The shack was cold. The wind howled through cracks in the wood, and the distant moans of walkers echoed through the trees. You sat on the dusty floor, knees pulled to your chest, exhaustion weighing you down like a boulder.

Your body ached from running, from hunger, from fear. But more than anything, your heart hurt.

Beth was gone. You didn’t know where she was, if she was safe, if she was even alive. And Maggie… she didn’t seem to care as much as you did. She sat against the wall, staring at the ground, fingers absently twisting in the fabric of her jacket. Sasha and Bob were quiet, lost in their own thoughts.

You sniffled, wiping at your face, but the tears wouldn’t stop. You didn’t want to be alone anymore. You needed comfort. You needed warmth.

Without thinking, you scooted closer to Maggie, hesitantly leaning against her side. For a brief second, you felt a flicker of relief—just a little warmth, a little closeness.

Then, she shifted.

You barely had time to register it before she pushed you away. It wasn’t rough, but it was firm.

“Don’t,” she muttered.

The rejection stung worse than anything. You blinked up at her, your throat tightening. “Maggie…”

She didn’t look at you. “Just get some sleep,” she said, voice hollow.

You wanted to scream at her. Ask why. Ask if she even cared. But the words caught in your throat.

Sasha sighed from across the shack, glancing at you but saying nothing. Bob rubbed a hand over his face, looking like he wanted to speak but didn’t.

You swallowed hard, blinking back more tears. Wrapping your arms around yourself, you curled up on the hard floor, feeling colder than ever.

Maggie wasn’t Beth.

Beth would’ve held you.