Couldn't count on nobody for nothin'. And it was plain stupid to forget it. He was stupid to forget it.

Again.

People don't stick around. Aren't in it for the long haul and damn sure aren't in it for any one person. Is jus' stupid. So it ain't worth shit being surprised or mad bout it. Because that was life. Stupid sorry-ass life.

He left the house to play and there weren't no house when he came back. No mama, thas for sure.

And it confused hell outta him that a whole person could just up and get in the span of a few hours of careless play. There weren't even a sign that it was comin'. Just his mama sitting up in bed watchin' bad t.v. per usual. Her cigarette hand wavin' at him in acknowledgment and dismissal all in one little thoughtless motion.

And because he needed somethin' to cling to at the time he absolutely fucking convinced himself that his mama was wavin' goodbye that morning. But that was jus' stupid and he knew it now. Knew it then but were too damn small ta believe it.

She was there when he left but gone when he came back. Stupid bitch couldn't even take him with her. Accident be damned.

And then the world went to shit even more and he didn't even know that was fucking possible. Dead people jus' up and walking 'round like they been doin' it damn near forever.

He went out hunting at first light. Left Merle behind 'cause he be as useless as an arrow in the ass when he's high. Was pissed too 'cause some dead fuck gnaws on his kill and all them other survivors didn't have 'nough brains between the lot of them to put it down for real.

And Merle is gone. Nothin' left of him but a hand.

A hand without a body. And Merle could be dead but Daryl knows he ain't. He knows his brother lit out of there and he didn't wait long enough for Daryl to catch up. 'Cause he'd of never gone back for his sorry-ass but he had to know Daryl'd be comin'. He left his stash behind too and that makes him feel just a bit better but not 'nough. Not really.

Merle was there and then he weren't.

Asshole.

And then…

and then she up and left. She had been there right in his sights like he preferred it. And the fence that he had come to trust to protect was suddenly the reason he weren't there fast enough. He had to go 'round it when every part of his body just wanted to go through it.

And the only thing left of her was a fuckin' scarf. A scarf without her graying head.

and her soft smiles.

and her caring eyes.

and her.

So he couldn't count on nobody for nothin'. They all just up and check out and they never ever take him with them.

The world went to hell when the dead came a walkin' but Daryl knows he'd been waiting for the world to catch up for a long time.