Hey Faithfuls. Talk about cray cray stuff and thangs. My boy Rick is having his heart stomped on.

Anyway, hope you're enjoying!

Loves!

How many years had it been? Too many. And what was I doing now? Pushing him away.

How stupid was I? But how confused was I? I always wanted him to be happy, and now he was; could be - with me - I push him away.

Carol, Maggie, and I sit in the cafeteria. I lean back on my chair and close my eyes thinking about his lips. It felt so good to know he wanted me. To know he needed to kiss me. And yet, I couldn't get past the fact that what I was doing was wrong.

I lean forward and let my forehead hit the table. I let out a sigh and low moan. Carol laughs.

'Looks like someone had a rough sleep.'

'You could say that.'

'Gwen, 'fess up.'

I look at Maggie and she's smiling the same mischevious way she always does.

'What?'

'The way he looks at you, and the way you don't look at him - just what happened between you and Rick anyway?'

I groan, louder this time. There's no point in hiding it anymore, so I tell them.

'What?' Carol squeaks excitedly. She reminds me of a cute little squirrel, but then I remember what Daryl does with the squirrels he catches, and I turn to Maggie. She says nothing but smiles wildly.

'Why are you pushing him away?!'

'Because.'

'Gwen! Come on!'

'If you've always loved him-' Carol says quietly, 'why keep him away?'

'Lori.'

'What about Lori?'

I open my eyes wide and shake my wide in surprise.

'I loved her, and I miss her too, but you've got to move on! He has. Clearly.'

'I feel like I'm doing something wrong.'

'Does it feel wrong?'

In my heart, I know it doesn't. But my brain won't let me fully enjoy anything. When I say that, Carol scoffs. She's learning a thing or two from Daryl.

'Honey, if you heart wants him,' She pauses, looking at Maggie.

'Then fuck what your brain says.' Maggie finishes.

They both giggle, causing me to do the same.

'What about Carl?'

'Carl is doing better. He'll be okay.' Carol says, placing a hand over mine.

'Ain't got mucha life left, so live it, girl.' I look up and see Daryl standing in the doorway.

'How long were you there for?' Carol muses.

'Long enough, but I already knew what Gwennie here was feelin'. And you best believe, I know exactly what Rick is feelin' too.' He approaches Carol, carrying a small flower. It's purple in color, and I can see she loves it.

I smile at the two of them and tease, 'Damn, boy. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were going soft on us.'

'Don't ya be changing the subject on me. All I'm sayin' is the same thing I said to your boyfriend, and he took my word for it. Too bad you wasn't so keen on it.'

'You caused last night?'

'Didn't do nothin' ya'll didn't want.'

'Ugh.'

'You tore him up somethin' awful, you know? Ain't fair. He likes you, Gwennie.'

'Where is he? Maybe I should go talk to-'

A scream breaks our conversation, and causes all of us to leap from our table.

Daryl and I run down the hall, leading the way.

'Came from the showers!' He calls, and breaks from me, running faster. He kicks down the door, crossbow ready, and I follow behind, gun pointed, safety off.

I don't hear anything, but water running. I turn the corner and find Karen in a towel, backing away, hand over her mouth. I follow her gaze and see ten, no twelve walkers advancing on us, slowly, but menacingly.

'Karen, get behind me!' Rick's voice.

'You heard?' I ask without turning my gaze to him.

'Ran as fast as I could.'

'Where's everyone else?' I ask him, worried for our group.

'Far from here - Carl, Glenn, Michonne, Tyrese, and a few others are keeping watch over everyone that isn't here.'

'We're caught here, Rick. Can't shoot, in case we attract more, and can't back up anymore, or else they could over take us.'

I know Carol and Maggie stayed back with the others. That only leaves Daryl, Rick and I. Karen has no weapon, so we need to protect her.

Before I can say anything, an arrow hit a walker in the eye, and all at once, the fight errupts.

3 run toward me, and I peg them off, one by one, stabbing each with the knife, then pushing them off before they can get stuck.

We're doing good, and just when I think we've got the upper hand, and there's one a few left, a walker grabs Karen and pushes her to the ground. She screams and hold it away from her face, crying out for help. I grab it off of her, while Rick and Daryl fight the rest. But this walker is strong, and pins me to the wall. My knife flies out of my grasp and I wrestle it's jaws away from my face.

Rick and Daryl, busy with their own fight don't notice what's happening.

'Karen! My knife!' I call.

She's scared, and instead of stabbing the bastard for me, she throws my the knife. I catch it, but by the blade, and end up cutting my hand.

'Argh!' I cry out in pain, but throw the walker off of me. It stumbles backward, and lands on it's back. I stomp on it's head, not wanting to get my bloody hand too close. It goes limp, and I know it's dead.

Anything in life can happen so quickly. Too quickly. Within seconds.

Seconds was all it took for me to see Daryl knocked out on the floor.

Seconds was all it took for me to hear Karen scream.

And seconds was all it took for me to see the last walker in the room about to bite Rick's arm.

'No!'