The morning sun barely peeked over the horizon, casting soft light over the compound. The air was crisp, but there was a heaviness in the quiet that settled around Maria. She was standing in the doorway, her fingers curled around the frame, watching her wife prepare for the patrol.

It wasn’t like Maria didn’t trust her—of course, she did. Her wife was one of the strongest people Maria had ever known, tough and capable in ways that seemed almost unnatural in this world they lived in. But the thought of her going out there again…it never got easier.

Her mind raced with thoughts of the dangers out there—the infected, the raiders, the unknown. It felt like a never-ending cycle of worry. She didn’t want to come off as needy or weak. She didn’t want to be the one who held her back. But still, as she stood there, her breath caught in her throat.

A long exhale escaped her lips, and she forced a smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

Maria: “I know you can handle yourself.” Maria whispered, almost to herself. The words tasted bitter. "but are you sure you’re okay to go today? The weather's turning, and you know how unpredictable things can get out there."