Breathe Princess (Daryl Dixon Love Story)

Chapter Thirty Four

Lies. I keep lying to Daryl about the thoughts of Jacob that were running through my head and I'm not sure I can keep it up much longer. I came so close the other day to telling him but yet again, I lied. I'm always lying to him. It's like word vomit. It just happens before I can even stop myself.

I know though, that sooner or later, I was going to tell him and I knew that it was going to be the worst thing in the world.

It hadn't been long since everyone had left to get Glenn and Maggie.

The girl that had appeared at our gates had told us that the food she had appeared with had been dropped by two people, an Asian and a pretty brunette.

Rick, Daryl and a couple of others had left with the woman to find where it was Maggie and Glenn were being held.

I had wanted to go with them, keep close to Daryl and make sure I was okay, but he had insisted I'd stay here with the others; keep them safe.

What I wanted to do right now was hide. Run into my cell block and just hide away from everyone. It wasn't easy being out here alone, although currently I wasn't really alone. I had the thoughts of Jacob running around in my head, seeing him every so often out the corner of my eye. Although when I look; he's gone. Like he was never even there. Although technically speaking he never was.

I knew that the minute Daryl got back I would tell him about who Jacob was. About the way I was before this whole thing started. Tell him exactly who was haunting both my dreams and my waking hours.

He wouldn't like it, I knew that, but it was better to tell him now then to never have told him at all. I doubted that Daryl would take that as a valid excuse, especially since he'd asked me multiple times if there was anything else he needed to know, but I hoped that my excuse would at least cushion the blow.

"Annora," Beth called to me as I paced by the front door, waiting for everyone to come back. I wanted to know that both Maggie and Glenn were safe. I wanted to know that Daryl was okay. 

"You have got to stop pacing, you're driving me crazy." She broke out a small smile, one which I slightly returned. I did as I was told and took a seat next to her at one of the tables.

"Sorry, I'm just worried that's all." I sighed and bit at my nails, averting my gaze to the corner of the room; the whole world seemed to stop as Jacob stood there, arms folded across his chest; an unreadable expression on his face. "Not now." I mumbled to myself, gripping my eyes closed and I turned my attention back to the floor.

"Sorry?" Beth asked, switching her attention from the baby in her arms towards me.

"Nothing, don't worry I was talking to myself. Bad habit I know." I shrug and stand up again, beginning my pacing. This time the blonde doesn't stop me and instead, walks away towards the cells.

"You know, they'll be alright." Carol's voice comes from behind me. Oh joy. I don't grace her with an answer, I simply continue in my pacing. "Annora." She places her hand on my shoulder but I instantly shrug it off, again not bothering to verbally answer her.

She, not unlike Beth, decides that I am better left alone and wanders off herself.

"Annora,"

"What?!" I whip around to see Herschel standing behind me, and I instantly feel bad about yelling. My features soften as I mumble out an apology and let him continue.

"They're back." He half smiles and hobbles off towards the door, Beth trailing behind him, no baby this time.

My little outburst is completely forgotten as I chase after them, coming to stop as Rick climbs out of the car, my arms instantly wrapping around his neck.

"Everyone's okay right?" I ask him, only earning a nod but there was something in his eyes that weren't exactly telling the whole story, there was something wrong. "Where's Daryl?" I ask, looking around the people climbing out of the car, expecting him to appear at any moment with his crossbow.

"Annora look,"

"You said everyone was okay..." I trail off, my breathing beginning to quicken. The thought of Daryl being dead is something I don't even want to try and comprehend. I couldn't deal with losing him too.

"He is, he's fine." Rick tries to comfort me but I move out of his way.

"Then where is he?" I ask, trying to slow my breathing down to a normal level whilst simultaneously trying to keep tears from spilling over.

"When we were in Woodbury, he found Merle." Rick began explaining, everyone else had seemingly dispersed from the courtyard now, leaving only the two of us.

"Merle?" I repeat, making sure I grasp the concept of what he's trying to tell me.

"Yes, we wouldn't let Merle come back with us, so Daryl went with his brother." Pretty sure Daryl leaving was ten times worse than him dying.

"He left?" I ask, although I'm only portraying disbelief rather than utter sadness. Rick only responds with a nod. I don't say another word, I simply turn on my heel and storm back into the cell blocks, slamming every door on my way until I reach my cell.