A Fresh Start

Chapter 14

I went inside and sat on top of him. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pressed our foreheads against one another.

"Please, Daryl. Tell me what would have happened if I died on the road?" I whispered.

He was silent for a while.

"I would have died," he replied in a low whisper.

I backed away to look at him. He was looking away.

"Hey, look at me," I said.

When he didn't comply, I placed my hand on his cheek and gently moved his face to look at mine. All though it was dark, I could still see the tears forming in his eyes.

"I know I would die if I lost you. But, I honestly believe you'd outlive me," I said.

"Don't," he started.

"No. Let me finish," I said cutting him off.

"Look, I'm pretty confident that I know how to take care of myself. I mean, I was on my own for more than four months and all. The world being what it is, I was sort of forced into that way of surviving. But the illness takes this to a whole new level. How are we supposed to fight something like that off you know? Yes, we got the meds to our people but what if something like this happens again? I've thought long and hard about this," I paused making sure that he was listening to every word that I was saying before I continued.

"I want you to make me a promise. Can you do that?" I asked.

He was silent and had looked away from me again.

"If something happens to me or if I die, you have to promise that you'll keep going. You're a fighter, Daryl and I want you to keep fighting until you bite the dust. Which I honestly hope will never happen. This world needs good people like you. I love you, which is why I'm asking this of you. And if you love me, like I hope you do, you'll do me the honor of going on," I said.

"Why are you sayin' all this?" he asked looking up at me.

"Because I don't want to die without you knowing how I feel," I said.

"You plannin' on dying sometime soon or what? If you are, tell me right now. Wouldn't want to get too attached," he said his voice rising in volume.

"No. Daryl of course not," I said.

"Then why say all this shit?" he asked.

He looked at me intently.

"Look, in light of current events, we never know what tomorrow may bring. I love you, Daryl Dixon and I always will. I don't ever want you to doubt that. We're fighters you and I. We'll keep fighting till the very end. Will you promise to keep fighting? No matter what happens?" I said.

"Long as you do the same. We're fighters right? The both of us?" he said in a calmer voice.

"Yeah. We are. And I promise," I said.

"Then so do I," he said.

I leaned down and kissed him. He pulled me closer and lifted me. He then gently put me on my back. I gasped.

"What?" Daryl asked pulling away.

"It's cold," I said.

I laughed. I pulled him closer and we continued. Time faded away as we lost ourselves in each other. Once again, his body taking me to a place I'd never been before. We eventually fell asleep. The sun had begun to come through the window. I slowly opened my eyes to find Daryl staring back at me.

"Shit, how long have you been up?" I asked.

"Little while," he said.

"Why do you always do this? How come you didn't wake me?" I asked.