Andrea pushed open the door to find Michonne frantically packing bags. "We got to talk."

"We got to go," Michonne responded.

I leaned against the wall and Andrea crossed her arms. "The Governor told us what happened. Michonne, you can't do things like this. You're freaking people out. You're freaking us out."

"Woah. Don't include me here, Andrea. Michonne is being herself. She's acting completely rational to me."

Andrea shot me a look. "Maybe you should wait outside."

"To hell I will," I shot back. "We need to talk about this. I'm apart of this as much as you are. Since when did you think it was okay to start bossing people around?"

"Since I seem to be the only one who sees that this place could be an opportunity for the three of us."

"But you won't take a minute to see if this place is too good to true or not. That's all Michonne was looking for since you refuse to."

Michonne was completely ignoring the conversation that was happening behind her. "The northeast wall is guarded by some girl. We can escape there after dark."

"We are not prisoners here," Andrea defended.

"No one who comes here leaves."

"What are you talking about? It's safe. There's food, there's shelter. There's people for God's sake."

"That might be why no one leaves, Michonne. There's some sense of what used to be." I wasn't trying to take anyone's side in this. I trusted and respected both women too much to choose between them.

"That's what they show you," Michonne snapped. "But you can't leave unless they make you."

"You are not making any sense." Andrea was just as confused as I was. "Mich, maybe you need to sit for a minute."

"You need to trust me."

"And you need to give me more to go on. We got a good thing going here."

"I thought this was temporary."

"So did I." I thought the decision was made to leave today. All of a sudden we're staying here longer.

"And I think we need this. I want to give this place a real shot."

"I tried."

"Breaking into houses? That is not trying. That is sabotaging."

"You're trying to make us all leave. Michonne, as much as I think you're right, you can't do that. You can't force us out." I hated doing this. Staying neutral was one of the hardest things I had ever attempted and I was failing miserably.

"This place is not what they say it is."

"So what? We just pack up and leave, just like that?" I wasn't feeling real great about disapearing in the middle of the night. It would be more dangerous.

"Just like that."

"Michonne, we can leave if we want to. We just need to go to the gate and tell them we want out. They won't keep us."

"Yes, they will."

"Let's go see then." Andrea grabbed an armful of bags and forced open the door. Michonne didn't hesitate. She followed everything Andrea did.

I stared at the remaining bags on the floor. Was this really it? Were we really going this time? I froze. I wasn't ready to decide what I want to do. I can't leave but I can't stay. I sighed. I didn't have a choice. My two best friends were on the way out. I wasn't going to lose any more people I loved. I grabbed the bags and jogged to catch up to Michonne and Andrea.

The three of us marched through the crowd of people that lined the streets. Eyes caught our faces and our bags.

My heart nearly stopped when I heard Merle's voice behind us. "Hey, hey, hey, girls. Where y'all off to in such a hurry? Huh?"

I stopped and watched him run up to us. Michonne grabbed my arm and pulled me forward. She desperately wanted the three of us out of here.

"Hey, come on, now. Come on. Hey, hey, hey. Y'all are breaking my heart running away like that."

"We're leaving," were the only words Michonne said.

I pulled my arm out of Michonne's grasp. I wasn't going to be cold to my brother. At one time, yes, I would have gladly left him in the dust. Not now. Now, things are different.

"It's almost curfew." His voice cracked slightly. "I'd have to arrange an escort. I mean, the party's still going on."

I finally said something. "Merle, it's time."

He nodded. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, we are."

"All right. Wait here a second." Merle walked up to one of the guys on the top of the wall.

Andrea was growing impatient. She marched away. "The Governor told us we were free to come and go whenever we liked."

Merle put his hand up to stop her. "Sweetheart, nothing personal here, but you're gonna have to step back."

Taken aback, she walked slowly back to us. In that one second, she started to believe what Michonne was preaching.

"See?" Michonne asked. "There's always a reason why we can't leave yet."

A shout sounded from the wall. "Clear."

Merle was leaning against the gate. "Now if I was y'all, I'd find some shelter before nightfall." He lifted the lock and pulled the gate wide open.

I shook my head. Michonne was wrong.

She couldn't believe what she was seeing. "They knew we were coming. This was all for show."

"Do you hear yourself? How can you know that? And why would they bother?"

"Ladies," Merle urged.

"Close the gates," Andrea demanded.

"No," Michonne objected.

"I practically begged the Governor to let you stay."

"I didn't ask for that."

"You didn't have to. That's what friends do for each other."

"It goes both ways."

"Woah, woah." I put my arm between them. "Let's just take a step back here."

Andrea ignored me. "So you want to run around out there with walkers on chains eating twigs? Is that right?"

"Andrea, step back."

Michonne was proud of those months we spent out there. "We held our own."

"Eight months. Eight months on the road moving place to place, scavenging, living in a meat locker. That was no life. I'm tired. I'm tired. I don't have another eight months in me. Not like that. And you, I..."

"What about me?"

"I'm afraid you're gonna disappear."

I dropped my arm. I didn't give it much thought, but Andrea was right. Michonne always did give off that vibe that she wouldn't be around long enough.

"We always talked about this place, didn't we? A refuge. That idea is what kept us going."

Andrea's words didn't matter. Michonne's mind was already made up. "Are you coming or not?"

"Don't do this. Don't give me an ultimatum. Not after everything."

"Are you coming or not?" Michonne repeated to her.

Andrea didn't say anything, but that said enough.

Michonne pushed past her. "You'd just slow us down anyway."

I instinctively started to follow. We were leaving. That was the plan. Leave. Don't look back. Get out while you can. Don't look back. Don't look back.

I looked up from the ground and saw Merle eyeing me. I couldn't do it. I couldn't leave him again. "I can't." The words just barely escaped my lips.

Michonne turned, wide eyed.

"I'm sorry, Michonne. I can't leave. I can't go back out there."

"Not you too."

"Why don't you just stay here? We can work this out."

She shook her head. "I can't believe you, of all people, would fall for their lies."

"I'm not, Michonne." My stare moved quickly to Merle then back to her.

"I see." She nodded.

"I'm sorry."

This time, she didn't say a word. Michonne turned from Andrea and I and walked away. Merle pushed the door closed, separating us from her. Andrea watched her leave through the crack in the gate. I just stayed where she left me.

It seemed like forever, but it was only a few seconds before Andrea nudged my shoulder. "Come on. We need to put these away." She lifted the bags slightly and started to walk to our room.

I only nodded, not sure what to say. Michonne was such a good friend and I just let her leave.

Once we were back to our room, I dropped the bags and sat on the bed.

Andrea leaned against the wall. "Do you want to go out and join the rest of the party?"

I shook my head once. "She's not here anymore, Andrea, but she's still right. We need to be careful around here."

"Ariel-"

"Promise me, Andrea, you'll keep your guard up."

She blinked once and then answered. "Okay."

"Good."

We stayed in the silence for a little while until Andrea couldn't take it anymore. She left without saying another word to me. She knew I was pissed about Michonne leaving.

Honestly, I wasn't pissed about her leaving. She did what she thought was best for her. I just wish she decided to stay with us here. If I was going to mad at anything, it would have to be this world. We are thrown tough choices every damn day. I just wanted there to be one day where I didn't have to decide anything at all.

After awhile, I emerged from the bedroom and made my way down to the street. I didn't talk to anyone. I only walked to the closest bench and sat down there. The slight breeze blew across my face and through my hair. It was calming. It was getting darker and they would want me to go in for curfew, but I didn't care. I was a grown woman. They weren't going to tell me what to do.

I didn't even notice him at first, but Merle sat beside me. "You all right?"

"Yeah. I'm fine." I didn't look at him. He knew I was lying, but didn't say anything about it.

"I'm glad you decided to stay."

"Yup."

"Are you going to the thing tonight?"

"I'm not in the mood. I don't even know what it is."

He grinned. "It will cheer you up."

"Merle-"

"Ariel, come on. You can't spend your life moping around."

"It's been an hour."

"And that's long enough. Follow the people and grab a seat in front. You're gonna want to be up close for this one."

He really wanted me there. "Fine."

Merle tapped my arm. "That's my girl. I have to go help with the thing. Don't be late."

"I won't." I had no idea what I was in for. I probably wouldn't even pay attention to what would be going on. I have too much on my mind to care.