The morning sun—artificial sunlight—shone down through the massive LED screen above the community, warm and gentle.
On the lawns lining the streets, some people were walking their dogs, some were jogging, and others were watering flowers in front of their homes.
If you didn't look up at that overly perfect "sky," this place was no different from an ordinary community before the apocalypse.
In front of Rick's villa, Lori knelt down and straightened her son Carl's collar.
"Study hard at school, don't just play around, and listen to your teacher."
She said.
Carl rolled his eyes and dragged out his voice helplessly: "I know, Mom—"
He counted on his fingers: "Study hard, don't just play around, listen to the teacher, get along with classmates, ask if you don't understand... You say this every day, my ears are almost calloused."
Lori was amused by her son, reached out, and ruffled his hair: "Alright, alright, go on now, don't be late."
Carl shouldered his schoolbag and skipped off along the street.
On the east side of the community, there was a small two-story building with a sign hanging at the entrance: "Hive Community Elementary School."
Several children were playing and roughhousing at the entrance, waiting for it to open.
Carl ran over and joined their group.
Come to think of it, this school was only able to be established thanks to one person.
Paul.
That man who had been pushed in a wheelchair by Karina had volunteered to teach once his wounds healed.
He was a high school teacher who had taught for over a decade. Although the students he faced now had changed from high schoolers to children ranging from five or six to fourteen or fifteen years old, he wasn't intimidated at all.
"It's more reliable than making me pick up a gun."
That was what he had said at the time.
And so, the community elementary school opened just like that.
A dozen or so children attended classes every morning, learning math, English letters, and science—Paul said that no matter what the world became, children must not become illiterate.
By the way, Daryl was also thrown into the school.
"What?"
Daryl's eyes widened at the time, looking at Merle in disbelief: "You want me to go to school?"
Merle had a cigarette in his mouth, looking gleeful: "It's the boss's order. He said you're a semi-illiterate who can't even read orders when they come in, which is too much trouble. Go learn for a few months, at least learn to recognize the common letters."
Daryl's face was as black as the bottom of a pot.
But an order was an order.
And so, this grown man in his thirties sat with a group of children every day, holding an elementary school textbook, learning to read from Paul.
The children laughed at him at first, but later got used to it, and some even took the initiative to help him.
Daryl grumbled and cursed, but he studied quite seriously.
After all, he didn't want to mess up a mission later because he couldn't read the instructions.
Lori stood at the door, watching Carl's back disappear around the street corner before turning back inside.
Rick had gone out early in the morning.
Now his squad had to go out every day to clear the surrounding Walkerss and protect the construction crew building the concrete wall.
Jackie's design plan had already begun, and the two-meter-high concrete wall was taking shape bit by bit.
Lori cleaned up the dishes, tidied up, and sat on the sofa, staring blankly for a while.
Then her gaze fell on the calendar on the coffee table.
April 17th.
She stared at the date, and a thought suddenly flashed through her mind.
Her period... it seemed to be late?
She carefully calculated the days.
When was the last time? February? Early March? She couldn't quite remember.
But it had definitely been a long time.
Lori's heart suddenly started racing.
No way...
She took a deep breath, telling herself not to overthink it.
Maybe it was just because she had been too tired lately, under too much pressure, causing a hormonal imbalance.
But once the thought took root, she couldn't suppress it.
Finally, she stood up and decided to go to the community clinic to check.
It was free anyway.
The Hive community's medical center was a small white bungalow with a Red Cross sign hanging at the door.
Pushing open the glass door, she entered the waiting area, which had several rows of plastic chairs and health posters on the walls.
As soon as Lori walked in, she heard an argument coming from inside.
"I am the Chief of Surgery at Grady Memorial Hospital! Of course I am qualified to be the person in charge!"
"Big deal, Chief of Surgery? I am an attending physician in internal medicine, I have five more years of clinical experience than you!"
Two men in white coats were standing face-to-face, red-faced and neck-thick, neither willing to yield.
Steven Edwards, a surviving surgeon from Grady Memorial Hospital.
Gavin Trevitt, also a doctor from Grady Memorial Hospital.
After being rescued from the hospital, they were assigned to work at the community clinic.
But the question of who would be in charge had never been resolved.
The two argued every day, neither willing to submit to the other.
Dr. Gail sat on a chair nearby, holding a cup of coffee, looking at them arguing with a bored expression.
She had long since given up trying to break up their fights.
Karina stood in the pharmacy, also watching the spectacle.
Lori pushed the door open, and all three turned their heads at the same time.
The two male doctors' eyes lit up instantly.
They both rushed toward Lori, their faces filled with professional, enthusiastic smiles.
"Ma'am, are you here for a check-up?"
Steven stepped forward first: "I am the best doctor here, you won't go wrong coming to me."
Gavin pushed him aside and also said with a smile: "Don't listen to his bragging, I am the best. Where are you feeling unwell? Let me take a look at you."
Lori was a bit bewildered by them, then said: "I'm looking for Dr. Gail."
The smiles on the two male doctors froze at the same time.
They looked at each other, then retreated sheepishly, muttering something, and went back to their respective offices.
Gail stood up with a smile and walked over: "What's the matter? Is there something wrong with Rick?"
Lori shook her head: "It's not him, it's me."
"You?"
Lori lowered her voice: "My... it hasn't come for almost two months."
Gail paused for a moment, then nodded: "Come with me."
Ultrasound room.
Gail took the probe and moved it slowly over Lori's lower abdomen.
On the screen, black and white images flickered.
A few seconds later, Gail stopped, stared at the screen for a careful look, then turned to look at Lori with a smile on her face.
"Congratulations, Lori."
She said: "You're pregnant, you're going to be a mother again."
Lori's face turned pale instantly.
Gail's smile froze.
"Lori?"
She asked tentatively: "Are you not happy?"
Lori opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but couldn't say anything.
After a few seconds of silence, she finally spoke, her voice hoarse:
"Can... can I abort it?"
Gail was stunned.
"Why?"
She asked, her tone full of confusion: "Why would you want to abort it? This is your child."
Lori lowered her head and clenched her fists.
She wanted to say it, but she couldn't.
Finally, she squeezed out a reason: "This world... it's too chaotic. I don't want my child to be born into such a terrible world."
Gail looked at her, silent for a moment.
Then she put down the probe and took hold of Lori's hand.
"Lori..."
She said, her voice very gentle: "I know you are worried. The outside world is indeed very bad, but have you ever thought that precisely because it is bad, we need new life even more? They are hope; they are the future."
She paused and said seriously: "Besides, this isn't just your business. You should discuss this properly with Rick. After all, it's his child; he has the right to know."
Lori's face turned even paler.
She nodded, stood up, and walked out of the clinic, looking lost and dejected.
Back home, she sat on the sofa, motionless.
Rick.
Shane.
That child.
Her mind was a mess.
Rick had only returned to her side last month.
If she calculated the time, this child...
It couldn't be Rick's.
It could only be Shane's.
After the apocalypse broke out, she thought Rick was dead.
During that time, Shane had been by her side.
They had been together, more than once.
Then Rick returned.
She thought everything was in the past.
She thought she could start over with Rick and pretend that period of time didn't exist.
But now...
Lori clutched her head, tears streaming down silently.
How was she going to explain this to Rick?
Tell him she was pregnant with Shane's child?
Or lie and say it was Rick's?
But once the child was born, it would be obvious who it resembled.
Or it would be discovered sooner or later when blood tests were matched.
What should she do?
Outside the window, the sun was shining bright.
But that sunlight was fake.
Just like the calmness she was forcing herself to maintain at this moment, which would shatter at the slightest touch.