Daryl's Broken Wings

Chapter 6:

When two police officers are forced to sit in a jail cell all night- it brings up the irony of the situation. Daryl had never been behind bars before- not as a convicted felon that is. True street fighting isn't necessarily illegal as long as there's not gambling or weapons involved- but Hershel had enough of the bullshi to last him a life time. He never expected to be driving back into town at 10:00 at night to help arrest his almost son in law and his sheriff. But when he found out about the reason go the fight- boy was he quick to plop Daryl in a secluded cell that had no toilet and no window. Yes, he was letting anger get the best of him, but the anger was only fueled by the jackass who hurt his little girl and potentially is grand-baby.

"Maggie, did you know about Daryl and Carol?"

"Yes, Beth told me. That's why she left."

"Why didn't I hear about this- I would've taken care of the situation."

"Daddy you would have taken your hunting rifle to him."

"No...I would've tied him to my truck and drove down the interstate before bringing him back to the woods and hanging him just right so his neck doesn't break and he has to dangle there suffering before I use him for target practice!" Taking a deep breath, Hershel calms down when he notices Maggie's fright. She's sure glad Glenn would never cheat on her- she'd hate to see what her dad would do to him.

"Daddy, they were in pain and drunk..."

"He has a little girl! You can't honestly defend him when your sister is the victim."

"Daddy- Daryl is a good guy who made a shitty decision. You can't tell me that you've never made the wrong call when Mom or Annette were alive?" 

Sitting back in his chair, he feels his shoulders slump as he remembers the pain he caused Annette. He made her feel terrible over her telling him about being pregnant with Shawn from a man who was abusive. He raged for days and found solace in a whiskey bottle. He tried to play himself off as the victim for years by trying to forget what he'd done. But when Annette and Shawn died in that car crash ten years ago- he finally gave into the truth.

Waking up in the spare bedroom, Beth tiptoes passed Kylie and into the bathroom. Looking in the mirror, she can faintly see the two scars on her face from a little over a year ago. She feels so much older- though she is only a year older. Funny how pain can cause you to feel different- like a turtle amongst cheetahs. All night she's been thinking about what Drew said. Forgiveness. If she loves him she must forgive him. Maybe it was a one time thing or maybe it was something that will last the rest of their lives- there's no guarantee for anything. Glancing down at her left hand she sobs at the sight of her engagement ring on her finger. She doesn't want it any more for it means nothing. Her Dad was right when he said engagements were meant to be broken. Taking the beautiful ring off her finger she goes to the desk in the living room and finds an envelope. Writing down the police station address- she addresses it to Daryl and places a stamp in the corner. She refuses to put a return address on it. Taking it downstairs and outside she walks down the block and places it in the mailbox.

Forgiveness my ass.