traded my life [TWD]

『119』

"We need to talk."

I barely had time to register Maggie's words before she grabbed my wrist and pulled me into a garIage.

"Ooh, what movie is this? 'I Spit on Your Garage'?" I tease.

The garage door slams shut and Rosita and Tara step closer.

I hesitate, somehow feeling ganged up on like that bitch Carrie back in school.

"We gonna make out, or..?" I continue to joke, though nervous now.

"Tara overheard you the other day," Rosita speaks up, crossing her arms. "You killed Pete Anderson."

"Oh, boy," I sigh, pulling a stool over to sit on. "All right. Don't play around then, let's get to the point."

"You killed an innocent man-" Tara begins.

I hold my hand up to silence her.

"He was abusing his wife and two children. He was a drunk, useless, piece of shit that got what was coming for him."

Maggie relaxes, now seeing the gravity of the situation.

"He was a doctor who saved my life," Tara argues.

I tilt my head. "Are you serious?"

I look between Rosita and Tara, seeing that she was indeed serious.

"Eugene and Glenn saved your life. When you got here, I kept you alive," I point out. "That dickwad didn't do anything but sit at his desk and drown in a bottle of whiskey while I gave your CPR."

Tara's eyes soften.

"Besides, have you looked around? We're all doctors now. Just because someone knows how to do brain surgery doesn't mean it's gonna fucking happen. We all pour alcohol on our cuts and bandage it up with duct tape- it's the end of the world, man, come on."

Rosita uncrosses her arms and shrugs. "All right. Pendejo had it coming."

"Rosita," Tara complains.

"Sorry for assuming. Thanks for taking out the trash," Rosita tells me and walks to the door.

Tara hesitates before leaving. I nod to myself, a newfound sense of respect easing in my system for Rosita.

"How'd you find out he was abusive?" Maggie wonders.

"Mother's intuition," I vaguely answer, causing her to scoff.

"I don't disagree with what you did.. but I'm worried."

"Worried" I repeat, turning to look at her.

She sighs and drags her own seat over. "What if it starts something? Chain reaction.. butterfly effect.. domino.. whatever you wanna call it."

"I'd rather face the consequences of my own actions than be a bystander and know I could've stopped something from happening," I answer honestly.

Maggie nods slowly. "And if the consequences are bad?"

"Then, I have no one to blame but myself."

"Did you do it alone?"

Rick mentioned that Maggie thought Rick was right for sending Carol away for killing Karen and David. They didn't talk much. I'd rather be thrown under the bus than sell Carol out and cause problems.

"Are you surprised?" I tease, shifting the blame off Carol before it can start.

"Surprised you can take a man down yet you can't face Daniel," she fires back.

"Ouch," I state, placing a hand to my chest.

"Have you talked to him?"

"Suddenly I'm done with the interrogation," I decide, standing up.