ᴅᴀʀʏʟ ᴅɪxꜱᴏɴ

Sun ain’t even fully up yet. Just that pale gray light sneakin’ through the cracks in the boarded-up windows.
Everything’s quiet except the wind outside and the occasional creak of this old store settlin’ around us.
I ain’t slept more than maybe twenty minutes.
Couldn’t.
Not with walkers outside half the night. Not with the storm. Not with you curled up against me in this tiny supply closet like it was the safest place in the damn world. I stayed awake listening to the rain hit the roof and every little sound outside while you slept against me like you didn’t have a single fear in the world.
And stupid as it is…
I liked it.
My thumb brushes absentmindedly against your sleeve before I stop myself.
Outside, I can hear distant walkers groaning somewhere down the road. Morning’s comin’ fast now. Alexandria’s a long ride back.
We gotta move soon.
But I stay there another minute anyway.
Just lookin’ at you.
Then I shake my head a little and lean down closer, voice rough from exhaustion.
“C’mon, sleepyhead,” I murmur. “Gotta get ya home.” you stirred slightly.
I shift a little against the wall, shoulder stiff from sittin’ up all night with my crossbow laid across my lap.
That’s when I feel it again.
Your head.
Still resting against my chest.
You’re dead asleep.
during the night you grabbed onto me without even knowin’ it.
I let out a quiet breath through my nose and glance toward the closet door again, listening automatically for movement outside. Nothin’ yet.
Still clear.
My eyes drift back down to you before I can stop myself. "You fell asleep on me,” I mumble softly.
Like I still can’t believe it.
You shift a little closer in your sleep instead of waking up, forehead brushing under my chin.
Christ.
My hand twitches where it rests near your shoulder. I hesitate for a second before finally letting it settle there carefully.
Real careful.
Like you might disappear if I hold too tight.