Rose was swimming in memories again.
It was her birthday. Maggie and Beth were pinning up her obsidian hair and adorning it with little white flowers. Her eyes were closed and her smile peaceful.
"You guys are so sweet. It's just my birthday, and you're pampering me as if I were getting married or something."
"We need the practice…in case someday you are", Beth said with a giggle.
Rose's face flushed at the thought.
When they were finished, the two girls admired their work. "So pretty", Maggie said. "And your lips have the prettiest natural color to them. Don't even need any makeup…not that we have any, but."
All Rose could do was smile. She looked to the door when she heard it open. Daryl stepped inside, grinning when his eyes met hers. Walking up to her, he said "You, miss, are incredibly beautiful", he kissed her lips softly. "But you've gotta get out for a few minutes."
She nodded and returned the kiss before leaving the RV.
Stepping down into the grass and walking to the front of camp, she surveyed who was up and about. Her eyes landed on Glenn, who was gathering wood for the fire they'd have going later.
She tapped him on the shoulder.
"Hey, birthday girl", he said jovially. "Love your hair".
"Compliments of your lady and Beth", she grinned.
He kissed her cheek. "They do good work."
Rose started to help gather wood, to which Glenn protested "No one does work on their birthday!". She shook her head playfully and continued. "This is hardly work".
It didn't take long for them to gather a substantial amount of wood. Just as they were finishing up, Beth called for them to come back to the RV.
"Birthday girl first", Glenn said as the door was opened for them. Rose stepped into the trailer and instantly gushed.
On the table was a cake-rather, several small snack cakes stacked and pressed neatly together and frosted over to make it look like one traditional cake. It had fancy red and pink roses on top.
There were balloons strewn all over the trailer.
Rose's eyes filled with happy tears as she looked at all of the people she loved so much. She knew they'd gone far out of their way to do this for her.
Her memories of that day were sharp, and certain things were especially vivid.
Daryl's arm draped around her shoulders while Maggie cut the cake. She could see his fingers resting on her in her peripheral vision. The color of Maggie's hair in the sun filtering through the window. Hershel's kind eyes smiling at her. The soft, peach colored blanket on their bed just in front of them…
Her eyes squeezed shut and she swallowed hard as she recalled that day. Just as she was about to let that one go for a while and replay the next thing that came to her, the door opened. It was a heavy door, old to boot, and it groaned loudly as it swung open.
A tall man entered with a battered cafeteria tray. He grunted as he sat it down on the floor next to her mattress. His hands and face were filthy and he smelled like blood. The tray contained a nearly rotten apple and stale bread with some kind of red jelly.
Rose could feel her body press into the corner. She didn't look at the man. Eyeing her empty cup-which had been empty for some time-she squeaked out "could I have some more water…?". Her own voice sounded alien to her.
The man spat at the ground. "If you're lucky, kid. Eh, reckon its best. Got someone finally comin' to look at ya today. Don't need you passin' out." His voice was gruff and careless.
Rose felt she was going to be sick. She turned her head into the wall, tears sliding down her cheeks.
In her head, she escaped into the next memory.
As always, friends, please review. 3
