The sound of your footsteps was muffled by the thick carpet of leaves beneath your boots as you trudged along the overgrown path. Your foot was throbbing from the pain of getting snagged in that bear trap earlier, and you were leaning heavily against Daryl. You felt like dead weight.

The two of you walked out of the brush to come across a cemetery. It was quiet, and there was a small funeral home in the distance. You asked to hold up a sec, feeling your leg burn. The material of your boot bore the brunt of the force from the bear trap but it still bit into your leg a bit. “You all right?” Daryl asked.

You nodded, just saying you needed to sit down. You lightly tried to move your ankle to stop the pain. “All right. Hold up.” Daryl said. He pulled his crossbow around to the front of his chest. With a light exhale he bent down a bit gesturing for you to get on his back. “Hop on.” He said. You looked surprised, asking if he was serious. “Yeah. This is a serious piggyback. Jump up.”

Daryl gestured again. You smiled a bit and hopped on his back. He adjusted you, making sure you wouldn’t fall. “You’re heavier than you look.” He remarked.

He carried you across the cemetery before you both stopped at a grave. It was quiet between the two of you as your eyes studied the grave and Daryl studied you. You looked lost. ‘Beloved father’ the grave read. It reminded you of everything you lost. Daryl walked behind you to grab a small handful of wildflowers. He placed them on the grave carefully and stepped back next to you.

You hesitantly took his hand. He didn’t pull away, instead entwined his fingers with yours.