The grass seemed colder. The sky seemed grayer. My breath seemed shorter. There wasn't even that much blood. It wasn't that deep. I unbuttoned my shirt to look at it, I was right, the edges of the scratch were swollen. I got scratched ten minutes ago and I was already burning up like crazy.

I'm an idiot. I should shoot myself now. I don't wanna bite Carol. She doesn't even know... She asked me to go on this run with her...

"Please just come with me" she begged me

"Why, just get Rick"

"No!"

"Why not? "

"Because he can't protect me like you can"

I just looked at her as her eyes watered "No ones saved me as much you"

I hated myself so much more. She wants me to protect her. I'm just going to end up hurting her. She was still raiding this building by herself and I'm keeping watch as best as I can while dying at the same time.

"Daryl!" She screamed for me, something was wrong. I got up and ran, screw the pain in my chest, screw closing the shirt, screw the crossbow.

I ran into the building and saw her pinned down by three walkers. One of them was literally inches away from her neck. I shoved her to the floor and the walker bit intk mine instead. I heard her screaming. The other two walkers took an arm each. Carol put them down, one at a time. She was panicking, I could see it in her eyes. When she pulled the walker off my neck I fell to the ground. She fell to her knees by my side, eyes watering.

"Daryl, you could've put them down, you didn't have to-" she stopped when she saw me nodding.

I pulled open my shirt, she saw the scratch. "This..happened..outside" I couldn't catch my breath.

She put her hands over the bites on my neck.

"Carol..."

"No, save your strength" a tear rolled down her cheek. I reached up and wiped it away, smearing blood on her face at the same time.

"Carol.."

"Shh!" I could tell from the look in her eyes that she didn't know what to do.

"I'm sorry"

"What are you sorry for? I asked you to come" she was talking through tears.

"For..everything. Not looking..for you. For...not...finding..Sophia" Even my eyes were watering up.

She just looked down at her lap and grabbed my hand.

"Carol,..you're..the most..important...person...to me... I came...home..for you. You're...my...every..reason."

I placed my bloody hand on her cheek "Carol..I love..you"

She simply cried harder in response. Then she came closer to me and lightly, so lightly kissed me. She put her hand in my hair, like it would make me feel better. It kinda did.

"I'm..sorry..Carol"

"Shh, don't talk" she was shaking harder than I was. I kept my hand on her cheek and watched her eyes. I was gonna miss those beautiful blue eyes.

I didn't feel warm anymore. I didn't feel the blood even though I knew that it was flowing down my neck and into my ears. I couldn't feel anything. I stopped shaking. My breath was cut short. My hand fell from Carol's face and onto her lap. I closed my eyes so she wouldn't have to see them empty.