Last part

The silence was deafening as the group stood around Jihyo’s lifeless body. The air was thick with grief and anger. The vibrant, strong woman who had fought alongside them was gone, reduced to a walker, and then put down by Daryl's trembling hands. No one spoke. No one could. The weight of her death pressed down on them all.

Daryl knelt beside her, his hands bloodied from holding her still before delivering the final blow. His face was a mask of sorrow, his eyes red and puffy from tears he tried to hold back but couldn’t. He had lost people before, but this... this felt different. It felt like someone had ripped a part of his soul out.

Rick stood to the side, his hand on Carl’s shoulder, steadying his son as he stared at the ground, refusing to look at Jihyo’s body. Maggie clung to Glenn, her own tears staining his shirt as he held her tightly, his jaw clenched so hard it hurt. Glenn’s mind replayed every moment he had shared with Jihyo, every laugh, every fight, every time they had leaned on each other for strength.

"We can't just leave her here," Maggie whispered, her voice breaking the silence.

Rick nodded, his voice low and strained. "We’ll bury her. She deserves that much."

The group exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of grief and determination. They had lost so much, but they would not let Jihyo be forgotten. She had been one of them, family in a world where family was scarce.

Daryl finally stood, his movements slow and deliberate. "I'll dig the grave," he said, his voice hoarse. "She... she deserves it."

"No," Glenn interjected, stepping forward. "We all dig. She wasn’t just yours to mourn, Daryl. She was all of ours."

The group nodded in agreement, and they set off to find a quiet spot near the woods, a place where Jihyo could rest peacefully. They chose a small clearing, the sunlight breaking through the trees, casting soft rays on the ground. It felt right, like a place she would have liked.

Rick, Glenn, Daryl, and T-Dog grabbed shovels from the prison and began digging, their movements methodical and somber. The sound of shovels hitting dirt was the only thing breaking the silence. The others stood nearby, their heads bowed, offering silent prayers or simply letting their grief wash over them.

As the grave was finished, they carefully carried Jihyo’s body, now wrapped in a clean sheet, to her final resting place. Daryl insisted on carrying her, his arms trembling under the weight, not because she was heavy, but because of the emotional burden.

“She was too good for this world,” he muttered, his voice cracking.

Once she was laid in the grave, the group gathered around, each person taking a moment to say something if they could.

Rick was the first to speak. "Jihyo... you came into our lives and reminded us what it meant to fight, to keep going even when everything seemed impossible. You didn’t deserve this world, but we’re better because you were in it."

Glenn stepped forward, tears streaming down his face. "You were strong. Stronger than most of us. You gave us hope, even when you were tired, even when you were scared. I’ll never forget you."

Maggie followed, her voice trembling. "You were family. And we’ll carry you with us, always."

Daryl didn’t say anything. He stood at the edge of the grave, his shoulders hunched, his hands clenched into fists. Finally, he dropped to his knees, his voice barely above a whisper. "I’m sorry. I’m so damn sorry, Jihyo. I should’ve done more... I should’ve protected you."

The group gave him a moment, letting him grieve in his own way before they began to cover her with dirt. Each shovel of earth felt like a stab to their hearts, but they worked together, determined to give her the peace she deserved.

When it was done, they stood around the fresh grave, a simple wooden cross marking her final resting place. No one moved, no one spoke. The sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the grave, almost as if the world was saying goodbye to her too.

“She’s in a better place now,” Hershel said softly, his voice steady. "And we’ll keep her memory alive by surviving. By living."

The group nodded, wiping their tears and steeling themselves. They had lost another piece of their family, but they would honor her by continuing to fight, to live.

As they walked back to the prison, Daryl lingered behind, his eyes fixed on the grave. He whispered, so softly no one else could hear, "Wherever you are, Jihyo... I’ll keep going. For you."

Then, with a heavy heart, he turned and followed the others, leaving behind the woman who had touched all their lives in ways they could never forget.