A Broken World

Chapter 21

There's a knock on my door, I'm not even sure what time it is. I roll over and realize Daryl is still in my bed. He's out cold, lightly snoring and everything.

"Daryl," I whisper.

I hear another knock.

"Daryl," I say a little louder.

"Be right there!" I call out.

No one answers, so I'm pretty sure it's Liam.

"Daryl!" I almost yell.

His eyes flutter open and he looks at me. It takes his eyes a minute to adjust. He looks to the window and then back at me.

"Shit!" he says.

He stands and starts to get his clothes back on. I put my pajama pants back on, I ended up falling asleep in just my underwear and t-shirt. Daryl heads for the window without a word. Just before he slides the curtain out of the way he turns around. I adjust my pants and look up at him. In a few quick strides he's across the room with his lips planted firm on mine. We don't touch each other except with our lips. He hesitates, but eventually pulls away. Without another word he does a quick check before hopping out the window.

When I finally open the bedroom door, I see Liam standing there with a box of Christmas ornaments from the hallway closet. When I get into the living room he has snack trays set up with three bowls of cereal. He signs Daryl's name sign and I tell him to check outside. He's got the milk and three different cereals on the coffee table. I pour myself a bowl as Daryl and Liam walk through the door.

"What's going on?" Daryl asks confused.

"I think he wants you to eat breakfast and set up the tree with us," I tell him.

"Oh. Sure bud," he says looking directly at him.

He walks over to the coffee table looking at his choices. Liam has taken out, honey nut cheerios, frosted flakes, and fruity pebbles. Daryl reaches for the frosted flakes and pours himself a bowl. Liam is so happy that he's here, he doesn't stop signing. He tells Daryl he had an amazing day yesterday and challenges him to another game of PACMAN.

Liam eats quickly and starts for the ornaments. I take the bowls into the kitchen as they start hanging things up. I wash the bowls and throw them on the dish rack. I come back into the living room and sit down on the floor to look through the box of stuff. Liam and Daryl are having a conversation while putting up the ornaments. Out of the corner of my eye I watch them, Daryl's gotten a little better at understanding what Liam is talking about.

I turn my attention back to the box and pull out an old ornament. It's one that my mom and I made together when I was five. It's a salt dough ornament, the paint has since faded and chipped. I remember making the dough with her, and pushing my hands into the squishy dough. My hand was supposed to be a Christmas tree, there's a small star glued onto the top, the top tip has a chip. I run my hand over my small one and a knot forms in my throat. It has my name across the bottom and my age. A single tear drips down my cheek. I wipe it away trying to suppress the sob that's building in my chest. It comes out sounding like half a snort or a laugh.

"Hey Liam. Why don't you go in the kitchen and see if you can find us some junk food?" I hear Daryl say.

I hear his footsteps running towards the kitchen. Seconds later a warm hand rests on my shoulder.

"She was different then," I cry. "She loved doing crafts, and playing tea party with me. We'd play for hours, it was just her and I most of the time while dad worked. She always told me she loved me..." My voice shakes, "I remember making this. It was a week before Christmas and we had just baked cookies. I remember smelling them in the oven. We ate the cookies while we waited for the dough to set in the oven. I was so excited to paint it. See those dots that look like round ornaments? They are my fingers," I bite my lip hard trying to hold back a sob. "I wish she'd never met Travis, and that we'd never moved here," I sob.

Daryl wraps his arms around me holding onto me as tight as he can. I worry that someone might walk in, but it doesn't seem to bother him.

"I wish my mom would have done things like that with me," he says. "My parents were assholes." He stops for a second. "All my mom cared about were her damn cigarettes. Well that bit her in the ass since she burned down our own damn house." He sounds angry. "My father he beat us, Merle and I. Honestly? I don't even know why they had kids in the first place or how we even survived as babies. I can't remember one good memory from my childhood," he sighs.

I look up at him in complete shock that he's just told me this. His wall is crumbling right in front of my eyes and I'm the one breaking it down.

"I'm sorry," I whisper wiping some more tears.

"Don't be, I'm not."

We both jump when we hear the sound of Merle's bike coming up the driveway. He backs away and stands dusting off his pants.

"Tell Liam I'll see him later, okay?" I nod, unable to speak. Then I throw the stupid ornament at the wall, it cracks into hundreds of tiny pieces. I fold my legs up and pull them into my chest resting my chin on my knees.

I hear Liam come into the room and quickly scramble to my feet. He asks about Daryl and I tell him we'll see him later. He doesn't ask questions, just goes back to putting the ornaments on the tree. Liam pulls out the golden star and holds it up to me. I look up and since the tree isn't that and it should be easy to pick him up. I lift him, he's light for his age and he sets the star at the top of the tree. He signs Christmas tree all done and looks pleased with our work. He looks over at me and tells me that he wants to buy a Christmas present for Daryl. I can't say I'm shocked the kid has grown an attachment to him. I tell him I'll think about it. He's not thrilled with my answer but agrees. I tell him to finish up any homework because the babysitter is coming to pick him up in a little while.

I head back to my room to get ready for work, when I hear voices. Daryl didn't fully shut my window when he left this morning so I can hear everything.

"How'd it go yesterday?" I hear Daryl ask.

"Not very well," I hear Travis say.

"I don't even think it's safe for them to be here anymore," I hear him say.

"How did they find out where you live anyway?"

"Followed me home a few months before you guy got here. Been a problem since."

"Thanks for getting rid of them yesterday," Travis says.

"Not a problem," I hear Daryl answer.

Fuck, I knew it. I had this weird feeling that something was up when he offered to go with us. They wanted us out of the house so that they could deal with someone who was being a problem. I'm tempted to take Liam and get an apartment across town far away from here. It's not like my mom would notice anyway, she rarely comes out of that room. When she does come out she doesn't even know what's going on. I'll start looking for places after work tonight, maybe I can just leave without telling them. It's worth a shot.

As for Daryl I'm done. I shouldn't have even started it, but stupid alcohol made me do it. I was the one to start this whole thing and if I would have kept my distance none of this would have happened. I'm keeping my window locked tonight, and I'm keeping Liam away from him. As soon as Christmas is over Liam and I are out of here.