Flash Fiction #20
I had a really hard time with this one. I started, stopped, and killed it three times. I'm still not 100% satisfied with it but it'll do for tonight.
Title: Flash Fiction #20
Fandom: The Walking Dead
Word Count: 434
Characters: Lori Grimes, Rick Grimes
Warnings: None
Author’s Note/Disclaimer: I don’t own Rick, Lori, or any other characters associated with The Walking Dead - I just like to take them out and play with them from time to time. This is unbeta’d and unedited - all errors are my own. If you see anything that needs correction, please let me know! Concrit is always welcome!
***
Lori quietly opened the door to Rick’s hospital room and walked inside. The room was so dark, so quiet save for the beeps and hisses of the machines keeping her husband alive. She stood for a moment, just looking at him as the door closed with a soft ‘snick’ behind her. She’d never seen Rick so pale, so quiet. He had always been so full of life and energy, always with a ready smile for everyone. It hurt to see him like this.
She slowly approached the bed and took Rick’s hand. “Honey, I’m here. The doctor said that you might be able to hear me, that talking to you might do some good. They told me… they told me what happened, said that the gunshot did a lot of damage inside-“
Her voice broke and she remained silent for a few minutes, unable to do anything but cry and clutch Rick’s hand. When she was finally able to speak again, her voice was thick with tears, barely above a whisper.
“Rick, you have to wake up… You have to give me the chance to apologize for how horrible I’ve been to you lately, to make it up to you. I’m so sorry for the things I said to you. I never meant any of it. I was so hurt, and I wanted to hurt you back. It seems so stupid now. I’d give anything to take it all back, Rick. Honey, please wake up, please come back to us.”
She bent down, laying her head on Rick’s chest, hearing his heart beat slow and steady beneath her cheek. Her tears wet his hospital gown as she looked up at him, saying, “Carl and I need you, Rick. I can’t… I can’t go on without you, you know that. You mean too much to me for me to lose you. You have to fight, Rick. You have to get better and come home.”
She searched his face for some sign of movement, anything to show that he recognized her voice, heard her words, felt her presence, but the only sounds or movement in the room belonged to the machines. She put her hand against his cheek and pressed a kiss to his lips. “I’ll be here when you’re ready to wake up, honey.”
She pulled a chair nearer to the bed and, as she sat, she took Rick’s hand again. “I don’t care how long it takes, Rick. I’m not giving up on us.” She lay her head on the mattress next to Rick’s hip and closed her eyes, giving herself up to exhaustion.