Daryl's Girl

Chapter 46

I could feel Daryl discreetly stroking my shoulder as we all stood looking down at Dale. Everyone with tears in their eyes or rolling down their faces. I'd told him he was going to be alright, that he was going to be okay when I knew he wouldn't. If only we'd had gotten there sooner.

"We should move him." I heard Lori say. "He should be buried." That, I agreed with and so did everyone else. It didn't really need saying.

Rick stepped forward first, handing an inconsolable Carl to Lori, and crouched down besides Dale once again. Shane, Tdog and Glenn also coming forward to help as the rest of the group began solemnly making their way back to camp. A few of them glancing back over their shoulders taking one last look with Daryl, Briana and I still here. The least I could do was help.

Not too long after, Daryl pulled me to the side. "You're stayin' with Briana tonight." He said assertively.

"Why?" I asked, but I think I already knew the answer. After what's happened, we were safer being closer to the others than we were at Daryl's camp. "Okay. Once we're done here I'll-"

"Na." He interrupted. "We got this. Go sleep."

"Daryl..." As much as I wanted to argue, I knew he wasn't going to let me stay. He'd force me back to camp if he had to. "Fine. Just be careful."

Briana must've heard our exchange as she left the others and headed over to us, subtly nodding at Daryl. "Lets go."

I didn't argue and said goodbye to Daryl where the two of us walked back through the field and over to her tent. The truth was, we were all broken by what we'd seen, including Daryl. He was just a lot better at hiding it than everyone else.

Once inside, Briana moved some stuff out of the way and lay the sleeping bag on the ground. The tears still in her eyes, like mine, and her hands shaking. "It's not a lot of space, but it'll do." Even her voice was all croaky and shaken.

"Thank you." I smiled and lay down in the sleeping bag.

"You know, I didn't know him very well, but my first night here, when you went after Daryl, it was Dale." She said, laying down next to me. "It was Dale who made me feel welcome. Who vouched for me. He made sure I was alright until you got back. Well, him and Carol. And now there's nothing I can do to repay him."

"That sounds like Dale." I sighed. "When I first got here, Tyler and I were helping them search for Carol's missing daughter, Sophia. I told you about it." She nodded. The guilt was still overwhelming and I didn't want to have to go through the story again. "I didn't really speak to anyone, but when Tyler left me, it was Dale who checked in on me. Make sure I was alright. All he wanted was for everyone to be safe. Fighting to do what's right instead of taking the easy way out."

Briana didn't say anything and, in the quiet, I could her her quietly sobbing. Dale really was something and it's not until now that realize just how much he meant to us all. How much he'd done and how much I'll forever appreciate it.

I must've cried myself to sleep because I was woken up by Briana saying my name. I opened my eyes and looked at her. "We're ready." She whispered. I looked at her confused, having just woken up, but then remembered. It was time to say goodbye, although I wish it wasn't.

I stood up and prepared myself, taking a deep breath before I followed Briana out of the tent. My best guess was that I don't think anyone got much sleep last night. Then again, how could we? Losing yet another of our own.

We made our way over and I spotted Daryl waiting in the camp alongside Rick. Everyone else already stood over where we'd dug the graves for Sophia and Hershal's friends and family. A fresh mound of dirt right next to them with small white stones placed around the edges, just like the others. It was peaceful. I just wish we didn't have to be doing it.