forbidden love | daryl dixon

Part 11

They took Robert away the next morning and I expected Daryl to go with them, but he didn't. He stayed at the Hilltop for the rest of the week. I kept held up in my room, laying in bed I played over that night in my head.

I tried not to think about what Robert could have done to me if Daryl didn't show up. He was so much stronger and larger than me, it would have been easy for him.

I pushed the thoughts away and attempted to busy myself with work. I checked up on my other patients, most of them didn't say much, I assumed word got around the Hilltop about what had happened.

I felt embarrassed about the whole situation, but mainly angry at Robert for doing what he did to me.

--

They were making the decision today on what to do with him and they wanted me to go to the make shift trial. Maggie insisted it was for the best, like in a real court trial they needed to hear my side of the story. Robert had been around longer than I had, he was a large part of the community here.

They brought him from Alexandria on one the supply trucks. I saw Rick and a few other assorted people pile out of the truck with him in tow. I stood at my window overlooking them, I watched as Daryl joined up with Rick, giving one another a hug and a slap on the back.

I discovered that him and Rick were very close, like brothers even. I longed for that type of friendship, in times like these you needed that kind of bond.

There was a tap on the door behind me, it was Maggie. She gave me a warm smile, "You ready, Lily?"

I looked back to Daryl who was now looking up at my window. I quickly stepped away and walked to Maggie's side, "Yes, I'm ready."

I had prepared what I was going to say, but there was still a nervous feeling crawling in my stomach that wouldn't subside. We walked down the stairs and out the front door, the sun was bright and blinded me momentarily.

Once I could see fully again, I saw all of the residents of the Hilltop standing in formation. There were three chairs set up and Maggie guided me to one. "Don't worry, this shouldn't take long."

Rick and Daryl stood beside a handcuffed and gagged Robert as they brought him to sit down in one of the chairs farthermost from me. Daryl walked towards me, putting his hand on my shoulder. "Be strong," he said into my ear before sitting beside me.

Rick and Maggie were the main speakers, going over what happened through their eyes. "I heard Lily screaming from downstairs," Rick started off. "Luckily, we made it to her in time. When we did ... thats when I saw Robert with his hands on Lily. He was drunk, but that doesn't excuse his actions. No means no and stop means stop."

Maggie spoke next, standing on a small chair so she was tall as Rick. "I saw what happened after Rick and Daryl found Robert. Daryl was hitting him, probably more then he should have, but regardless." She looked over at me and motioned for me to join her. "Let's hear what Lily has to say since it happened to her."

I stood up slowly and looked over at the many watching eyes. As I walked past Daryl, he stopped me by grabbing my hand. He stood up, bringing his lips to my ear. "You tell em exactly what happened, don't spare any details, 'lright?"

I could feel a lump form in my throat as I nodded solemnly to him. I walked over to Maggie as she brought me into a hug, whispering to me. "You can do this, Lily."

I took her place on the chair, standing tall as my hands began to shake. I reached into my back pocket for the paper my speech was wrote on. As I did, I felt myself stop and my arm go limp at my side. I decided to just say what I felt from my heart. Taking a deep breathe and I swallowed the lump formed in my throat.