Broken strings---➤ Daryl Dixon

4

The aftermath of the previous night still hangs heavily over us all. Andrea hasn't moved from Amy's side. Lori tries to reason with her but gets nowhere. She sighs and walks away, sitting down next to me.

"I think today was Amy's birthday," Lori explains to me and I nod.

"I think it might be best we leave her until she's ready." I reason with the group. I stretch in my seat and my gaze falls on Daryl, who's currently chopping up walkers with a pickaxe. When he glances over at me I force myself to look away. I get up and decide to help out by moving some of the walker corpses onto the fire. Glenn helps me with some of the bodies and together we start to make this place look more like camp again. As Daryl and Morales drag some of our lost members to the fire, Glenn warns them that we don't burn our people we bury them. I place my hand reassuringly on his shoulder as they drag the bodies off to the graves.

"Maybe take a break?" I advise Glenn. I should listen to myself. Every muscle in my body aches. Glenn shakes his head and continues to work. I run my callused fingers through my hair, which has already started forming knots due to the lack of proper washing. I tie it back, hoping that minimises any more damage. Suddenly Jacquis' voice rings through camp,

"A walker got him! A walker bit Jim."

The group erupts into panic. Suddenly all eyes are on Jim even as he tries to convince us he's okay. As we home in on Jim, he picks up a shovel to try and defend himself.

"Put it down." Shane warns and T-Dog appears from behind him and restrains him. I watch Daryl pull up Jim's shirt, revealing a bite mark. The realization of more death strikes something in me. So far we haven't suffered this much loss since the initial outbreak.

As more time passes, the more anxious the camp becomes. Amy is still dead and hasn't reanimated as a walker and Jim is still sitting near the RV. Daryl suggests putting his pickaxe through both of them.

"Would you want that if it was you?" Shane questions him.

"Yeah, and I'd thank you while you did it."

I sigh, louder than I intend which seems to catch the attention of the rest of the group.

"Speak your mind." Rick encourages.

"I hate to say it, but I think Daryl may have a point. Especially with Jim. Surely we aren't just going to wait around for him to turn. It sucks I know but is it not better to put him out of his misery?" I refuse to make eye contact with Daryl.

I can tell Rick disapproves of my comment. He starts rambling about how Jim is sick and could be cured. He continues to mention the CDC. Shane has other ideas about where we should go and the men argue between them. Daryl, clearly over the others having a discussion, picks up his weapon and charges over to Jim. Rick moves just as fast and points a gun at Daryl's head.

"We don't kill the living."

I find the irony in that statement, but ultimately Rick manages to defuse the situation.

As the others continue to debate the next movements for the group, I hear the ringing of a gun go off and I turn to see that Andrea is holding onto Amy's body, I'm guessing she just stopped her from being a walker. My heart does aches for her, I couldn't imagine what I'd do if I had to shoot Glenn. I sigh and scan the rest of the camp, I  spot Carl playing alone near some trees. I glance around the area but can't see Lori or Rick nearby. I decide to walk over to the kid. "Hey Carl."

"Hi Jennie."  I place myself down on the floor next to him.

We chat about what he's been up to and how he and Shane tried catching frogs in the quarry the other day. He then switches tone,