Daryl's Broken Wings

Chapter 23:

They released Beth from the hospital two days later- now it's like nothing happened, she's back in her shop- the town pretending it's a year ago- and Daryl is living in the new apartment building across the park from Beth's just like before. The only difference is, he's paralyzed and hated.

Sitting in the park in his old uniform, Daryl stares at the passing clouds and wishes he could go back a year ago and change what happened. He honestly doesn't remember choosing Carol to sleep with to ease the pain of Merle's death. He doesn't remember how any of it happened, just that he woke up naked in Carol's room. He tries very very hard to remember everything, but...

"Morning, Mr. Dixon." Beth sweetly pulls him from his fighting memory. In her hand is a candy bar and a card on top.

"Oh...Morning Ms. Greene.... How are you feeling?" He asks as he shakes his mind back to the present.

"Good, I guess...I uhm...I wanted to thank you for the other day. It can't be easy doing what you do- so I made you this." She hands him the chocolate and the card and he smiles up at her as he takes it. "It's dark chocolate filled with orange...it's something new I'm trying. It took me all night to get it right... I hope you like it."

She stayed up all night to perfect this....for me?

"Th...thank you, Ms. Greene. I'm sure it will taste simply amazing." Nodding her head, Beth smiles weakly before turning to go. Daryl feels like an asshole already and it's only 12:00 on a Saturday.

"Mr. Dixon..."

"Yeah?" He looks at her as she quickly turns around.

"My head is a little fuzzy and I'm not sure I remember anything, but may I invite you to dinner so we can get to know each other?" She nervously fiddles with her hands and Daryl's heart jumps into his throat.

She... She wants me to have dinner with her? How I forget that she has lost her memory.

"I...I would love too... But I have to take care of a few things."

Leading her on is only going to cause her more pain in the end...I'm sorry, my love.

"Oh...okay... I understand. Uhm... have a good weekend." She disappointedly stutters and walks off back to the shoppe.

"Yer hurting her, you know that?" Hershel comes from behind a near by tree and Daryl just gazes off in Beth's direction.

"Yeah, well I have no choice. I have to tell her sooner or later that this all is a lie anyway. Might as well make her hate me now when she doesn't remember me than crush her after she starts feeling something." Daryl sighs and looks at the chocolate and card in his hand.

"Ya know, I was thinking- since I have little to no reason to expect you to try and weasle your way back into her heart, I'll make you a deal. You can have Kylie with you if you just leave now. Leaving Beth in this state may be better for everyone." Hershel smizes and Daryl is torn.

"You mean to tell me, you would rather me take yer Grand-daughter away from Beth and everyone and leave Beth to pretend it's a year ago than tell her the truth?"

"Exactly. Kylie won't remember any of this anyway, which is why it's perfect."

"But what if Beth remembers? Sooner or later it might come back to her. Then what?" Daryl turns his chair to face Hershel.

"Might is a very strong word Mr. Dixon. I might just tell Beth a whole bunch of lies right now so she calls the cops on you and you go to jail for life. I might just give you this moment to be a good father and let you move on. Anything can happen. But you forget- I control the pawns in this Chess match. So- do we have a deal? Or shall I Check?" Turning around, Hershel leaves Daryl sitting in the park- torn between right and wrong.

Over in the shoppe, Beth stares out the window at Daryl in his chair. She wonders what he and her father were talking about. It erks Beth that he refused her dinner invitation. She was just being nice.

Something about him makes me feel so safe and natural. Like I never have to worry about anything....his hand on mine felt familar and...and I'm stuck upon the thought that he wants nothing to do with me, when I looked in his eyes and all I see is regret and...love. Why does he look at me like that? What does he have to hide? What is it that draws me to him like a moth to an open flame? Why do I want him to hold me and never let me go, when I have yet to feel his arms embrace me? What is it?

And with a second glance, he's gone, leaving Beth tormented in her shoppe.