A Glimmer of Hope

Night Watch

Athena POV:

It was time to go on watch. Everyone was down for the night. Daryl appeared out of his tent, silently. He dawdled until he got to the campfire. He put his crossbow down and sat across from me.

Oh no. He's still mad about earlier. How many times do I have to apologize for something that's already happened? Can't it just be squashed?

"Athena..." he started, "I'm sorry I lost my shit on ya earlier. It was uncalled for and you didn't deserve it," he said. He looked up at me. The campfire was dancing in his eyes, they looked sad.

"Daryl, it's okay, I just truly didn't understand WHY you got upset with me," I said. Then softly, I added, "no one was upset with me but you."

He grunted like he was uncomfortable, shifted in his position and settled into his seat again. He said, "I got mad 'cuz I thought I was gonna lose ya, alrigh'?!" He growled at me. Why is he always so aggressive when he cares? Honestly it's a huge turn on for me, but to each their own.

" I can't take losing anymore people; it's been so hard," he added softly.

"I understand, Daryl. I've lost someone too. Before that, I was usually alone. I had friends in high school.  Married my husband who I started dating in high school. Then after that, my family moved away. My friends and I moved onto grown up life and didn't have time for one another. I was all alone. When he died, I felt like a part of me did for a while too, he was my very best friend," I said honestly, "But the hardest part for me in this new world, is that I'm starting to forget the old world completely, and that includes Benjamin. I'm forgetting his voice, what he looks like. Its just because of this world reset. I think if I were in our old house I could remember him better, or somewhere we used to frequent together, but I barely know where we are anymore," I finished quickly. I was worried I was giving away too much about myself too soon.

I was looking down at the ground but I could feel Daryl's eyes on me. He didn't look away. 

"Sorry, I think I started oversharing without meaning to," I laughed.

"I'm sorry about your husband, Athena. I'm sure he was a great guy," he said sweetly.

I smiled softly, "Yeah, you know, he really was, and I'm glad I let him know so when he was alive, I'm also glad he didn't live to see all of this. He passed right in time. You really don't know what all of this does to you; how it changes you until you're right in the thick of it all. The apocalypse is honestly what healed me from the pain of his death," I said without meaning to, "I was a mess beforehand. I'm glad I met you all when I did." I finished.

He smiled at me again. He wasn't a big talker, but that's okay. I enjoyed the comfortable silences with him. 

We sat there quietly in our own thoughts for a few minutes until he spoke up.

"You know, I've never been in a serious relationship. Just one night stands, and those are very far and few between," he said. I was so shocked he had just shared that with me. I just thought most people always ended up with someone at some point or another, but he had always been alone. 

It broke my heart a little. He never had anyone take care of him or make him feel special. No wonder he was the way he was. I tried to make light of his statement.

"Really? Well, everyone does everything a little differently, you know? I look at that as, you've always been free to make all of your own decisions. Never had to report back to another person, never had to pick up dinner for two, just you and whatever you wanted to do," I said with a smile.

He smiled, "You're sweet, Athena. You try to see the good in everythin'." 

I laughed, "Well, I do until I don't. I have a really shitty temper," I said.