The silence between them was not uncomfortable, but now that Suyapa had found someone to speak to, she wanted to do it again, even with a hoarse voice. "My name's Suyapa."
He looked at her, using his eyes once more to read her, before responding. "Su-what?" Well, that was definitely not his name.
"Suyapa," she repeated. "Named after the patron virgin of Honduras." She knew he heard her, but he didn't pry more after that. Maybe he didn't care. Not that it mattered, it was just nice to have someone to talk to. A silence fell between them once more, Suyapa having to stop every once in a while when the stranger would hold out his arm for her to cease her movement; most likely to listen for the other lost girl.
His eyes scanned the area, looking this way and that, giving Suyapa the sneaking suspicion that no movement could escape the gaze of this man.
"Stay here." He ordered unexpectedly, straightening his back and readjusting the weapon on his shoulder. "Don't move." He walked away into a clearing.
Suyapa sighed, hugging her purple blazer closer to her person, to wait for his return. That is, if he planned on returning. He could have just left her there for all she knew, again, not that she would blame him. She was a stranger to him as much as he was one to her.
At least he had her name, though she never got his.
Moments later he, surprisingly, returned in a small group of one more man and a dark haired woman, to find her kicking a stone around in the ground. The sight of another man frightened her for a second, but seeing the pale brunette behind them helped ease her tension.
"You make that much noise, walker's are sure t' find ya." Came the voice of the other man. He smiled at her, reaching out his hand, palm upwards, as if she were a child. Suyapa was no child. She was 32, thank you very much, and so she stared at it, not wanting to be rude, but not willing to let herself be patronized. "We ain't gonna hurt ya." He looked back to the original stranger Suyapa had followed to this spot, before returning his gaze to her. "I'm Rick. This is my wife, Lori," he motioned for the woman standing next to him, who gave her a warm smile. "Our friend, Daryl…he says you're lost?"
Ah, so that was his name. Daryl. Daryl continued staring at her, watching her every move, much like he had done before.
"I got chased by one of those things and I couldn't find my way back to my car." Suyapa licked her lips.
"You mean a walker?" The woman, Lori, asked, satisfied when Suyapa nodded. Walker? Is that what they called them?
"Yeah, one of those."
"What's your name, sweetie?" Again, she was no child, she would not be referred to as such.
"Suyapa, and I'd very much appreciate it if you called me by my name."
The couple looked at each other, then at Daryl, and finally at her.
"I'm sorry, could you say that one more time?" Rick asked, most likely noting the sudden snap in her voice because he asked very kindly.
"Suyapa."
Rick smiled apologetically, clearing his throat and asking her to repeat herself once more.
"Suyapa," she almost whispered, suddenly feeling awkward.
"That's the dumbest name I ever heard." Daryl scoffed, rolling his eyes.
"Daryl!" Lori scolded, looking back at Suyapa and smiling nervously.
But instead of making her angry, she had the urge to laugh. Despite the world going to shit, there was at least still something that had remained. People's inability to pronounce her name! Suyapa's smile widened, easing the tension amongst the group and easing it further when she let out a light chuckle. "No, it's…it's ok. People couldn't really say my name before, I wouldn't expect the living dead to change that. Just call me 'Su'." She looked at them, happy to have found people at last. Or rather, having them find her.
The farm they had brought her to was not only untouched but, to say the absolute least, gorgeous. As a child, she had always imaged herself on a farm like this, maybe with a few more animals but what were you going to do?
It was almost dawn when they had stumbled across the hill overlooking the plaines of the farm, and Su felt a sudden peace within her. The corals, yellows, hues of blue, bright pinks; a canvas colored the sky and she brought her hand to her mouth, covering her gasp of awe.
"What? Y'ain't never seen a sunrise before or sumthin'?"
Su turned to Daryl, who walked up to her from behind, Rick and Lori were already a short distance in front of them, having most likely concluded that Su and Daryl could make their own way to the rest of the group. She closed her mouth, letting out and taking in a deep breath of air. "Never one this beautiful."
Daryl made no response, just shook his head a little, smirking, and walked ahead. "C'mon."
She felt safe here, welcomed. And, strange, all it took was one night. One night where she told her story to the other survivors, a story that, by the time it was over, had Suyapa's voice at no louder than a whisper. She had to excuse herself, after all the time of being in solitary company, her story had been difficult to share with the others.
It was Carol who approached her first, saying nothing but offering a shoulder to cry on. She had lost her little girl too and, while Su could not say they were her biological children, the two little girls might as well have been.
Twice a year, sometimes three if she could afford it, she would bring the girls down from their home in Chicago to spoil them rotten. She had to, to let them know that even if their deadbeat father wasn't around to love them, his sister was and she loved them with all her heart.
Kayla was a hyperactive 6 year-old with ADD, always zooming from one project to the next. A little trouble at first, Su found that the child had a knack for music and so she was the first to push her into music lessons, paying for them when the girl's mother refused. She was a happy child, but was even more so when she was teaching her younger sister Gabriella, 4, who had the attitude of a much older girl. She loved make up, having dozens of dolls with custom made dresses, courtesy of Su's mother. Gabi was very good at understanding difficult situations, but if a situation would every arise that did not go her way, the little thing would cry and cry until she fell asleep, only to wake up with a clean slate. A drama-queen, much like Su's mother; crying over everything.
She adored them.
Together, Carol and Su expressed their loss, their sentiments, and, together, they came away a little more content––with an added friend in a desolate world. Lori smiled sadly at Su from her seat beside the small fire, knowing the reason behind her tear-stricken face, though not entirely understanding the feeling of a child lost forever; she still had her beautiful boy.
Suyapa felt a hand pat hers and, looking up, she saw Carol's compassionate smile before the older woman left, walking over to where Daryl had been leaning against a tree, staring into the fire. Su let out a small melancholy grin, knowing how hard Daryl had been working to find Carol's little girl, even though she felt everyone's apprehension to keep up the search. It was true, after so long, and her being so young, even Su had to admit the girl was more than likely dead by now. Her smile faltered at the thought. How cold the world was becoming, herself included.
A cold breeze brought her attention back to the real world, causing her tighten her blazer around herself, and it had also alerted the rest of the group that it was time to rest, most of them walking away after giving her some sort of smile or nod of understanding. Perhaps she too should head on over to the trailer the much older man, Dale, had offered her until they could find her a suitable tent.
Su stretched, enjoying the sound of her back popping and exhaled deeply, stress dissipating, when she realized she was being watched. She looked over to find Daryl, standing by the same tree he had previously been leaning against, only this time he was staring at her.
It felt odd, having him look at her so intently, yet not knowing why, and it made Suyapa a little nervous. He didn't think still she was a threat did he? He showed no signs of such, although, he hadn't talked to her since her arrival at the farm a few days ago. She looked away to the fire, feeling her face warm itself, and pushed some of her hair behind her ear. Yes, this was very unnerving.
"Um…" She cleared her throat, hoping to ease the tension with something clever or witty, but she could think of nothing. "Well, um…" She stood, standing up straight and looking at him gently, maybe then he would see she meant no harm. "Goodnight, Daryl."
He gave a slight nod in acknowledgment, his gaze lingering for an extra second, before turning and walking away.
A/N: Even though I have this written out, I'm cutting chapters off in places where I feel they make sense. I also don't want to post any chapters where Suyapa has no interaction with Daryl; this being the point of the story, after all. So, I can't promise chapters will be any specific length, them might remain in the 1,500-2,000 word range, or they might shift around. Who knows? Not even me…Please review!
