In Memoriam

The prison was in mourning. Some of the Woodbury refugees mourned the madness of the man they called their leader. Others, mostly those who enjoyed watched the arena fights, were shocked to learn of Merle's passing. The newest additions to the group got settled in, chattering happily among themselves. Completely, perhaps, even blissfully unaware of the sadness among the original inhabitants of the prison.

Hershel Greene watched Rick and Daryl unload two covered bodies from the back of one of the trucks.

"Who'd we lose?"

"Andrea," Rick replied.

"The Governor's butler-advisor , too," chipped in Daryl.

Hershel sighed. He'd recently come to consider Andrea as good as a daughter, as he considered all the members of the Prison family. He assumed he might be the only one willing to mourn Milton Mamet as well. Rick handed the older man a small leather bound notebook.

"This was on the walker's body. Records of what's been happening. You-or anyone willing-might wanna finish where he left off," Rick said. He and Daryl each grabbed shovels and walked toward the makeshift graveyard.

Greene closed his eyes in pain, recalling the conversation he and Milton had had outside the feed store. He thumbed through the notebook, scanning a few passages that caught his eye.

Penny died today…I tried to protect her, I honestly did…Philip blames me for her death. Perhaps he's right.

…She's one of those…things now. Philip swears there is still some humanity left in her. I promised him I'd do all I can to see that she can be cured. I've given up on trying to convince him to put her down.

A folded piece of paper tumbled out of the notebook and fluttered to the floor. Michonne picked it up and handed it to him as she walked by. Poor woman hadn't said a word upon returning. Andrea's death must have been a cruel blow for her. Hershel opened the paper and read.

Andrea,

If you're reading this, then I'm dead. Philip has wanted me dead for longer than you know. I'm so sorry for everything that's happened. His madness is my fault. You'll think me a fool, dying to protect you. I had to, I wanted to tell you all this, but I never could. It's too late now, but you need to know. I love you. I always have, ever since that picnic in Woodbury. I knew I could never be the man you needed, but I tried and it cost me my life. But it was worth it, I'd die a thousand times over if it meant keeping the woman I love safe.

Yours always,

Milton

Hershel swallowed hard and hobbled to where Rick and Daryl where digging.

"Bury them together."

Rick blinked in confusion and Hershel handed him Milton's letter. The sheriff put a hand to his mouth and nodded.

"Yeah…okay."

Daryl bent over Milton's body and pulled back the sheet.

"Ya forgot these, Sunshine," he said, pulling a pair of broken eyeglasses out his coat pocket and putting them on the body. "Gonna need those for the Big Laboratory in the sky, bro."

Rick carefully pulled back the sheet covering Andrea and placed Milton's final message to her upon her chest, laying her hand over it. Perhaps she knew, perhaps Milton had told her how he felt before he died. If not, then Rick was certain she knew now.