Broken Wings (Daryl dixon x Reader)

Chapt 25: Angels

"Dale could...could get under your skin. He sure got under mine, because he wasn't afraid to say exactly what he thought, how he felt. That kind of honesty is rare and brave. Whenever I'd make a decision, I'd look at Dale. He'd be looking back at me with that look he had. We've all seen it one time or another. I couldn't always read him, but he could read us. He saw people for who they were. He knew things about us, the truth, who we really are. In the end, he was talking about losing our humanity. He said this group was broken. The best way to honor him is to unbreak it. Set aside our differences and pull together, stop feeling sorry for ourselves, and take control of our lives, our safety, our future. We're not broken. We're gonna prove him wrong. From now on, we're gonna do it his way. That is how we honor Dale." Rick finished.

Dale was gone, and we stood around his grave, honoring him. 

I wiped the tear away from my eyes, as Hershel closed with a prayer, a prayer I did not hear a word of what he said. The next thing I knew, everyone was gone, off the figure out what to do next. T-dog stayed to begin to fill the grave.

I grabbed a shovel and helped him. We worked in silence, burying the bloodied shroud.

"Their bodies are not gone, they are saved, they are in a better place now!" The preacher spoke. In front of me were four caskets, four caskets, three containing my family and one containing a friend. How could he say that? A better place than right here with me? A better place than here on earth with their sixteen-year-old daughter? 

"Let's bow our heads in prayer," He said. Others bowed their heads, everyone but Tyler and I. We sat stone-faced, staring at the caskets. One was white with gold trim, for my mother, the one next to it was made from recycled barnwood, my dad would have loved it. My brother's was blue with an ATV toy on top. He would have loved it, he had a knack for fixing them. Next to him was an identical blue casket for Nathan. 

"On behalf of all of here at Meadowlark funeral home, family, thank you for allowing us to care for your loved, ones, you will be in our prayers, this does conclude our services for today, I have been asked to remind the family the church is providing lunch, ya'll are dismissed." The funeral director, Willow said. She was an angel. She never said the wrong thing. People began to head back to their cars, some stayed to talk, whispers about what was going to happen to me. Aunt Minnie squeezed my hand, She lost her sister, her only sister.

"Don't listen to them, they don't know anything," I nodded. I never understood why on earth people attend a funeral for someone they barely knew. I got up, pulling roses from each of the sprays.

"Hey," A random older lady came up to me and hugged me. I didn't recognize her, "I'm so sorry for your loss, sweetheart. I knew your mother in elementary, she was always a kind soul. She is in a better place." I didn't say anything, just nodded politely.

She hugged me again before walking off, "Y/n?" I turned, and Willow was holding a black bag with the logo of the funeral home on it. "Hey, here is everything: flower cards, bookmarks, the register book, and some guides for you." I nodded, not uttering a word, "I don't know how this feels, so I won't tell you that, but do know you got my number and if you ever need anything you can call me, anytime, day or night, just ask the answering service to patch you through." I nodded and she gave me a small, sad smile before turning away. Folks were lining up to try to talk to me, but the last thing I wanted was to talk to anyone.

"God moves in mysterious ways," An older lady said, hugging me. Why do people just assume I want a hug from someone I don't even know?

"Some people have it worse, you know?" An older man said, patting me on the back.

"Have it worse?!" I yelled, I couldn't take these stupid comments anymore! "I just lost my whole family! My home! Everything! So tell me again why I should be happy it ain't worse? Cause I'm still fucking alive and they ain't?" Everyone looked at me, hushing, staring at me like I was crazy. I huffed and went to find Willow. Tyler was close behind me.