Left to Wander • • Daryl Dixon

Chapter Twenty One

After our little reunion Daryl and I had left the walls of the prison to walk, get some fresh air. We walked in silence for a while before he grabbed my arm, making me face him as our walking had came to a stop. I kept my eyes off him and he tried to get my attention. Quite frankly I wasn't listening, off in my own little world until I was shaken to reality. He shook me by my arms and his expression seemed frustrated and confused.

"Ram, are ya listening to me? Why'd you ask me to come out here?" He asked curious and I started to scratch at my arm again, trying to break through my scab underneath my jacket. He grabbed my hand that scratched furiously. "Stop that would ya? You're gonna hurt yourself." He scolded me again like earlier and I sighed softly.

"Look, I'm sorry. I-i brought you out here to ask for a favor." I started getting nervous as I shifted from leg to leg. His eyes never left me and usually I found comfort in the fact he was looking out for me, but now it worried me further. "D-Daryl... Be honest with me?" I asked gently and he nodded confused.

"I don't know what's got into you or what this is about but yeah I'll be honest." He explained and I noticed the clouds were getting darker and more plump, no longer fluffy and pulled across the sky like cotton candy. I had a feeling it was going to storm and I had started to feel sprinkles here and there, dripping down every once in a while. One hit my cheek, then my shoulder, slowly it just drizzled down.

"How do you feel about me? Really, how do you see me? What are we?" I asked, my hair starting to frizz from the humidity and Daryl just stared at me. He seemed like he didn't know how to explain, or answer for that matter. It had actually started to rain now and my hair was matted against my shoulders and against the sides of my face. The dirt and blood on my face running down with the overwash of rain. My heart pounded wildly and he took a step closer as I felt like my breath got caught in my throat. My gaze stayed away from his.

"I don't know for sure what I feel. I haven't been with anyone and this is new Naya. It's gonna take me a bit to figure out what to do. So I don't know what to tell you, honest." He explained and I nodded appreciating his honesty but it still didn't explain what we were, but I'd just have to accept that answer for the time being. We ran back to the prison sopping wet and I squeezed out my hair, letting all the water drip to the floor as I made my way to the cell block with Daryl. He didn't seem to mind the fact that he was equally wet but I simply went to my cell, finding towels on the top bunk.

I rubbed out my hair and threw the towel over my shoulder, putting up the blanket over the door again I removed my jacket, drying off my clothes to the best of my ability. Wringing out my clothing as I sat in nothing but my black underwear and bra. I yawned softly as I finished drying my clothes till they were damp. I redressed and rested on the bed, noticing the contents of my backpack still spilled everywhere. I sighed softly as I started to pile them back into the backpack, picking up the photo of Vincent and I last.

Hiland, Vincent, and I. A much simpler time and I smiled as all the white snow brought up another memory and I giggled softly. I hadn't even noticed my eyes watering until a drop hit the picture. I wiped it off and rubbed my eyes, drying them slightly. I finally put the picture away before sighing, I touched my scabbed up arms and I felt my breath hitch from the sting of my cuts still being a little open. I went through the backpack looking for my antibiotic cream but remembered I had given it to Hershel. Of course I was happy he had woken up but I wasn't looking to get an infection either.

I shrugged on my jacket and went to Hershel's cell where his eyes were open and I smile brightly. Beth and Maggie both noticed my presence and I grabbed my almost empty tube and winked.

"I'm just gonna take my antibiotics back for a quick second." I said gently before making my way back to my cell, my jacket falling to my shoulders as I put the cream onto my cuts. I grit my teeth as I let out a shaky sigh of pain. I let out a shaky breath and shrugged my jacket on yet again before seeing a shadow cast in my cell. I glanced up to see Carl and my eyes widened surprised. "Carl, don't go sneaking up on people like that." I scolded and hoped he didn't see my raw arms.