and daryl followed closely, their expressions a mix of exhaustion and hope. i walked slowly behind them, my eyes scanning the familiar faces, but my mind was far away, lost in memories of my daughter.

as we settled in, the tension of the journey began to fade. it was a rare moment of peace, and the snow that had fallen overnight added a touch of magic to the scene. the children were the first to take advantage of the fresh snow, their laughter echoing through the air as they started a snowball fight. the adults soon joined in, the playful battle bringing smiles and laughter to everyone.

everyone except me. i stood apart from the group, my arms wrapped around myself as i watched the others. their joy felt distant, a world away from the grief that weighed heavily on my heart. i could still see charlie's face, hear her laughter, and feel her small hand in mine. the memories were a constant ache, a reminder of everything i had lost. 

my eyes filled with tears as i watched judith play in the snow. i wanted to join her, to feel that same lightness and joy, but the pain was too fresh. i turned away, my gaze drifting to the horizon, trying to find some solace in the beauty of the snowy landscape. "isa?" the small voice broke through my thoughts, and i looked down to see judith standing beside me. the little girl's eyes were filled with concern, her brow furrowed in worry.

"hey, jude." i say softly, forcing a smile. before i could react, judith wrapped her arms around me in a big hug. her warmth and innocence broke through my defences, and i found myself hugging her back, tears building in my eyes. for a moment, the weight of my grief lifted, replaced by the simple comfort of her embrace. 

"i miss her too." judith whispered. i held her tightly, grateful for her kindness. in that moment, surrounded by the laughter of my friends and the gentle touch of judith's hug. ezekiel and michonne had worked tirelessly to ensure everyone had a place to rest. after the initial chaos of arrival, we were directed to maggie's old office, which had been repurposed as a temporary sleeping area for a few of us. the room was warm, a small fire crackling in the corner, casting flickering shadows on the walls.

as we laid out our bedrolls, the familiar scents and sounds of the office offered a strange sense of comfort. daryl, lydia, and i settled in for the night, with a few others joining us, grateful for the warmth and safety of the enclosed space. as the evening settled in, the exhaustion of the day began to take its toll. the fire in the corner crackled softly, its warmth lulling us into a sense of peace. daryl stretched out on his bedroll, his eyes already half-closed. lydia curled up on the couch. 

the room grew quiet, the only sounds the soft breathing of my companions and the gentle crackling of the fire. i closed my eyes, letting the warmth and safety of the room envelop me. as the night wore on, i found myself unable to sleep. every time i closed my eyes, the memories of charlie, her laughter, and her smile, kept flooding back. 

i wandered the hallways of hilltop, my feet carrying me almost unconsciously to a familiar door--our old room. i hadn't been able to bring myself to come back to hilltop since her death, but now, standing in front of the door, i felt a strange compulsion to go inside. taking a deep breath, i pushed the door open. the room was exactly as we had left it. the dust had settled over everything, but the essence of our time here remained untouched. i stepped inside, the memories hitting me like a tidal wave.

her drawings were still taped to the walls, and her favourite toys were scattered on the floor. i picked up a small stuffed bear, one she had slept with every night. the fabric was worn from her constant hugging, and holding it now, i could almost feel her presence.  i moved to the small bed we had shared, sitting down on the edge. under the pillow, i find the letter carl had left for her. 

he had been the love of my life, and our daughter had been a constant reminder of that love. now, with her gone, i felt like i had nothing left of him. the emptiness was overwhelming, a void that threatened to swallow me whole. i lay back on the bed, clutching the stuffed bear to my chest. the tears came then, silent and unstoppable. i wept for my daughter, for carl, for everything we had lost. the room, once filled with so much love and warmth, now felt cold and empty.

closing my eyes, i let the memories wash over me, finding comfort in the fragments of the past. i had lost so much, but in this room, i felt close to them again. and for tonight, that was enough. 

⋇⋆✦⋆⋇

the bright sun shines down on the beach, the wet sand sticking to my shoes. a walker lays in the water, washed up onto the shore covered in twigs. my knife glides in and out of its head so smoothly i don't even stop walking. the group had gathered early, the morning chill still lingering in the air. everyone was focused, determined to hone their skills and improve their formations. after everything we'd been through, there was no room for mistakes. we had to be ready for anything. 

i stood at the edge of the beach, my eyes scanning the lines of people as they moved through their drills. michonne and aaron were leading the formations, their voices carrying over the sound of the waves as they called out instructions. i stayed on the sidelines, observing, correcting when needed, but mostly letting them take charge. they were strong, capable leaders, and i trusted them with the group's training. as the drills paused, daryl caught my eye, giving me a small nod of approval as he saw the improvements in the group's movements. michonne, ever the strategist, was deep in conversation with aaron, likely discussing tactics for the next round of drills. 

i paused for a moment, looking out at the ocean, the memories of my daughter and carl never far from my mind. they had both been fighters, in their own way. carl had taught me so much about resilience, about finding strength in the darkest of times. and my charlie...she had been my light, my reason to keep going. now, that light was gone, but their memory fueled my resolve. i couldn't protect them, but i could protect these people. 

as the group began to gather again for the next round of drills, i moved back to my spot on the sidelines, ready to lead them through the rest of the session. the world outside was unforgiving, but here, on this beach, we were preparing to face it head-on. together, we would survive. together, we would fight. 

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

guys don't forget to go look at my new work published! it's another twd fic centred around yet another young teen in love w carl 😣