My lungs felt like they were on fire by the time I reached Alexandria. Spencer was there waiting at the gate but surprisingly, he didn't ask any questions as to why I was alone - just opened the gate and let me inside. I nodded in thanks and the corner of his mouth upturned slightly as I ran the distance to the house I shared with Rick and the others. When I got there, there looked to no one home so I raced up the steps and into the house. Making my way quickly up the stairs, I got to my room and closed the door behind me. I went over then and fell on the bed, my head in the pillows.

It all came out then - the pain of telling Daryl, the townspeople being scared of me, and the loneliness from the loss of Owen - in sobs that wracked my body. Tears came in streams from my brown eyes, wetting the pillow. My chest constricted and all I could think was how alone I felt here. I didn't belong here...and I knew it. The bedroom door squeaked open then but I ignored it, too lost in my own pain to bother with anyone. Someone sat down beside me then and I felt a warm hand on my back.

I nearly flinched away but looked up to see Michonne, a concerned expression on her face.

"I..." I started but choked on the rest of the words that tried to tumble out of my mouth.

She said nothing, just wrapped her arms around me. My own arms held onto her tightly and more sobs bubbled up from my throat as I cried into her chest. Her fingers threaded their way soothingly through my hair and I felt safe for once... We stayed like that for a long time until finally, my tears subsided and I pulled away from her reluctantly. Her dark eyes met mine and I bit my lip, wiping away the salty liquid from my cheeks. I sniffed but kept her gaze.

"I told everyone my last name..." I admitted, trailing off.

Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion, clearly not seeing the issue with that. I licked my dry lips and took a deep breath.

"My...my last name is Dixon, Michonne..." I confessed, not meeting her eyes.

I heard her breath hitch and I could feel her eyes boring into me.

"Dixon?..." she asked hesitantly.

I nodded, pushing stray strands of hair behind my ears as I sat cross-legged on the bed beside her.

"Daryl used to date my mom, Mandy..." I explained softly.

I lifted my eyes to meet hers to find them wide with shock.

"That can't be... Because that would mean you're-" she started.

"-his daughter..." I confirmed, my voice cracking.

She stayed silent for a moment, not saying anything. I could tell she was trying to register my words.

"And you told Daryl this?" she said, arching her eyebrows.

Slowly, I nodded, pursing my lips nervously. She smiled sadly and I knew she finally understood. Her hand went to my hair, her fingers combing through it in a motherly way before gently pushing me down to lie on the bed.

"Get some rest, Angel... We'll re-evaluate later..." she told me softly and I nodded, my eyes starting to get heavy from over-exhaustion.

She pulled the blankets up around me and soon, I began to doze off. I could hear Michonne's booted footsteps fade away as she walked out of the room. She must have thought I was asleep already because I heard her talk to someone then.

"I guess you heard all that?" she asked.

The other person said nothing and soon, their footsteps faded away completely down the hall. But I knew exactly who it had been standing there in my doorway. Daryl.