Unbreakable threads

Chapter Ninety Four: Settling in to Alexandria.

Aaron noticed the tension, his eyes flicking between them. "You don't have to decide right now," he said gently, sensing Alyssa's hesitation. "Take your time. Just make yourselves comfortable."

Alyssa gave a small nod but didn't say anything, her gaze still fixed on the houses. She couldn't deny that a roof over her head was tempting—especially one with working plumbing—but the thought of sharing space with Rick was a hurdle she wasn't sure she could clear.

Carl, noticing her hesitation, nudged her lightly. "You're not gonna stay with us?" he asked quietly, his voice tinged with both curiosity and concern.

Alyssa glanced down at him, her expression softening slightly. "I don't know yet," she said honestly, ruffling his hair. "We'll see."

Rick, still holding Judith, didn't press the issue. Instead, he gave Aaron a curt nod before turning toward the houses. "Thanks," he said gruffly, his tone clipped but not ungrateful.

As Rick stepped inside one of the houses with Carl following close behind, Alyssa lingered on the sidewalk, her gaze still locked on the unfamiliar sight of a safe, clean home. She felt Aaron's eyes on her, but he didn't say anything, giving her the space to process it all. For now, that was all she needed.

Alyssa's gaze drifted further down the street, catching sight of Daryl standing on the porch of one of the houses with Carol. He was leaning against the railing, his crossbow slung over his shoulder as usual. Though his expression was hard to read, she could sense his expectation, like he was waiting for her to come over and settle with them. That's how it had been for so long—her, Daryl, and Carol sticking together, no matter what.

But this place was different. The rules were changing.

She glanced back toward the house Rick had just entered with Carl and Judith. Carl had been hopeful, his eyes lighting up at the idea of a house, a neighborhood, maybe even some semblance of the normal life they'd lost. He wanted something more, something better. And part of her understood that. Maybe he thought this was the chance to fix what was left of their family.

But their family wasn't something Alyssa felt a part of anymore. Not with Rick. Not right now. She couldn't even bring herself to call him Dad, let alone share a house with him. The tension between them was too raw, too unresolved. It felt like suffocating.

Her eyes flicked back to Daryl, the steadiness of his presence grounding her for a moment. But even there, things felt uncertain. She didn't know if she could lean on him the same way she always had here, in this strange, structured place. For the first time, she wasn't sure where she belonged.

Aaron, standing nearby, watched her with quiet curiosity. Her indecision was obvious, the conflict written across her face. He stepped a little closer, his voice gentle. "You don't have to decide everything right now," he said. "There's no rush. This place—it's meant to give you time to figure things out."

Alyssa glanced at him, her brow furrowed. "Doesn't feel like it," she muttered.

Aaron offered a small, understanding smile. "It's a lot to take in," he admitted. "But whatever you're feeling? It's okay. You've been through a lot. No one's expecting you to have all the answers right away."

Alyssa looked back down the street, her eyes lingering on Daryl again. He was talking to Carol now, but every so often, his gaze darted in her direction, as if checking on her from afar.

Aaron tilted his head slightly. "That guy—you trust him?"

Alyssa didn't hesitate. "With my life," she said firmly.

Aaron nodded, a faint smile on his face. "Then maybe that's your answer for now."

Alyssa didn't reply, but she let his words settle in as she continued to stand there, caught between the pull of rebuilding a broken family and sticking with the only one she trusted completely.