"So what can we really do for each other except-just love each other and be each other's witness? And haven't we got the right to hope-for more? So that we can really stretch into whoever we really are?"
― James Baldwin, Another Country


By the time we were back in town, word had spread like wildfire that Shelly had got her pasta maker. The Sheriff had secretly, so he thought, gifted Michonne with the kitten.

Neither the Sheriff nor Michonne was aware they were going to have witnesses behind the church. Their voices could easily be overheard as they discussed Michonne's first kill. I happened to have time to rummage inside of the Church storage shed in the company of Carol and Eugene, at the behest of Pastor Gabriel, when it all took place.

"I asked a simple question."

"I fail to understand the importance of telling you who I got the information from or why it is important, Michonne."

"Out of all things to bring back. You bring me a real-life kitten?"

"Would you have preferred a cat?"

"Statue, yes. Sculpture, yes. Painting, yes. Never a breathing animal."

"Fuck."

"Outside the church? I have no idea why I allow myself your company."

"I'm frustrated."

"Then say it. That word does not mean it."

"It can cause it, especially if you haven't had any in a very long time. Wait, I'm sorry, Michonne, you wouldn't know anything about that since, according to you, and practically everyone who dares to speak on it, you are a virgin."

"Why are you talking about me to everyone?"

"I haven't been talking about you to everyone. It is simply something that is understood by everyone that you and a few others around here that are of age are virgins. I will admit it goes in one ear and out the other. I only happen to hang on to every word if anyone has something to say about you. I'm really curious, and only interested in you."

"As long as my goodness hasn't been spoken of as evil."

"Noone has ever had a bad word to say about you, Michonne. I'm just sorry I got it all wrong."

"Extremely wrong, Rick."

"I was told that the man you were to marry tried to bring back a cat. He got bitten by a walker in trying to do so. The man you were supposed to marry was your first kill."

"What are you doing, Rick?"

"You are crying. I'm making things worse than better. Since I got it all wrong, you can give me back the cat. I'm sure I can find a nice home for it."

"Is it for me or not?"

"Only if you want it, Michonne. I didn't know what you had him go out for wasn't suppose to be a real one. For me, everything is literal, and I suppose it makes things more obvious about my intentions in getting to know you more than what is probably appropriate. I can't help myself. I try to stay away. I try not to engage you with or without other people around. I try to keep the right amount of distance, the briefest amount of eye contact to only find myself wanting you and only you. I never wanted a woman as much as I want you, Michonne. My want for you hurts to the point there may come a time I may not be able to stop myself from making you mine. I want to be your husband, Michonne. I want that badly."

"What point in time can that be, Rick? You have a whole wife. A wife that..."

"Stop me, Michonne. Stop me. Tell me you don't want me, you don't want this, please tell me to stop..."

"Touch me...Oh, please touch me. Touch me, touch me everywhere, please..."

"I'm so in love with you, woman. I, I, I love you..."

"Love me. Yes, love me!"

Carol mouthed the words we all felt. Oh, my God!

Eugene made a loud enough sound to cause Michonne and the Sheriff to stop what they were doing on the side of the storage shed. A couple of beats later, the Sheriff swung open the door to find us trying to remember the reason for being in the shed in the first place.