Home Is Your Heartbeat ('Home Is' Book Two - Daryl Dixon)

Chapter 19 - Follow My Feet (Unlikely Candidates)

NATE

"Sorry, Morgan. I feel like a real drongo."

I angrily wipe the dampness from my eyes. Just as I've done previously over the last few days....more than once  🥺

"Funny Face....never apologise to me for your tears. When I know you're hurting and you don't cry? Then  I'm gonna be really worried"  His soft and gentle southern voice replied.

Another one I could listen to all day long. Along with yet another new nickname I seem to have acquired?

"But you truly need to learn how to speak English, young lady"  Morgan winked, getting the smiling eye roll he aimed for.

"I do?  Maybe you  should learn something other than 'Muuuuricaaan', Mr Jones. I suppose dumbass is the word I should've used instead of drongo?"  I teased back grumpily as we continued following the rail tracks.

A few weeks ago we commenced our journey to the little cabin just outside of Terminus.

You know....the one where Carol and I left Juju with Ty? Where Sasha, Rick and Carl were reunited once more with the family they loved but thought they'd lost.

The cabin where I  was never reunited with the man I love. Because he  decided that my staying dead and lost forever was the best thing for him! 

I drifted back to that awful evening at the prison. When Daryl aimed his self-destructive fury at me for the first time. And he'd uttered those awful words.

I'd no idea then, how prophetic they'd turn out to be.

Enough!

Sorry folks....don't mean to be a misery guts. I lay the blame solely at Morgan's feet  😉

Every day as we walked, he told me a little more about himself and urged me to do the same.

This morning when we rocked up to the cabin, I'd just gotten to the bit about the wedding. Daryl's and mine.

We arrived....and they weren't there.

Duh!  Well of course they wouldn't be, Derpa. They'd have left months ago.

Took all the supplies I'd left for them, which was good. And left without a backwards glance or note. Which was also....

....good  😔

So, please excuse me if my emotions are all over the place. But with recounting happy and sad times for Morgan's benefit, my period paying out big-time, then making it to the cabin....

Well, right now?

I feel like I've jumped off a cliff with a bungee cord wrapped around my insides. One minute heading for a faceplant in the dirt and the next....soaring on wings to the sky.

I'm genuinely glad to be with Morgan though. I like him....like him a whole lot. Especially after yesterday. It's no wonder Rick felt such a gravitational pull towards him as well.

Yesterday?

He was practising with his Bo staff, going through the movements. While I watched him like I used to with Mikey back home.

Morgan stopped suddenly and picked up the other Bo....Eastman's staff. Then handed it over.

Went back to his stance and looked at me.

"Well, what're you waiting for....engraved invitation....golden ticket? "

We continued going through the motions. He then took me through the Omote and Kumite defence / attack combinations. I was a stumbling, bumbling novice compared to him.