Nothing got better, not really. Beth ate enough and every morning she took a shower and got into fresh clothes, but that was already all.
She never really left Daryl's room, all what she did the whole day long was staring at the door. She was also eating her meals in his room and not downstairs by the other, by her family and friends. The notepad and the pencils next to her on the table were still untouched. She didn't speak that much with the other or even with Daryl. She was still crying herself into sleep and had often nightmares. And Daryl could do just nothing.
A few days after the funeral, Beth said to him "You should go to work again Daryl." He was a little surprised then. "I will stay by your side as long as you want sweetheart. I don't have to go to work." He could tell, that Beth was a little embarrassed, when she answered him "I.. I need some time on my own Daryl."
He didn't want to be sad about her answer, but he still was. Trying not to show his feelings, Daryl told her, that he will give her more time and finally kissed lovingly her forehead. Because if this was what she needed, he will do it for her, to make her happy again.
So Daryl got to work the next day, because he would do just everything for her. But still he visited her at lunch, one time in the afternoon and the first thing he did, when he came home at the evening was looking, if she was still alright. And every time he entered the room Beth was sitting on the bed, her knees against her chest, staring at the door.
After two weeks Daryl got on a run, after Beth had confirmed him, that it was okay for her. He just wanted to find something for her, something to make her feel better, maybe even make her smile, but at the same time he didn't know what it should be.
Finally he had found some books, which he gave her that evening and still that the day, the books were laying untouched and unread next to her on the table. Daryl tried everything to make her feel better, but nothing worked.
One day he wanted to play cards with her, which she refused. He wanted to read out loud from one of the books for her, but after the first page she stopped him. He asked her, if she wanted to go on runs with him or at least outside for a few minutes, but she just shook her head every time. Daryl got damn worried, because Beth was looking so pale, so weak, so thin, so lifeless.
On a second run Daryl had found a little teddy bear for her. He was almost surprised, when Beth took the stuffed animal into her arms in the second Daryl gave it to her. Tears built up in his eyes, while he watched Beth holding the bear, like she probably would have craddled little Simon in her arms. But finally it also changed nothing.
It was about ten weeks after Beth had lost her baby, when Daryl came home from work and saw her laying in bed like she was a statue. The dark rings under her eyes were telling him, that she had cried again. Her eyes were only red from the tears, nothing more, they had lost everything Daryl had always loved so much.
Looking at the girl, which had given him so much hope before, he made a decision. He was playing with that thought since days, but he was always too afraid to say it out loud, but now he was ready.
Starting to pack his and Beth's clothes into a back pack, Daryl thought about how he should tell it her. Finally he decided to use a lie to help her. When he got to her side and took her notepad, pencils and books also into the back, Beth began to watch him.
Finally she asked him with a small voice "Are you going on a run again?" Daryl lowered himself on the mattress next to her and answered "Yeah, but not alone. I will need someone's help this time. I will need your help sweetheart."
Before the sun even rose up the next day, Daryl and Beth were driving away from Alexandria. He still couldn't believe it, that she had agreed to come with him. After he had also packed some hygiene articles, food and water, he told the other, that he will go on a run with Beth tomorrow. They all didn't say anything against it, they were probably as surprised as himself, that she had even agreed.
Daryl didn't know where he was driving, he just did, because he didn't have a destination, at least not really. Beth was looking the whole time at her fingers on her lab and didn't say one word or even asked him where they were driving or what they will do there.
It was about midday, when Daryl stopped the car and looked over to her. "I have to tell you something sweetheart. We don't go on a run, we.. I don't even know where we are going, but I just want you to spend a few days away from Alexandria."
Beth's look didn't change and she didn't ask anything. Before Daryl began to drive again, he handled her a sandwich and some water. Silently the two of them ate their lunch and after they drove further away.
Daryl knew, that soon he had to find a shelter for tonight, before it will get dark, when a warm breeze came through the opened window of the car and brought some fresh, salty air. He almost couldn't believe it how far they had driven, because suddenly he could see the ocean on the horizon. And in that second Daryl knew, where he wanted to bring Beth.
"Look sweetheart." Daryl said excited to Beth. Slowly she began to lift her head to look up at him. Trying to give her an encouraging smile, Daryl moved his head to tell her, that she should look out of the windscreen. Her look didn't change one bit, while she was looking at the ever approaching ocean.
While they were driving at the never ending coast, Daryl was looking out for a safe shelter. Finally his eyes found a little hut next to the ocean, it was looking safe, at least from far away.
Stopping the car next to the road and unloading their stuff, Daryl took Beth's hand in his and together they went to the little hut. Beth was always just looking at her boots, never at the beautiful view around them. The thought about how the Beth just a few months ago would have reacted to this all, gave Daryl's heart a deep pang.
Telling her that she should wait in front of the hut, so Daryl could make sure, if this place was safe enough. Thankfully no walkers or humans were inside, it was just a relapsed, nice hut. There was a little furnished kitchen and in the same room was a small dinning table and a comfortable looking couch. There was even a bathroom with a functioning shower, because of the rain water ton outside. In the last room was a double bed with sheets, which weren't looking that dirty.
It was almost sunset when Beth entered the hut and Daryl took their back packs inside. She was just staring at the floor, like she didn't know what to do or say.
Hoping that maybe it will help her, Daryl said "C'mon sweetheart. Let's go for a walk." It was difficult for them to walk with their shoes on the fine sand and Daryl had again that picture in front of his inner eye, where the Beth from before was taking off her shoes, threw them careless away and moved her tiny toes into the still warm sand.
But the Beth from today was just holding Daryl's hand, without any pleasure and was looking stare at her feet. Daryl began to doubt his decision, if this all was really such a good idea.
When the sun began to disappear behind the horizon, he stopped them both. Gently he took Beth's pale cheeks into his palms, so she was looking up at him. "I just want you to feel better again sweetheart." He whispered to Beth, while he was looking deep into her still broken eyes.
"I'm really trying Daryl, but.." A single tear found it's way out of the corner of her eye and was rolling down her face. Gently Daryl wiped it away and took her head against his chest. "I know you are trying sweetheart, but you don't have to do it for me, you have to do it for yourself." He whispered into her locks.
The first night in the hut was like all other nights before in Alexandria. Beth was crying herself into sleep, while Daryl was cradling her in his arms, always hoping that this all will help her somehow.
The next day Beth stayed in the hut almost the whole time long, while he was outside and searched for some useful things around. Daryl wanted to stay with Beth here together, till she will feel better again. Didn't matter how long it will take, he will always be by her side.
Over a little campfire, he made themself some lunch and finally placed it on an old table in the shadow. It was Daryl's plan to bring Beth outside, at least for a few minutes. She needed some fresh air and sunbeams. But after eating their lunch, Beth went inside again.
Because Daryl knew, that she needed her space, he let her alone the whole afternoon, till sunset. Like yesterday he took Beth for a walk next to the endless ocean. One time he stopped both of them again, pressed her back against his chest and rested his chin on top of her head, so they were facing the sunset.
Maybe Daryl was imagined it, but he had the feeling, that Beth was watching the waves and the sun for a few moments, before it got dark.
They had just entered the hut, when it began to rain. The storm came out of nowhere and it was a really bad one. The rain drops were pounding against the old windows of the hut and for over four hours there were throughout lightenings and thunders.
Daryl knew, that Beth was damn afraid about such storms, so he took the sheets over both of their heads, so the lightenings weren't that bright and the thunders weren't so loud any more.
It was way after midnight, when Beth finally fell asleep in his arms, but it was the first night since months, that she hadn't cried herself into sleep. At least it was something.
Next morning the two of them got to see, what the storm last night had done. The strong, high waves had swapped so many algae, stones and shellfish on the beach. The high grass around the hut was flat now, because of the strong wind and there were water lacquers everywhere. On the sky there were still hanging some dark, clouds and the sun wasn't shining so bright and hot like yesterday.
Daryl felt sorry for Beth, because he wanted to show her a nice, peacefully place, where she could rehabilitate, but now was everything around them like the inside of her heart and soul, just broken. Maybe because of that he was even more surprised, when Beth got with him outside and let herself sink onto the still wet meadow next to the hut.
Quickly Daryl brought her a blanket and laid it on the meadow, so she won't catch herself a cold. After he had placed a gently kiss on top of Beth's head, Daryl let her alone again. The whole day he let her alone, just for lunch he sat himself next to her, but from the corner of his eyes Daryl could see, how Beth was watching the ocean from time to time.
After dinner they had taken a walk again and this time it was Beth herself, who stopped and turned to the sunset. Daryl got behind her, placed his arms around her middle and pressed her gently against his chest. When he leaned down and kissed her soflty next to her ear, Daryl could feel her goosebumps.
That night it was Daryl who almost began to cry, when Beth fell peacefully asleep in his arms, only after seconds, when they had laid down into bed. Hopefully this was a good sign.
Next day Beth was sitting again in the meadow, but this time she was looking, really looking at the ocean and the beautiful things around them and Daryl always had to suppress a damn glad smile.
When it was almost sunset, Daryl just wanted to go to Beth for taking her for a walk, when she suddenly stood up and went into his direction. "Would it be okay for you, if I would take a walk on my own today?" Beth's voice sounded different since yesterday evening. It was still not her old, familiar voice, but it had a much sweeter, better sound, than just days ago.
"Of course, you can sweetheart. Just don't go too far away, you have your knife?" Daryl asked her and somehow he imagined, that her lips were twichting a little, before she nodded and walked away.
Daryl knew, that she will be safe, he hadn't seen any walkers since days and he also knew, that she could take care of herself, but he was still watching her the whole time she was walking even very close to the ocean.
Beth stopped at some point and was watching the waves and the sunset, while her blond locks were moving in the warm breeze. Daryl was proud about her, because he knew, that she was really trying it to become her old own again.
She was almost back at the hut, when she suddenly stopped and picked something up from the ground. "What have you found sweetheart?" Daryl asked her curious, while she came closer.
"A shell." Beth showed it to him, while a little smile was playing on her lips. "Don't you think it's beautiful?" "I think it's damn beautiful girl." Daryl answered her and he didn't mean the shell with that.