𝙇𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙒𝙖𝙧𝙢 𝘽𝙤𝙙𝙮 : ̗̀➛ 𝙙.𝙙

83

Del watched as Daryl pulled off his boots. Darkness had filled their room as she sat up in their bed. Neither of them had known what to say to the other. Del stared at him through the dark.

"We need to talk." Del pursed her lips, staring at him in the dark. Her heart was in her ears.

"Can we talk in the mornin'?" He sighed, pulling his shirt off.

"No. We need to talk now... Daryl.. I'm feeling very alone-"

"Here ya go with this shit again."

Del felt hotness swell in her chest. Anger began soaring through her.

"This shit? Why the hell won't you just listen to me-"

"I talked to Denise and she says you could have somethin' called postpartum psychosis or somethin' like that-"

"You think i'm losing my mind?!" Del laughed in disbelief. "You had to go to someone for a professional opinion because of me having a gut feeling?!"

"You keep talkin' bout somethin' happening, Del. You keep saying somethin' bad is coming. It's like ya want something to happen."

"I want something to happen?!" Del stood from the bed, shaking her head. He looked at her like she was pathetic.

"It's like we finally get comfortable, start makin' a life and ya want it all to fall apart. It's like ya can't just let life be good!" He began raising his voice. He didn't scare her. Not because she was used to men yelling at her, not because she had seen so much more, but because she was more hurt and torn apart than anything.

"Ya know..." She felt tears begin to roll down her cheeks but couldn't help but smile at his coldness, at the fact she thought he was different, "I never wanted kids, and when I held our daughter for the first time I began wondering why I never did. I loved kids. I was good with Jake as a baby. I was patient and gentle... but now... you all have reminded me. It's not about the kid, its about how mothers are treated afterward. I used to be respected. Everyone valued my opinion, listened to me but now when I say something it's passed off that i'm fuckin' crazy.... I am so alone and hopeless right now."

He just stared at her, huffing. She shook her head, looking down at her feet.

"I am so lonely... I went to the church, I prayed because that is my last attempt at being heard-"

"Del-"

"Just listen, Damnit!... I went there and Spencer was there and... he kissed me."

She could feel the energy in the room shift. She could feel the heaviness in the seconds of silence.

He scoffed.

"I leave for a day and yer off kissin' other people?!"

"He kissed me, damnit! And ya know... He believes me! He listened to what I have to say! He actually gave a damn-"

"Of course he listened! We wants to fuck ya, Del-"

"So my word and opinion is only worthy if you can get in my pants?!"

Daryl sighed, shaking his head. He combed his fingers through his hair before turning on his heel out the door.

"Where the hell are you going?!" she yelled down the stairs as he slammed the front door. Jake emerged from his room, staring down with her.

"What's going on?"

"Stay here with Beth."

...

Del sprinted behind Daryl, watching him climb up the look out ladder.

"What're you doing, Dixon-" Rosita began to question but couldn't even finish the sentence as he drew his hand back and impacted it with Spencers face.

"Stop!" Del screamed as she climbed up the ladder as fast as she possibly could.

"Get off him!" Rosita began tugging at Daryl but was met with a harsh push back.

"Daryl, stop!" Del tugged at him. He continued to drive blows into Spencers face, holding him over the railing as everyone within earshot emerged from their houses. Del looked out, panicking as she saw Rick and Michonne running to the lookout.

Daryl gripped Spencers shirt, leaning him over the banister.

"I take it you know about when you were gone?" Spencer smiled through bloody teeth.

"I'll drop you over this railin' right now, motherfucker," Daryl muttered.

"Daryl, stop!" Del tried tugging at him again.

"You can't take the fact that you treat her like shit, Dixon." Spencer taunted.

Rick reached the top of the lookout, pushing his way between Daryl and Michonne. Dels eyes met Maggies as her and Glenn gathered at the bottom of the ladder. People had emerged to their porches, watching the scene intently. She saw Jake, standing on the road, Beth cradled in his arms.

"Enough!" Rick barked.

"The hell are you doing?" Michonne narrowed her eyes at Daryl. This wasn't like him, not anymore. Dels chest hurt. She pushed her hair back from her face as she tried to steady her breathing, her eyes dartjng back and forth from Daryl to Spencer. Spencer had a smirk on his face, teeth coated in blood. Daryl breathed heavy, Del watched as his chest rose and fell, his eyes glued to her.

"This son of a bitch kissed Del-"

"You don't deserve her, Dixon. None of you do."
Spencer looked around.

Del watched as Maggie and Glenn stepped on the platform, their eyes wide. Maggie looked at Del with a look that made her stomach turn, as if she was in the wrong. That disappointed look.

"Motherfucker-" Daryl lunged towards Spencer again but was held back by Glenn and Rick.

"Calm down, brother." Rick pushed him away. Daryl spat towards Spencer, it landing rught on his face. Spencer let out an annoyed chuckle as he wiped the spit from his cheek.

"Did you really?" Glenn looked back at Del.

Del felt all eyes land on her.

"I didn't kiss him! He kissed me!"

"Bullshit," Daryl grumbled.

"This is all over a kiss?" Rick cocked his head at Daryl. It was a petty fight. One a bunch of high schoolers would have, but to Del, it was more than that.

"No, Damnit!" Del screamed so loud silence fell completely. She felt her chest rising and falling with anger. She looked at each face, taking them in. The concern in their eyes, the pity. It all boiled over. "You know what, Spencer did kiss me. But he also listened to what I had to say-"

"Is this about your paranoia?" Maggie stepped towards her.

"It isn't paranoia! Yall used to listen to me, respect my opinion! You all looked at me like I knew what I was talking bout but now all i'm good for is being a mother that sits at home to you people!" Del looked at Rick, "Even you listened to what I had to say. You thought my opinion was worth following-"

"And I still do-" Rick started.

"No!" She screamed at the top of her lungs, so hard it hurt her throat. Her eyes landed on Maggie, "I thought of all people... you would have my back...". Maggie lowered her head as if ashamed.

"Im tired of everyone lookin at me like i'm crazy... I aint fucking crazy!" She snapped her gaze to Daryl, "I want you and your shit outta the house by tomorrow morning."