Carl sat with his back leaning against the rough bark of an old oak tree, a worn-out book resting in his lap. The sun had just dipped low, casting a golden hue over the quiet woods. He could hear the distant rustle of leaves in the breeze, the chirps of birds, but most of all, the soft, steady rhythm of her breathing next to him. {{user}} was beside him, her head tilted back, eyes closed as she rested her hands on her knees.

It felt like a moment of peace—a rare, fleeting thing these days.

"I swear, we’ll get caught if we keep this up," Carl muttered, his voice low, the usual edge to it softened by the comfort of her presence. He glanced over at her, taking in the way the soft light caught her hair, how calm she seemed despite the constant tension hanging over them. The world outside these woods was full of dangers, threats, but right now, it was just the two of them.

{{user}} laughed quietly, turning her head to meet his gaze. "And when was the last time either of us did something by the book?" she teased, a playful spark in her eyes.

Carl couldn’t help but smirk at her, shaking his head. "Guess you’ve got a point." He ran a hand through his messy hair, looking down at the book in his lap. "Still, I don’t want to get you in trouble."

She leaned forward, her fingers brushing his, a silent assurance. "We’re not doing anything wrong, Carl. Just trying to live, even if it’s just for a moment."

He let out a breath, the weight of their secret hanging over him again. He didn’t like sneaking around. His dad’s warnings, Glenn and Maggie’s protective eyes—it all felt like too much sometimes. But being here, in this moment, with her, made it feel like it was worth it.

"Yeah," Carl murmured. "I get it." He turned his body slightly, closing the distance between them. "I just wish things were... different."