Dad and I spent the next week planting and properly irrigating the field, to the best of our ability anyway. Once we had planted, it seemed like Dad already had us placing fence posts in the ground for 3 animal pens. Not to mention the small chicken coop. After another week had passed, Dad and I had the field ready for any animals we could find. Daryl brought back a horse first. It seemed like every kid from Woodbury had gathered around the pen when Daryl brought him in, all shouting out random names for the horse. But Beth was the one who named him a few days later. She just looked at the horse, snow-like white hair, grey-colored body, whenever anyone brought him out, he was always fearless. Beth simply said, "Wolf." Dad went out on his own one day, leaving me to tend the fields and take care of Wolf. When he came back he was carrying a very large pig, that Herschel later said was pregnant. At least we're getting some meat soon, besides deer or rabbit anyway. A few days after Dad brought the pig back, Daryl and Maggie brought back five cows. It had taken us all day to get the cows in the pen, as well as to expand the pen as it was too cramped for all five cows. When our work for the day was done, I went and showered, then just sat down in one of the reclining chairs in the cellblock. I closed my eyes and leaned my head back. It was quiet. I just relaxed like that, until I heard someone sit next to me.

"Long day?", I heard a familiar, sweet, voice ask.

"Yeah, turns out the one pen was too small, we had to rush to expand it", I replied.

"It's good we're getting things like that in here. We'll have real milk, fresh meat too, not just from Daryl..."

"Hunting", I said finishing her sentence. "I was thinking the same thing.

"How's everything been in here?"

"It's been good. Carol and I have been watching all the kids during the day so. I don't know what's been going recently."

"How have you been?"

"Good,I guess. I like it in here most of the time. But, I feel...caged", Beth said.

"Caged?"

"Like I'm stuck in here and there's no way out." I nodded.

"I got an idea", I said somewhat nervously.

"What?"

"Do you wanna go for a ride?" I saw a smile grow on Beth's face. I went to my cell and grabbed my gun, a flashlight, and my hat. "We can't go out the door here", I whispered.

"We could go out the exit by Cellblock A", Beth suggested.

"Merle's in there."

"Are you scared of him?", Beth asked, teasing me.

"No, but I don't want anything to happen to you because I wasn't careful enough."

"You don't have to take care of me, Carl", she said placing her hand on my arm. I nodded.

"We stay quiet going through Cellblock A though." She nodded. We quietly navigated the hallways of the prison until we reached Cellblock A. I carefully opened the door, trying to be as quiet as possible. As soon as I opened the door, the familiar loud squeaks and groans could be heard from the door. "Shit", I said under my breath.

"Oh, ho, ho", I heard Merle say from the catwalk up in front of us. "What do we have here?"

"Fuck off Merle", I said as threateningly as possible. He laughed.

"The hell did I do kid?" I placed my left hand behind and grabbed Beth's hand. I kept my other hand firmly on my holstered gun.

"What haven't you done", I said in reply.

"Ain't much I haven't done kid."

"The hell are we talking about anyway?"

"I don't know. You and your little girlfriend just wandered into my cellblock. Why don't you tell me what you're doing here?"

"She's not my..." I took a deep breath. "Shut up, Merle. We ain't looking for you, just the other exit that's in here."

"Ah so now that she ain't yours no more, you gotta go sneak off to have your alone time? Is that it?" He's really pissing me off. I drew my gun and aimed it right at Merle.

"Shut, the fuck, up!"

"Carl", Beth said grabbing my arm, slowly lowering it. "Put your gun away." I holstered it again. I walked swiftly out of there with Beth. The second we were outside, I lit up a cigarette. I sat down with my back against the wall. Beth sat next to me. We sat in silence for a while, the only noises being the usual nightly sounds and our breathing.

"Do you remember", Beth began, "Back on the farm, sitting by that old tree, watching the sunrise?" I took a drag of my cigarette.

"Of course."

"Everything was so, calm then. We didn't have any worries. Just..."

"I know", I said a little too quickly, cutting her off.

"It was perfect then." I took another drag.

"It wasn't. Not for you anyway."

"How would you know if it was or wasn't?"

"Beth, I'm not good for you. I never was. If I'm being honest, I don't know what made me ask you to do this", I said taking another drag.

"But, Carl. You don't get to make that decision for me. I want you. No one else, just you", she said taking my hand.

"Beth..."

"No, Carl. I'm done doing all this running around, avoiding each other. It's killing me. I never stopped loving you. You may think I did, but I didn't. I was upset with you at first, for killing that boy. But, Carl, I don't care anymore. You made a mistake. Just because you made a mistake, doesn't mean I don't love you anymore."

"Beth", I sighed. "I can't."

"What do you mean?" I stood up.

"I can't do this again", I said pointing at the two of us. "I can't."

"Why not? What is it, Carl?" I then told the biggest lie I had ever told, and probably ever would tell.

I took a deep breath and shakily exhaled, and said, "I don't love you anymore." Beth looked at me like I had just shot her. I felt like I had. "Beth...I'm,"

"Don't. Just...don't." Beth stood up and went back inside the prison. I walked around the prison for a while, smoking my cigarette. I went inside, well after dark. I ignored everyone in the common area, and just went straight to my cell. I chucked my gun and holster on the table. I plunged the blade of my knife into the wood as hard as I could to get it to stay. I then sat on my bed, thinking, more convincing myself that Beth and I weren't meant to be. This is the right thing. This is the only thing. I thought about what I had said to Beth, and how untrue it was. I laid back on my bed for hours. Staring at the bunk above me.

"You're such a dumbass", was all I said, to no one but myself, right before I fell asleep.