Lilly Watkins has always been the strong one compared to her twin. That doesn't change when the dead start walking. Taking care of her family during the apocalypse, she never relied on anyone else. When she meets Daryl Dixon, a more temperamental pe...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
The destruction left behind is silent, only the sound of Beth's sobbing can be heard, echoing around the clearing, which she's slowly pulled away. Something breaks between Shane and Rick and I don't know if it'll ever be recovered. Before they seemed like close friends but Shane directly going over Rick like this ruined whatever they were.
"Are you okay?"
I jump at the voice, not knowing how long I've been standing by the barn. Everyone is gone, except the dead. "I'm fine, Marie. Thanks for checking. How's Ashley?"
"She's a bright and sadly realistic young girl. She knew her friend was gone a long time ago, Lilly."
I nod. I wanted to shield my niece from the horrors of the world but I had failed after our last group. With Shane, this was turning into the same situation. "What do you think we should do? I don't want to drag her into winter again. She almost died of pneumonia the last time."
Marie pauses for a moment. "I think we should give them a chance. Milly's health seems to be improving from being here."
Feeling ashamed, I look over at my forgotten twin sitting on a picnic bench, coloring with Carl and Ashley silently. I hadn't had the capacity to worry about her for a long time. If this group is healthy for her, we needed to stay.
"I'll give it longer, then. You must think I'm a bad sister."
"I really don't. I know you have too much on your shoulders and you keep adding more to it, like Daryl. Honey, you can't protect everyone, but you can let them protect you."
"What do you mean?" I ask sharply.
"I think you know what I mean. Let people care about you." With that, she heads over to Ashley, Carl, and Milly.
"Are ya okay?" Speaking of the devil.
"I wish people would stop asking me that." I look up at the man, noticing how tired he looks. "How's Carol?"
"I think she's known her daughter was gone for a while. Longer than I did." He hangs his head slightly and impulsively, I reach out, caressing the stubble along his cheek. His blue eyes meet mine intensely.
"You know, I'm here, Daryl."
He chuckles, but there's no humor in it and takes a step backward. "Are you? You wanted nothin' to do with me a bit ago. That night, I didn't forget it, ya know? It keeps me warm at night. Tell me that it was more than a drunken night." I can tell he's pleading with me.
"Daryl, that night was a drunken night! We barely knew each other then! But we've gotten to know each other now and still are!" It's my turn to beg. "I have a family to protect and they come first and will always."
"I can't deal with this," he sighs, going to stomp away but I grab his arm.
"Can't you be patient with me like you are with Carol?"
