Life Hurts but Heals

Chapter 25- Pain

Everyone's jaw is on the floor, including Daryl's, but what I don't get is that he's been here the entire time.

"Wait," I question, "wouldn't Daryl already know since he's been here the entire time."

"The nurse took me back to the room where they do all that stuff, and she did a DNA test. I don't know where she got the DNA from though."

"Wait a minute!" exclaims Daryl, "Does she have hair like Foxface's?!"

"Uh... yeah. Why?"

He snaps his fingers, "Did you see a name anywhere?"

"Um.." she pauses on thought, "I think it said Mary."

"Oh my gosh... She's my sister!"

"Wait a minute," Carl says while waving his hands, "I thought all of your family died years ago..."

"I thought they did, but my sister disappeared when we were kids. I just assumed she was dead. She must've used her DNA."

He unlocks the door and runs down the hall. He stops at a door that says Nurses' Quarters. Isn't that convenient.

He basically throws the door open with mixed emotions: excitement, lost, and anger. This is one side that I haven't ever seen or felt before. ("Killing" himself over Nicole only made me angry...)

A woman that looks exactly like him but with Foxface's hair stands before us. I can't believe Nicole didn't notice.

"Mary?..." Daryl walks a little closer.

Her eyes become big, and she backs up until her lower back is presses against a counter.

"Wh-what are you talking about... I have never seen you in my entire life. Please leave me alone weird stranger."

She tilts her head down and doesn't make eye contact as she walks to the door, but Daryl leans on the door with one arm and shuts it furiously.

"No. You are not leaving again," he says coldly as he points at a chair, "Now sit down in that chair."

She gives him a look that says 'really?' but Daryl pushes her in the chair anyway.

"Where have you been since we were kids?! Do you have any idea how our family felt when you left?! We thought you went to the mall on a date!"

"I have no idea what you are talking about. What do you want from me anyway? I am not who you think I am."

"Ok, to answer your question, I want answers. Tell me the truth."

"I am."

"Then you won't mind showing me your ID."

"Of course..." she nods with a little fear in her eyes, the way I felt when Carl put me in that police car.

She gives her driver's license to him and gets up from her chair, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to leave. Good day."

"No!" shouts Daryl as he slams his back on the door, "You are not leaving, Mary Johnson!"

"Wait, give the lady a break," says Chandler, "If she was her biological sister, she would have the last name Dixon."

"Yeah. So leave me alone, you freak!"

"Then how did you get the DNA for her pregnancy test, huh?"

She starts biting her lip in defeat. I smile because she deserves it... Too many people have left me when I needed them most; so I know how he feels.

"Ok..." she confesses, "Daryl, I know you hate me for leaving you, but I had a good reason..."

"There is no reason to leave your family! They're the only thing that stays with you through everything, and you just left us!"

This makes me think so much of Logan, how he didn't come close to me because I knew I was gonna be on my own one day. But it reminds me of myself as well, me leaving them for a night but then noticing they needed me. I can't blame Daryl, but I can't blame Mary either...

"Daryl," I place my hand on his chest to push him back a little, "if she had a reason, it was probably a good reason..."

"Mm, yeah, okay..." he replies first gentle at first, but then turns cold, "Then tell me the reason. Tell me the reason why you had to leave me with no other kids to hang around with and advice I needed that wasn't there! Tell me!"

With all the pressure, and I guess, bad memories, she becomes unconscious.