So I had to type up one of these. It's kind of short but I think it's good.
Never Wanted It Like This
Merle never wanted a little brother. He didn't want someone else here that would have to deal with this hell.
Merle was sitting outside in the lobby of the hospital while his mom gave birth to his baby brother. He may only be nine years old but he knew that he didn't want a little brother. It would just be hell for both of them. His mom had tried to get him excited about it. Saying: 'you're going to be a big brother Merle' and 'now you'll have someone to play with' and all that other crap. He wasn't excited. He didn't want one. This brother was just going to be a pain for him. So when the nurse that came to bring him into his mom's room asked him if he was excited about being an older brother, he just shrugged. He didn't want to disappoint her and say no. He almost didn't want to go into the hospital room and see this new brother. He would rather just go home and pretend that it never happened. But instead he walked inside and stood awkwardly at the front of the room.
The first thing he noticed was that his little brother was crying. Which sucked cause it gave him a headache. His mom was trying to get his brother to shut up which wasn't working at all. His dad was standing over by the window and he looked just plain annoyed. That's what Merle was afraid of. His little brother didn't know any better. He wasn't even a month old yet. His dad would probably end up killing his brother anyway. The second thing he noticed was that he didn't even know his brother's name. But that changed quickly enough. His mom smiled tiredly at him, "Come here Merle, come meet your little brother, Daryl." So they'd gone with the matching names. He wanted to gag. He walked over but he really didn't care. He didn't want this kid in the same house as he was. It wasn't fair to either of them. So he just kind of glanced at Daryl, who was still crying, and then looked away. There he'd done it. Now he wanted to go home.
But his mom wasn't done yet, "Here, why don't you hold him for a minute?" No. No this was not what he wanted. He didn't want to touch Daryl. He didn't want to have his wailing baby brother in his ear. But he couldn't say no either. So he stepped forward and slowly lifted Daryl into his arms. "What do I do?" Merle asked quietly. His mom smiled slightly as she shifted on the bed, "Just rock him for a minute. I'll try and calm him down in just a second." Merle nodded and slowly rocked back on forth on his feet. He wasn't really sure if Daryl had just tired himself out or not but his little brother stopped crying. Instead he closed his eyes and fell asleep in Merle's arms. Had Daryl really just stopped for him? Just for him? No that wasn't possible. The kid must've just tired himself out.
A few days later they were on their way home and his little brother was whining again. Merle had to admit, maybe Daryl wouldn't be so bad. The only way that the kid would stop crying most of the time, would be if he was holding him. Sure, his mom could get his brother to shut up sometimes but it took a lot longer than Merle could. Since Merle really didn't want his dad getting all mad about Daryl's whining, he was the one holding him. That's why Daryl had stopped crying a few minutes ago and why he was now sleeping again. All that kid did was sleep. But even though Daryl was really little, he spent more time with Daryl than he wanted to. But maybe that wasn't really a bad thing. Daryl was good company sometimes when he wasn't crying. Then again the kid was a few days old. He couldn't argue back or really say anything at all.
It was a year later when Merle had the happiest moment in his life. His dad was out in jail for something that Merle didn't even know. He had walked home from school with one of his friends and was just arriving in his house. His mom, like usual, was trying to get Daryl to talk. It never worked. Daryl was a stubborn kid. Merle tossed his bag into the room and went to sit down. He tried to ignore the conversation that his mom was trying to have with Daryl. It was the same thing he heard every day. But today was a little different because Daryl actually said something. It wasn't what his mom wanted though. She had been trying to coax Daryl into saying 'Mama' for the longest time. Merle smiled slightly when Daryl had given her a very confused look the first time she started this.
He also knew that he would be called over to try and get his brother to talk as well. Sure enough. "Merle, come give it a try will you?" his mom asked. Merle sighed, "Mom, I've tried all week. If he doesn't want to talk then he's not going to." His mom called him again, "Merle, just try today ok?" Merle still didn't move from his spot in the chair. He was not going to force his little brother to do anything. "Merle…" his mom said in that warning tone that all kids hated. Merle sighed again but before he could get up his mom cut him off, "Merle!" At least that's what he thought at first. But he knew that wasn't his mom's voice. His eyes fell on his little brother who was smiling at him. Had Daryl just…? Daryl kept that goofy smile on his face as he pointed at him, "Merle." His brother had just talked and it had been his name. Not his mom and thankfully not his dad but his name.
He started laughing, "My name, mom." His mom smiled but he did look a little sad that it hadn't been what she wanted it to be. But she wasn't the best mom ever either. "Will you watch him for a few minutes Merle? I'm going to go upstairs," his mom said. Merle nodded and waited for his mom to leave before turning towards Daryl He lifted his little brother up and walked out of the room. He still couldn't believe that his brother had said his name first and not any of that other crap his mom was trying to teach him. He looked into Daryl's eyes with a little smile, "That's right. You know the only one who's gonna care about ya. You know that don't ya?" Daryl smiled at him again and hit him in the face, "Merle!" Of course his little brother would have to hit him. "Hey watch where you're swinging your arms. You don't gotta hit me. I'm the one you like here."
Daryl grew up. He was a smart kid too. Merle was proud of his little brother. There were still the times that Daryl annoyed him but they were less frequent. But Daryl still didn't deserve to be here. Not in this family. He was too sweet for what their dad did to them. He deserved none of that. But Merle kept Daryl close to him as much as he could. If he could protect his little brother, then he would. He'd give Daryl a chance to grow up and be whatever he wanted to be. He never wanted Daryl to be part of this family. His little brother's life shouldn't have to be like this. But it was. And there was nothing Merle could do to change it. So the first time that his little brother got hit, he helped him. And he apologized over and over to Daryl as his little brother cried. But that was the last time that Daryl got hit. The last time that Merle ever let his dad get near Daryl again. Until he left.
So as the Governor shot him, he thought of that. This was his final act as a brother. And like he'd secretly promised Daryl all those years ago, if he could protect his little brother then he would. He'd give Daryl that chance to finally be the person that he wanted to be. Even if it meant having to do that without him.
I had to throw in that little ending. Thanks for reading guys! Hope you liked it! Reviews would be great!
