EPISODE SEVEN "i'll die before i see you die" SEASON 5
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GREY KINGSTON
we manage to lose the herd by passing through the woods. the new road we're taking is scattered with broken down cars, dirty with muck and dust so thick you could draw in it with your finger and blood from so long ago it's flaking off.
"i'm gonna cut off, go look for some water." daryl says to rick, but i overhear.
i wipe the back of my hand across my forehead, "i'll come with you."
"nah, it's fine." he grumbles, quickly heading off through the shrubs and tall trees.
i stop on the side of the road, watching him disappear into the thick of the woods.
"go." rick whispers, placing his hand on the small of my back, urging me to follow after daryl—so i do, leaving the rest of the group behind me on the road. i go the same way i saw him go, tracing his footsteps through the dirt.
twigs and thorns catch on my clothes, leaving small scrapes on my skin. i make it to a clearing and slow my walk as i see daryl sitting up against a tree with a cigarette lit between his lips.
"looks like you found the jackpot." i announce, which causes daryl's head to whip around.
he rolls his eyes, turning to face forward again at the small barn in front of us that's hidden from the road.
"i told ya not to come with."
"actually you said it's fine, and i don't think you're fine, so i came with." i say quietly, taking a seat next to him on the ground.
"none of us are fine, grey." he whispers, pulling the smoke through his teeth.
"i know."
there's a moment of silence between us as we enjoy the still air. the sun is shining directly on us and there's no noise whatsoever, not even the buzzing of flies.
"i blame her death on myself." daryl speaks up, beth on his mind like she has been.
"just like you tried to blame yourself for losin' her?" i lean my head back against the thick, rough stump of the tree behind us. "i blame her death on me too."
"it's not on you, it's on me. i was s'posed to look after both of ya."
"no one ever assigned you that role, daryl. we're supposed to look after each other, all of us."
"nah, i'm older than both of ya, it was my responsibility."
"does age really matter anymore?" i ask.
"i guess it doesn't." he glances at me and my eyes travel down to his hand where he's offering me his cig.
