The dulling fire casts an array of flickering warm colors on its surroundings, including two forms settled beside it. Bitter December air bites at the skin of their backs, threatening to breach the boarded windows and put out the struggling flames once and for all.
He remembers how he stood along the wood of the bridge earlier that day, avoiding the patches of ice. Clementine had treaded cautiously ahead of him. Before either of them knew what was happening, a walker grabbed James' hair, Clementine jumped into action, and both the walker and her had vanished.
The horror he felt as he'd seen her fighting to stay afloat in the shockingly freezing water, a walker firmly clinging to her stiff limbs was unimaginable.
The feeling of Clementine's shivering body beside him lures him back to the present.
"Still cold?" He whispers, turning to face her. His hesitant hands explore her face, quietly pleading for some kind of warmth to meet his skin. His expression falls. "Still cold."
Desolate eyes loom back at him. Staring into his depths. She says nothing, but weakly tugs on his sleeve with her quivering fingertips. Nothing leaves her blue lips.
James can only assume that she wants his jacket, so naturally he begins unzipping it to slide over her, but she shakily nudges it away, shaking her head.
"No." Her voice is smaller than a whisper. Like that of a ghost. He nods, realizing that it was probably silly to give her his jacket when she was already wearing 2 winter coats they had come across.
But if she wanted his jacket, she'd get it. No questions. Even if she had all of the coats in the world.
"What do you need?" He asks, sliding his arms back into his sleeves.
"Clem, let me give you my-"
"Can you just.. hold me..." It seemed impossible, but she managed to slump over even more in her spot. Defeated. So very unlike the fierce Clementine he had once known. Broken without AJ at her side.
He reaches over her, pulling her close to his body, rubbing a hand down her back for more heat. She allows her head to ease into his chest.
"We'll get you out of here in the morning... Hang in there..." He carefully brushes her hair behind her ear, hoping to soothe her. Holding her tighter with every heartwrenching sob he heard escape resonate from her trembling mouth.
Clementine drifted into sleep as James cooed little promises to her. Promises that she'd see AJ again, that it'd be warmer after sunrise, that the night would be over soon. That she is loved immensely. They just had to get through until dawn.
Lying to her during those endless hours seemed like the hardest thing he ever had to do. But having to leave her frigid, lifeless body in the following morning undoubtedly was.
