The Walking Maze

charlotte's story

~

Before Daryl found me on the side of the road, I thought I was a goner.

I vaguely remember the sensation of being carried. Then I woke up in a prison cell, and at the foot of my bed sat two strangers.

One stranger was a man, tall and once-handsome. I could practically see his chiseled jawbone through his thick, mangled beard. This man seemed like a leader, and maybe he was one before the world turned to shit. Another man was tan, also with a beard but it was shorter and he had longer hair than the other man. He just looked like a tough guy with his jean vest and huge arms. His external appearance seemed emotionless and cold, but with the quick glance I could take, I caught a glimpse of his eyes. Behind them there were big balls of emotion and care. A great person.

"It's okay." The leader-like one said. "You're safe here, we don't mean you any harm."

I remember sitting up and backing against my bed as far as I could go. "Who are you?" I asked, voice quivering.

"My name is Rick, and that man there is the one that saved your life, Daryl." The man named Rick said.

I turn my attention back towards Daryl. All that kindness behind his eyes, of course he couldn't leave a girl lying in the street.

But he should've. I'm no help to this world, I'm just a waste of space and precious supplies. I may never forgive him for what he did. I remember feeling like a train hit me square in the chest whilst looking at the man that saved my life.

Because for the first time with a clear mind, I realized how much I wanted to die.

All these thoughts swarmed through my head, but the only words I could muster were "Thank you."

"What's your name?" Rick asked.

"Charlotte." I answered.

"I have three questions for you Charlotte, and answer them honestly." Rick said. I nodded.

"How many walkers have you killed?"

It's been a few years and I've killed more than one of those things, walkers I guess, almost every single day. The first days were the hardest.

I shake my head. "Too many to count."

"Okay." Rick continued. "How many people have you killed?"

No, don't ask me that. You can't ask me that. "One." I answer, tears threatening to fall.

"Why?" Rick said hesitantly, likely noticing I was on the verge of breaking down.

The tears began streaming down my face as I talked. "Because my sister had to be all heroic and sacrifice herself for me. We were ambushed by those things and she sacrificed herself so I could get away."

Rick and Daryl exchanged looks as I kept going, unable to stop, tears flowing freely.

"After that, I stumbled for days. I didn't eat. I didn't drink. I was on my way out until you saved me." I nodded at Daryl. "And-"

"Honey it's okay." Rick said thoughtfully. "You don't need to go on. Now, you can stay here with us. We have fences and plenty of supplies. You'd be very welcome here."

I couldn't stop crying at this point. "I can't go out there by myself again."

Rick stood up and sat down on my bed next to me, hesitating before he put his arm around me and patted my back. "There there. It's okay, you can stay with us."

It's been months since then, and everything is much different now. A good different or a bad different, whatever it may be, I'll let you decide.