One way or another [Daryl Dixon]

[36] PLAN A OR PLAN B.

"The question isn't who's going to let me; it's about who's going to stop me."
-Ayn Rand

Sleep was already out of the question; even if Harry Potter himself cast the most powerful sleeping spell he could conjure up, I'm almost certain I'd be immune to his wizardry tricks. Michonne was clearly thinking the same thing about sleep, rather than Harry Potter she laid awake in the back seat of the car, Carl snuggled up to her side.

Daryl and Rick were outside, and it sounded like they had finished their deep meaningful conversation and were just catching up with each other. Rick would keep assuring Daryl that none of this was his doing.

I, too, felt guilty.

However, Daryl's only way of dealing with his guilt is to pretend nothing happened or to isolate himself from everyone. At the end of the day, that guilt would never go away. He'd simply grown stronger over time, and the guilt had become easier to bear.

When the prison fell, I witnessed it firsthand.

Sunrise began a few hours ago; the sky was clear white, and the sun was hot as it was nearly every day. It's going to be a difficult day of travel especially with limited water, but Michonne said we should arrive by sundown. Hopefully we'll get lucky and this terminus place isn't a bunch of bullshit.

I peered over my shoulder at Carl, who was still sleeping in the back seat with a much sleepier Michonne.

I'm not sure what came over me; it was just a sense of dread.

Carl's safety was a relief, but he'll have memories that will haunt him for the rest of his life. I can only imagine that each of us feels at least a smidgeon of guilt and judging by Michonne's facial expressions it's clear she feels just as guilty as I do.

"I'm so sorry, Mich." I told her, shortening her name.

Her face was puzzled before she found the words to say. "No one was to blame for what happened." She reassured herself as well as me.

"Did you hear me?" Michonne placed a gentle hand on my shoulder when I still didn't look at her or respond. "Harlow, the only people at fault here. Are no longer alive." She went on.

I raised my eyes to her.

"Have you been with Daryl since the prison was destroyed?" Mich lifted her head up to look at me.

Before explaining, I quickly shook my head no.

"I was alone for a while."