[ Ouch. Hearing it framed that way makes Daryl wince because he knows that she’s right, in a way. Still, it had been who he was when he was with Merle. If you wear the mask for long enough, it just becomes exactly who you are. That’s why it had been so difficult for him to take it off, after. It was all he knew how to be.

This... is different. ]

That’s not... all I did to ‘em.

[ He realizes he’s telling her as it comes out. If he’s going to tell anyone, talk to anyone, it’s going to be her. So better to just get it over with.

Maybe then she’ll understand what he’ll be carrying around with him, now. ]

Not that they didn’t seem to like it. Just... don’t know how I’m gonna look ‘em in the face, after this.