Gravel was crunching. That sound could only be made by distinct pressure being put upon the road leading up to the prison. Carol's heart begins to race. It's too loud for someone walking upon it. It has to be a car. But who does the car belong to – friend or enemy? Her thoughts are going a mile a minute – she can barely hear the words Carl is saying beside her. Please be them; she sends a silent prayer skyward.
The car pulls into view. She recognizes it immediately, and her heart returns to her chest; at some point it had made a home in her throat. She and Carl open the gates, clearing the vehicle's path. As they drive past her, she tries to see who is inside, but she can't properly tell. As the car gets put into park, Carol looks through the windows as best she could, hoping to catch one glimpse of him to ease her aching heart.
Rick steps out of the car. He looks awful; bloody and broken. Carol looks to him, asking a silent question. She's glad to see Maggie and Glenn in one piece, she truly is. But there was still one person she needed to be sure was alright.
But she couldn't see him.
Carol's heart begins its dance beneath her breast once again, as her hand goes to her throat. No. He's okay; he's alive. He is okay. He's Daryl Dixon; he will always be okay.
Rick shakes his head at her, answering her question. Something inside her shatters as the tears begin to pool in her eyes. At once, the human regret and pain begins inside her. She thinks of all the things she wished she had said. But as soon as the pain had come, it disperses. Because Rick is talking to her; telling her how bravely he died, probably. But … No. He tells her how they had found his brother at the town they had ambushed, trying to rescue their group's youngest couple. Rick had –rightfully- not wanted Merle with them in the prison, and Daryl responded with either his brother stays or Daryl goes. At these words, Carol's knees almost give out. He left on purpose; he wasn't taken. He left the group. He left her. Because he wanted to.
The pain rips through her once again.
Rick begins to walk towards the prison, Carol underneath his arm. He's saying things to her, she realizes, but isn't paying attention.
She feels it, right then. Any hope that she had of repairing the heart Ed had broken and beaten, was gone. It would remain shattered, possibly until the day she died. Because the one person she had hopes of opening her heart to had left. He had probably not given a single thought about her; she couldn't selfishly hope for consideration about her on his part. She was a fool to believe he had opened his heart to her as she had for him. He trusted no one but himself; cared for no one but his kin. He had made that clear to her. Perhaps she had been a fool to try and make him open up to her. Try and make him care for her, as she does for him. Possibly make him love her, as she lo-
She couldn't even think the words to herself. They were too ridiculous. He was Daryl; she was Carol. Separate beings. Never to be joined.
Carol walked on.