Three years ago, Rick and Negan had gotten into a fight. The fight ended with Rick slicing Negan's throat and then demanding that he be saved. No one was sure why Rick didn't just let him bleed out – because after he had healed, he was taken prisoner.

You pitied him in a way; he's been rotting in a cell for three years, looking at the same four walls all this time. He had to be watched 24/7, and all of the job shifts were rotated weekly. It's your week to bring him food and watch over him.