Letters

Daryl growled when he felt the infected teeth sink deep into his arm, tearing away flesh. He grabbed his knife and buried it deep in the walker's skull as he hit his knees. Rick called out his name and came running over. "Daryl."

He shook his head. He knew he was dead. He slipped his bag off his shoulder and pulled out Beth's journal. He'd picked it up the night he'd found her bag lying in the middle of the road. "Give this to Beth, when you find her." Rick nodded and took the book from him, putting it into his pocket. "I love you, brother."

Rick grabbed the back of Daryl's head and pressed his forehead against his. "I love you too." Rick shut his eyes tight, putting his gun to Daryl's temple. He pulled the trigger, tears falling from his eyes as he stood up, putting the gun away. He picked Daryl's body up and carried him back to camp. They were going to say goodbye the right way.

…

He couldn't believe she was standing there in front of them. It had been two years since Daryl had lost her, but there she was. She looked stronger, tougher; her hair was longer, braided over her shoulder. He could see her eyes searching for him and he saw the moment she realized he wasn't there. "How did it happen?" she asked, her voice quiet.

"Walker." Rick reached into his bag and pulled out the journal. "He told me to give you this."

Beth took the journal that she'd once kept and ran her fingers over the worn leather. Tears pricked at her eyes as she nodded her head. No one stopped her as she found a tree to sit under. Beth opened up the book and turned back to her last entry, one she'd wrote the night they'd been attacked together at the morgue. When she flipped the page she saw the scratchy hand writing that didn't belong to her. He'd written in her journal.

She's gone. But I'm going to get her back. Ain't no one gonna keep her from me. Whoever they were…they best start praying because I'm comin'. Beth, one day, you're gonna read this. Should have told you a long time ago. I love you.

Tears were stinging her eyes as she turned the pages.

It's been months. I don't know where she is, fuck I don't even know where to start looking. She's gotta still be out there. I've lost so much time. Merle would call me a pussy if he ever read this. I feel like there's a whole in my heart where she used to be. Every day I go on without her, it just gets bigger. I need to find her before its gone. I never needed anyone like I need Beth. She's the flame in the dark for me. I didn't see it until that night at the morgue. But she is. She's so pure, so good, so light. Don't matter what situation she's in. God, my chest hurts just thinking about her.

Her heart was breaking into a million pieces.

I cried today. Couldn't help it. it's been a year to the day. I've been counting. I hope she don't mind this. She can always tear 'em out if she does. I saw a blonde walker while I was out hunting. Blonde curly hair, and I just thought it was her. I couldn't take that. I had to put Merle down after I'd found him. If it had been her…she would have bit me because I wouldn't have been able to do it. The walker turned around but it wasn't her. I put it down and cried like a pussy. I can't believe I haven't found her yet. I'm starting to lose hope.

Beth wiped her eyes and flipped the page.

Two years to the day. Two fucking years and she's still gone. I don't know what I'm going to do. Everyone tells me to move on. That she's gone and she's not coming back. I haven't said her name since I told Rick what had happened. They tell me that maybe if I say her name I'll be able to move on, but I can't do that. It makes it too real. I found some wild flowers today, found some Cherokee Roses; I knew they were for her. I picked them and brought them back to camp, I pressed them in the back of the journal. Two years…fuck maybe she is gone. Maybe I should give up. Wherever you are Beth…I love you.

Beth turned to the back of the book and her tears fell onto the dried, pressed roses in the back. She closed the book and held it close as she cried. She'd fought so hard to get back to him; she'd never gotten to tell him. She hugged her knees, holding the journal close to her heart. "I love you too."