3.
The smell of the food woke her up. She hadn't eaten properly for days, so she was almost drooling.
She opened her eyes and glanced around. She was lying on the bed in a little cabin. The room was illuminated by candles and an oil lamp on the table.
The man she met in the forest stood nearby, obviously waiting for her to wake up. The man realized that she was awake, smiled soothingly and stepped closer to the bed. He showed her something. A plate full of food. Roasted meat, boiled potatoes, green peas.
She couldn't take her eyes off the plate.
"I thought ya might be hungry. You can eat now", the man said gently.
He didn't look dangerous now, but she would have to be fast. It was always the same with the food, she knew it. He might change his mind or want something in return. He might take the food away at the last minute. When it comes to food … anything was possible.
She looked at the man suspiciously and remembered their struggle in the forest all too well. This man, her new owner, was both fast and strong. She wouldn't beat him with strength. She would have to be cunning, she figured and narrowed her eyes.
She stood up from the bed slowly, eyes on the plate. Then she rushed closer to the man, grabbed the plate out of his hands and ran to the corner of the room. There she squatted on the floor and began to devour the food as fast as she could glancing at the man suspiciously.
He didn't stop her, not once. He just watched her while she ate. He seemed sad somehow, she noticed.
She licked her fingers and swallowed large pieces greedily, without chewing.
xxx
Daryl looked at Beth and felt like crying. Only a person who had been starving would eat like that.
He remembered Beth's home, the farm. Delicious meals. Tablecloths and napkins made of linen. Fine porcelain tableware. The graces by Hershel.
And now this. A daughter of the great house eating on the floor like an animal.
Oh sweet Jesus, Beth. What did they do to you? he thought sadly. He inhaled and blinked. He couldn't cry, not now. He had to be strong - for both their sakes.
He coughed lightly to get her attention.
"Ya clearly don't remember me, but I'm telling you - we have known each other for years. We are friends, but we lost each other two years ago. I knew your father, Hershel, and your sister, Maggie, too. My name is Daryl. And your name is Beth", he said to her firmly.
Hershel? Maggie? Daryl? Beth?
She froze between two mouthfuls.
Beth sounded like someone she used to know a long time ago. Beth sounded fragile. And stupid. Weak too.
She frowned and swallowed the last pea. He pointed to her empty plate demandingly.
"Ya want more?" Daryl noted and took a step closer.
She nodded.
She knows how to communicate. Good, he thought and took another step closer.
"Gimme the plate, please… Beth", he said emphasizing each word.
She handed him the plate slowly.
Daryl took it looking at her intently.
"Thank you, Beth. Ya have been starving for a long time. Giving you too much food all of a sudden can cause problems. So… this is enough for tonight. Do you understand me, Beth?", he asked slowly.
She nodded reluctantly, still looking at the plate longingly.
"But I have more. Tomorrow you can eat again, Beth. Here with me ya can eat as much as you want… every day", he explained firmly.
"But in return ya have to promise me something. No hitting. No kicking. No biting. No running away. Can you promise me that, Beth?"
She didn't say anything but with a full stomach she relaxed visibly.
This man was nice, she decided.
"Would you like to come a bit closer, Beth?" he asked politely.
She shook her head vigorously. No, she liked it in the corner. The corner was good. No one could attack her from the sides when she was in the corner. She had learned that a long time ago.
So Daryl stepped closer to her and squatted on the floor too. Their faces were at the same height now. Daryl looked at her gently.
"Do ya remember anything from the past? Or do you remember… who did… all this… to you?" he asked in a low tone.
No, no. She didn't want to think about that. Ever.
She shook her head again.
But then - suddenly - she truly remembered something. She blinked, clearly surprised.
She looked at the nice man in the eyes. Finally she spoke for the very first time.
"My name is Beth", she said in a whisper.
"I know", a nice man replied.