"Why?" She asked confused.
I shrugged, "Why'd you want to leave?"
She stayed silent, staring at me for a moment before nodding, "Ok, fine; just help me with this last body."
***
"How long are you gonna stay out there?" She asked as we snuck away to a part of the wall that she said was still set up from when she left.
"I don't really know," I said quietly, "Until I'm ready to come back, I guess."
"And when everyone notices you're gone? What am I supposed to say then?"
"Nothing," I shrugged, "Tell them you didn't see anything; say whatever you have to."
"You aren't coming back.. are you?" She asked quietly.
I hesitantly shook my head, "I don't think so."
She let out a sigh, stopping just before the wall, "When I left, I didn't plan on coming back either.." she admitted, "But Glenn changed my mind; he reminded me that we're a family and that's why we have to stick together and keep living.. don't you want that?"
I shook my head again, "I already had it and then it all got taken from me.. I can't do it again."
***
After making it over the wall, I just walked wherever my feet took me. The path I made through the woods was calming enough to let my mind wander, with a walker here and there, but the crunching of the earth under my feet made me feel hollow as I realized how alone I now was.
I didn't know where I was going, I didn't know how long I'd be out here, and honestly, I didn't really even know why I was out here when I had so many people back in Alexandria that I knew cared about me.. but maybe that's why. I hadn't even been there for long when people I cared about began dying; it just felt like my life was on repeat now and I don't think I could make it through another round of this hell.
I knew that if I even wanted to make it through the night out here alone, I'd need to find a place to sleep; somewhere that had a door and a roof and was just secure enough to keep any of the dead out. Luckily I was paying enough attention to where Daryl and I went, when we to scout out some places, to remember the general location of that rundown diner.
***
As the sun began to go down, the diner finally in my sights and my legs aching once again, I let out a breath of relief that was unknowingly accompanied by a wave of confusing emotions; the only time I'd been here was with Daryl.. and now I'm trying to get away from him-- from everyone.
I pushed open the door before walking into the dusty, already scavenged building; immediately regretting not bringing any supplies at all with me. I had thought about packing a small bag after Enid agreed to help me, but I knew there would have been no way for me to be able to do that without someone asking questions.
I took my gun out of my waistband, placing it on the debris covered table before heading behind the counter, hoping to find something left by past scavengers.
I squinted lightly, my eyes trying to see through the darkness, as I kicked around empty containers and trash on the ground before beginning to open up cupboards one by one.
As I kneeled down behind the front counters, my heart nearly stopped as headlights shined through the broken windows and onto the walls.
I quickly grabbed for my gun, stopping and cursing myself when I didn't feel it, "Shit- please, not now." I begged quietly to myself, knowing the kinds of people who were still left in this world.
My hand then reached for my knife, holding it close to me as I desperately tried to quiet my heavy breathing.
"Liz! Ya here?" Daryl's familiar voice called as a car door slammed.
A wave of instant relief came over me, quickly followed by a flood of regret and emotion. I was happy that it was Daryl instead of someone like those strangers that invaded Alexandria, but upset that I knew I'd have to face him after I left without any warning.
"Liz-" his voice said again before there was a pause, the sound of heavy metal shifting across a table; my gun, "..why ya out here?"
I let out a shaky sigh, still hidden behind the counter as tears rolled down my cheeks; knowing I'd have to explain everything to him at some point.
I slowly stood up, more tears coming as our eyes locked, "Please go back, Daryl."
He shook his head, "I ain't leavin' without ya." He murmured lowly.
"Daryl, please!" I desperately begged.
"No!" He retorted, "I ain't leavin' ya out here to die, Liz!"
"I can't go back-- I can't take it anymore," I sobbed, "I can't lose everybody again!"
"Well that's what ya doin' by coming out here-"
"You don't know what I've had to go through," I cut him off, "You haven't had to lose every single person you ever gave a damn about!"
"Ya don't think I lost people? Ya don't think everyone back in that town ain't lost people?" Daryl questioned, "That's what happens now, Liz-- ya don't get to run away from it!"
I shook my head, "Alexandria was fine before I came along-"
"What happened wasn't ya fault-"
"But what if it was?" I stopped him again, phrases from the past repeating in my head.
"It ain't!" He said harshly, turning to walk out the door, "Now get in the damn car."
"No."
_____
I just had to add some more drama into this story somehow lmao