Merle had been on his own for a while, and if he was being honest, it was seriously getting to him. He was used to being alone, but not on his own. It was too quiet, and recently he’d caught himself watching walkers before he killed them, and flipping through old magazines he found while looking for supplies, just to see anything vaguely human.

He was lonely as hell. He knew that, even if he hated it. And if he wasn’t so stubborn he would’ve gone back to the group, but he doubted he could even find them anymore.

So obviously, when he heard some distinctly non-walker noises when passing an old grocery store in part of rural Atlanta, he froze in place and listened intently. Sure enough, if he listened closely he heard quiet talking.

He quietly entered through the open door, holding his knife at his side as he walked down an aisle, freezing.

Another person!

A small gasp alerted you to his presence, and when you looked up, you two made eye contact.