Healing Broken Wings [Daryl Dixon] The Walking Dead

Sixty Five| Can't Live With It

🛡️Jake🛡️

I look out at my people, scanning the tree lines surrounding the community, wondering if I'll spot my dad. He'll hang back. Not wanting to show himself. Making sure that Alpha is safe. And once we leave he'll make sure no one comes after us.

"I'm sorry, Jake. You didn't want to go back... to them." I look down at Kara, the girl who's just like me. But different in so many amazing ways. Despite her ripping open my wound when we first met, albeit on accident, everything she's done after that was not to harm me or Lydia.

Instead she fixed what she'd broken. She mended my wound and made sure I wasn't in too much pain. She let me out of my cell and showed me her world. Proving that places with walls can survive and thrive. Our way is not the only way. She's given that to me and I'll remember it forever.

I look down into her guilty eyes and furrowed brow. She didn't think I heard what she said to her father the day she let me out, but I did. She stood up for me. Vouched for me. She said we're alike. She was right.

Her scars are a physical embodiment of the hell she suffered for so many years. And still is given the brand on her back, the one she didn't explain, because the trauma, like the scar, is still fresh. But despite all this darkness her eyes are still full of light and it has not diminished her ability to show kindness.

How many people can say they've suffered so much pain and agony, but can still be human? Can still be kind and forgiving. She's truly remarkable. "Don't be sorry, Kara. You've given me more than enough."

"I haven't given you anything," she says sounding miserable and I shake my head, giving her a small smile. "You have. You are why I have faith. In this place. In your way of life. Now that I see it up close I know. I know it's possible. Maybe one day I'll be able to come back. But for now I must go with my people."

"I wish you didn't. I wish I could've helped you."

"Trust me you have. I promise." I look out over the wall, spotting a cluster of the dead coming closer, drawn by the sounds. Alpha whispers to Keith beside her and I know she's sending him to wrangle them, keep them from the people she needs to trade for us in exchange.

She looks back up at the wall and meets my gaze. Her face remains unchanged and I can't tell what she's thinking. Her gaze shifts to Kara who's hand is lightly holding my arm. An unexplainable urge to get Kara off the platform surges through me. Alpha tilts her head to the side as she looks back and forth between us.

As if she's analyzing what she sees and is trying to solve the puzzle. "Kara. Let's go." She doesn't argue as I take her hand lead her towards the ladder. I go down first and wait for her at the bottom. Once she gets down I place my hand on the small of her back and we walk.

A girl with brown hair in a plaid shirt, black v-neck, and jeans comes rushing over to us. "I heard. Are Alden and Luke okay?" She asks Kara with panic in her eyes. "They seemed fine, Enid. We're gonna get Alden back, okay? He's gonna be fine." She nods in agreement and takes a few breathes.

"I'm sorry. About your friends," I tell her sincerely and she glances at me. "It's not your fault. You didn't ask for this any more than we did. I understand." I give her a sad smile, glad that she can see things from my point of view. I stayed with the Whisperers cause I didn't think I'd find anything better.

The guardians protected me and yeah sometimes I didn't eat every single day, but I survived. I guess, I didn't really understand that there's more to this world than just survival. You need to have a life too. Cause if not then what exactly are you surviving for?

"Daryl!" I turn as Enid moves past us and rushes over to the archer. "What'd she say? Are they okay?"

"Yeah, they will be. We got to hand 'em back." He looks over at me and I nod in understanding. "I've already made my peace with it." Daryl nods back. "Where's Henry?" He asks as we continue walking. An older woman and man walk with us. "I don't know. Why?"