"It is a curious thing, the death of a loved one. We all know that our time in this world is limited, and that eventually all of us will end up underneath some sheet, never to wake up. And yet it is always a surprise when it happens to someone we know. It is like walking up the stairs to your bedroom in the dark, and thinking there is one more stair than there is. Your foot falls down, through the air, and there is a sickly moment of dark surprise as you try and readjust the way you thought of things."
― Lemony Snicket, Horseradish
Yesterday after Daryl and I got back to the prison, Daryl immediately went to his cell, not wanting the rest to see him like that, so broken. He actually composed himself a few blocks before the prison came into view but he would feel too exposed so he avoided everyone and rushed upstairs, while I stayed to inform everyone what happened, some, of course, didn't look affected by the news but there were a few that did, including Michonne.
After that I approached Rick and told him I needed an extremely huge favour. I wanted to go for Merle's body and bury it in here, like Lori's, Teresa's and T-Dogs' bodies were.
Rick looked unsure at first but then agreed, it was the least we could do. He went for the keys and accompanied me to the place in the pick-up. We wrapped his body with plastic and then the two of us carried it to the pick-up and put it in the back.
Back at the prison, Michonne and Oliver had started to dig the grave and when we got back I grabbed a shovel and helped them dig a bit less than half of it but I wanted to be part of it, I wanted to help.
Rick and I laid Merle's body in the hole and all of us buried him, when all the dirt was back in place I almost ran to Daryl's cell. Sweat was running down my forehead even when the weather was cold but I couldn't run my hand on it to dry it because I was all covered in dirt.
"Hi," I said softly.
Daryl wasn't crying anymore and his eyes were only a bit puffy but nobody would have guessed he had cried only hours ago.
"We'll do a funeral for Merle," I informed him. "We'll all be out in ten minutes."
"There's no need," he muttered, his voice was a bit hoarse. "Besides, there's no body."
"Actually – there is," I said with a small smile. "I went back for him, Daryl and yeah, we need to do this, he deserves it."
Daryl bit his lip, probably trying to stop himself from crying and then smiled slightly at me. He stood up and walked to me, stepping right in front of me, giving me the biggest hug he has ever given me.
"Daryl, I'm disgusting right now," I said, referring to my clothes covered in dirt. "You can hug me after I change."
He let go of me but left his arms on either side of my shoulders, his small smile was there and just that little thing made it all worth it.
"You dug his grave?" he said it more like an statement than a question. "Is that why you are like this?"
"Yeah," I said shrugging. "Rick, Michonne and Oliver also helped."
"You didn't have to," he told me.
"I wanted to," I said honestly. "How could I leave him there? I'm not just doing this for you but also for him. He was nice to me on his own way. I'll never forget things he did for me. Anyway, I'll change and wash my hands and face quickly and we'll go outside, okay?"
"Okay."
First, I washed my face, hands and arms, the hair will have to wait, then I ran to my room, undressed, and put on a clean blue T-shirt and a pair of jeans, I didn't have anything black so this will have to do.
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Barely Surviving // TWD // Daryl Dixon #Wattys2016
Fanfiction"If you find happiness in this world, Daryl," he said. "You better cherish it, because you don't know how much it's going to last. Happiness and joy are two things pretty hard to find, even more than before and I think you are extreme...
