A Broken World

Chapter 26

"I don't get how people in books and movies can just lay there after that in all their sweat and bodily fluids..."

Daryl chuckles into my hair, as we lay in my bed. The sun is just starting to come up, but we both haven't felt much like sleeping. I sit next to him, my head on his chest.

"And they fall asleep in each other's arms..."

"I think you're over tired," he says.

"I'm used to staying up all night. Can I ask you something?"

"Sure," he says.

"The other day when we were decorating the tree you mentioned about your family and..."

"You're curious.... Merle and I didn't have it good growing up. Merle is a dick because we were raised by one. Our mother did nothing about it either. In fact she ...."

"Was like my mother?"

He nods.

"She burned our house down, killing herself from a lit cigarette. My father, he was a drunk."

"Did you hurt you?" I whisper.

Daryl nods his head against my hair. I twist my body so that I can look up at him. He presses his forehead against mine and closes his eyes and sighs.

"I'm sorry," I whisper.

"Not your fault my parents were assholes," he half laughs.

"I know. No one should have to grow up with asshole parents. It's why I'm trying to get Liam out of here," I say.

"You're doing a good thing Chloe."

"You think so?"

"I do. Liam's a good kid. He needs someone to look up to."

"I'm not sure I'm the best person for him. Sometimes I think would he be better off if CPS took him," I say.

"Nah. I think you are more than qualified. You do everything now anyway."

"He likes you..."

"Liam?"

"Yeah," I whisper. "I'm just afraid that he's getting too attached. I know you're leaving in..."

"I think I want to stay. I mean maybe not here, but I wouldn't mind getting my own place and doing my own thing."

"You mean that?" I sit up to get a better look at him. He smiles sincerely and nods. "Is that really what you want to do? Or are you saying that to make me feel better?"

"I mean it. I've been tired of following around Merle like I'm a lost puppy. I want to do my own thing, or try to at least," he tells me.

"Where would you go?"

"Here, I want to stay here."

"What made you change your mind? You know about me?" I ask.

He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear, his hand lingers and I shiver. I close my eyes loving the feel of his hands close to my skin.

"I'm not really sure, I've never really wanted to be with anyone before. This is all so new for me. You scare me Chloe Pierce."

"Scare you? I think you've had your fair share of things to be scared of, I don't think I'm one of them," I half laugh.

"You make me feel things."

"I'm glad I'm not alone," I say just above a whisper.

It gets quiet for some time. I don't think he's sleeping, and I'm definitely not sleeping. His breathing is slow, and my eyes feel heavy.