Chapter 21

A big thank you again to Mistyeye…..she came up with the idea for a shower scene, she is currently writing one. I decided to incorporate it into this story. Hope it worked for you, I felt better after writing it.

The sound of the water hitting skin and tile came from the shower, while steam from the hot water swirled about the room. A faint intermingling of voices, one female and one male, drifted from the shower as well.

Suddenly the water cut off and there was a feminine giggle as the glass door opened and out stepped a man. He reached for a towel hanging near the door and handed it to the female behind him. Stepping fully out of the shower, he leant over the double sinks toward the mirror and wiped some of the mist from the mirror. Leaning back, he gazed at himself with wonder and bemusement on his face.

The woman wrapped the towel around her and came to stand by his side. Looking from the mirror back to him, she smiled. "The difference is amazing, isn't it?" she murmured as she ran her hand up and down his arm.

He nodded in agreement. "This is what I look like?"

She nodded. "This is what you truly look like," she amended.

He sighed and nodded. He gazed intently at the mirror, noting the chiseled, handsome features free of scars or lines from worry and stress. He was well built, lean but powerful. Turning his back to the mirror, he gazed in frank delight. "I'll be damned," he whispered.

The woman leaned over and kissed his back. "No scars, no tattoos. That happened to your physical being. What happened to your body doesn't show on your soul."

He shook his head again in bemusement. "Why couldn't I have looked like this always?"

She shook her head. "Your experiences were necessary to make you the person you needed to be for that situation. You wouldn't have learnt how to overcome self doubt, self hatred, feeling useless and worthless if you hadn't had to suffer first. And bear the scars from that suffering."

He pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her. "Beth," he breathed and closed his eyes to breathe in her scent. "Why do you look different too? You look…..older-like a grown woman," he questioned.

"This is how I look. I was just a young girl this time around when I died. My soul is much older however, we're nearly the same age you and I."

"I don't want to leave you again," he murmured, his voice breaking.

"I'm here Daryl. For now. But you can't stay-it isn't time yet. You still have some things to tend to first," she whispered back, gently brushing his damp hair from his brow.

"I don't want to," he pleaded, and her heart broke hearing the pain in his voice.

"I know, but we don't have any control over it. I told you-we've been together over and over as long as I can remember. We've been friends, brothers, sisters, father and daughter, mother and son-we will always find each other. I wasn't supposed to be with you very long this time-hopefully next time it will be different."

Daryl nodded thoughtfully. "And it's like that with Rick too? Michonne? Merle?"

Beth nodded again. "Yes, some souls are meant to be together one way or another. It's easy to tell when you've met before-you feel an instant and intense attraction to the other person-not necessarily as a lover but as a friend or sibling or coworker…..those are the people you feel instantly comfortable with, as if you've known them forever. Because you have. And we're brought together again and again to teach and learn from each other."

Daryl sighed sadly. "Why do I have to go on alone without you?" he pulled her closer to him and kissed her fiercely on the brow.

"You have to help Denise and Rick. They have to help you too," she whispered back, running a hand over his cheek softly.

"Can't I stay a while longer with you?" he whispered brokenly.

"Yes, we have a little more time. But then you'll have to go back. You won't remember all of this, but you'll feel a bit more at peace and you'll have more hope to continue on with what you've started. I promise, the worst is almost over and then it will get easier for you and the others. You won't be with me, but you'll be with someone else you love. I promise you won't always be alone this time." Beth turned to go out the door, leading Daryl by the hand.

"But I'll see you again right?" he insisted.

"Yes, Daryl. You will always see me again," Beth answered as she led him down the hall.