Barely Alive // TWD // Daryl Dixon

Chapter 16 -- Freeing From the Past

"We are products of our past, but we don't have to be prisoners of it."

Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here for?

"They are back!" Michonne exclaimed happily to me, Carl and I had gone back to my room to rest for a bit. Rick and Daryl took more than the three hours they claimed they were going to take.

I sat up quickly and got up. I smiled at Michonne before running down the stairs, Carl following right behind me. I opened the door of block C and saw Daryl getting out of the car, Rick was already out, talking to Glenn, who probably was the one who opened the gate for them.

I couldn't help but run towards Daryl, I knew I was being over dramatic and it wasn't like they had left for a week or even more than a day but I hadn't been away from Daryl since that horrible day. Daryl smiled at me when he saw me and opened his arms wide for me, our bodies collided as we wrapped our arms around each other, Daryl lifted me up effortlessly and instinctively my legs wrapped around his waist, I leant down and pressed my lips against his warm ones as he spun me around.

We really weren't into public display of affection, we didn't feel comfortable doing it, especially when my mother was around but right now I just didn't care and apparently Daryl didn't either. Besides, the only people here were Glenn, Rick, Carl and Michonne and none of them could mind less what we did.

"See? I said I'd be back soon," Daryl told me as he stopped the kiss and looked into my eyes, he was smiling.

"I still worried about you," I muttered.

"There's no need."

Daryl kissed me one more time before setting me back on the floor but still he didn't let go of me. He cupped my face and brought his lips to my forehead before kissing me on the lips once again, when I pulled away I grabbed his hand and intertwined our fingers to go back inside the prison. I noticed then that the others were gone by now. There were some people killing walkers through the fence but they really weren't paying attention to us.

"If you are going to welcome me like this every time I come from runs, then I'll go on them more often," Daryl said with a smirk.

"Oh no, I won't stay one more time."

"Think at this like we're even," Daryl said and I only raised my eyebrows at him as we started walking towards the prison. "You went on runs with Glenn all the time, leaving me here to worry about you."

"I want to go out there," I admitted. "I need to, even if it's for nothing important."

"If you want," Daryl started. "We could go on my bike for a bit, just to have a break from this, if you want. We won't go anywhere specific, just... out."

"That sounds nice," I said smiling. "I have never been so excited about going on your bike."

"I know." Daryl chuckled. "But we can't go today, I'm a bit tired and we don't have much light time left."

"Alright," I said a bit disappointed.

Daryl and I walked to Daryl's cell, which now has mostly been shared by the two of us. We hadn't slept apart from each other since I got back to block C. At first, I was scared of sleeping alone and Daryl felt better to have me where he could see me and then it just become a habit. My cell was just used now to keep my clothes and my stuff.

Daryl lied down on the far left side of his bed, leaving enough space for me, I smiled and lied down next to him, on my side while he was on his back. I rested my arm around Daryl's middle, seconds later he rested his hand on top of mine.