Daryl's POV

"I can't even fucking look at you right now!"

Those were the last words that the mother of my children said to me. The look of horror in her eyes. I never thought I'd be the cause of that.

She thinks I'm the monster? She picked that sadistic prick! After all he's done to her?

Done to us?

The voice in my head barked at me, anger coursing through me, consuming me whole.

Fuck her, I don't need her. Stupid bitch!

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to push the ever growing presence out of my head. I tried to focus on my surroundings. An abandoned farm in Georgia. I couldn't help but draw similarities between this house and Hershel's, where Rackel and I shared our first kiss.

No matter where I've gone, all I can see is her.

The guilt gnawed at me. I did lie to her, took advantage, knowing Negan was alive. I knew what he meant to her, as fucking painful as that was to admit.

But after all I've done? After all the bullshit she put me through? Nah, nah, nah, I'm not cutting myself up over that!

A decaying biter shambled towards me. The flesh had been torn from the bone, revealing razor sharp claws. The perfect killing machine.

Using it's own momentum against the creature, I kicked it to the ground. When my boot slammed into its skull, it popped and oozed. Like a rotten pumpkin.

Wiping the congealed blood off on the grass, I headed into the house. Maybe there was food left, I couldn't tell you the last time I'd eaten. Everything felt so distant after that night.

Although I tried my best not to think about it, whenever I stopped, even just for a minute, the image of her curled up in that slithering snake's embrace hit me upside of the head. She cooed, rubbing her stomach.

What a beautiful family moment.

MY beautiful family moment.

Negan has stolen everything from me.

I looked at my reflection in the broken window, I was hardly recognisable. My cheeks were sunken, black bags under my eyes. I almost looked like one of the walkers, no life left in my tired eyes.

It was a lifetime since that night.

So much had changed with one stupid decision. And in came that obnoxious fucker, swooping at the precise moment.

How did that happen? I'd made a deal with Rick, that I was going to tell her myself. She would've taken it better coming from me.

All this shit could've been avoided. If it weren't for fucking Rick!

Pfff! He was supposed to be my brother! How fucking dare he!

I balled my fist, driving it into the pillar beside me. Shards of painted timber flew, as a spray of blood tainted the white surface. Looking down, I was surprised to find splinters embedded between my knuckles.

And that I felt nothing.

"I'm such a fuckin' idiot!"

It's not my fault. It's HIS fault.

I need to fix this. I know what I have to do, for my family.

The sinister thought scraped at me. "I can', she'll never forgive me! I jus' wan' me family back." I slammed my bloodied palm into the porch, exasperated with myself.

She'll forgive me in time! I can't have that snake raising my kids!

"No." I sighed in defeat, that was the last thing my children needed.

I know what I NEED to do...

Picking out the wood from my hand, I dusted myself off and headed back down. Where I'd come from.

To right every wrong against us.