Daryl's Girl

Chapter 28

I stood facing Glenn not knowing what to say. "You're one of them?" He asked.

I nodded my head slowly. He made it sound like a bad thing. "Hershal's my godfather." I muttered. "I was as shocked as you when I found out, but believe me when I say, I didn't know anything about it before coming here."

Glenn didn't say anything as he tried to process what I'd said, glancing over at Hershal. Hershal on the other hand, I'm assuming, not wanting to be a part of the conversation, then stood up and walked out of the room. Glenn and I watching before turning back to face one another. 

"Why didn't you tell us?"

I just shrugged. 

"My daddy asked her not to." Maggie then said on my behalf, drawing Glenn's attention over to her. He just nodded, but we could all see he was hurt and a little disappointed.

"Honestly." I sighed. With everything out in the open now, I saw no reason to keep him in the dark over what Hershal and I had talked about. "He asked me to stay, and, after what's happened. After what Shane's done. Shane made my decision for me. I can't be around him."

"You weren't gonna tell us? Tell Daryl?" He replied, a catch in his throat. "I mean, what Shane said. You and him, you're...?"

I didn't reply. Daryl and I weren't together so to speak. Yes, we enjoyed each others company, trusted each other, and we had shared a kiss, but that didn't mean we were a couple, did it? Neither one of us had spoken about it. Maybe we were just tiptoeing around it.

"Look, I needed time to get my head around everything because I wanted to be one hundred percent sure that that's what I wanted." I finally replied, trying to avoid a conversation leading to Daryl and I. "It wasn't an easy decision."

The look on Glenn's face said it all. The pure disappointment in his eyes as he looked at me. All it did was add to the list of other things I had to feel guilty about. I bought it all on myself, questioning every decision I'd made since forcing Tyler's hand back in the woods.

We all sat in an uncomfortable silence after that and I just kept reliving everything that had happened over and over and over again in my mind, like some sort of torturous cycle. It was all out in the open now and I wasn't gonna lie or try to hide it. I didn't have it in me anymore.

Luckily, after a while, Jimmy came back inside, leaning in through the doorway. "They're ready." He panted.

We all looked up and one by one walked back outside following Jimmy over to the graves. The bodies wrapped in green sheets next to a number of holes in the ground. One smaller than the rest.

To start, we all stood quietly, watching as Rick, Andrea and Tdog lowered each of the bodies into the ground. "You can tell them if you want." I whispered to Glenn, who was standing next to me. "I don't wanna keep secrets anymore." Glenn didn't react and I didn't say anything else, standing and listening to those who wanted to speak. 

Maggie was up first and said a few heart warming words about both her mother and her brother. Beth did the same between sobs. Then Carl, Tdog, Andrea and Rick all said what they needed to, in memory of Sophia. I had to say though, I was surprised to find Carol not standing with us to say her goodbye. Neither was Hershal. 

Soon enough, it was over and everyone began to walk away, but, just as I was about to follow on after them, Glenn stopped me. "Look, I won't say anything, but if people start asking questions..." He trailed off. I knew what he meant and it was completely reasonable. I agreed, the two of us then heading back up to the house. 

On the way, I couldn't help but think about what Glenn had said to me before the funeral. That I hadn't spoken to Daryl. He knew the most part, but I hadn't had the chance to tell him about Hershal's offer. I'd made my decision without thinking about how he might feel. Whether he'd stay with me or leave with the others. What it was that was happening between us.