Our Life (Sequel to "Remnants")

9 Months On...

-Riley-

Nine months...

In this twisted, barren wasteland of our Earth - the product of humanity's extinction - these months felt like years.

However, these months-turned-years had become... Bearable, with the loving company of my reunited boyfriend, Carl.

Nine months ago, Carl, Michonne and I had returned to Alexandria alive, about a week after our escape from the Saviors. Our heroic story of survival, and how the three of us had fought and killed Negan, had become almost a legend in the eyes of fellow Alexandrians.

Following my return, Carl had explained to me how he, Carol and Michonne had reunited with several former group members who they had believed to be dead: Daryl, Tyreese, Sasha and most importantly to Carl: his sister, Judith.

Together, they had stumbled upon Alexandria, and welcomed by the community with open arms.

It had been undescribably uncomfortable for me to introduce myself to these new friends, all of whom were aware that I had killed Rick Grimes - Carl's father and the group's former leader - but other than Daryl, who took Rick's death almost as hard as Carl had done, the group seemed generally forgiving.

Tyreese, in particular, was a very kind and compassionate man, who was perhaps the quickest of the group member's to accept my mistake as a simple accident and offer genuine forgiveness, and Sasha, his sister, had followed in his footsteps.

I was unsure if Daryl would ever forgive me, since there was sure as hell no hidden romantic feelings between us as there apparently was between Carl and I.

Regardless, these past nine months had been the most optimistic so far, and not just because of Carl and I's reignited relationship. As well as the love I both felt and was shown by the young Grimes, our group was relatively safe.

Surrounded by 10 feet high walls, and armed with the weapons abandoned by the Saviors following the herd nine months ago, Alexandria was able to easily defend themselves from walkers and humans alike.

With love, friendship, and defense from the horrors of the outside world, the apocalypse beginning to stop feeling like the end of the world...

However, there were some things that restricted that.

I was... well... I was suffering from...

Some sort of... PTSD.

It was difficult to admit. It seemd stupid, considering that I was one of the luckiest people alive in the apocalypse - with friends, security and even love - but I could only conclude that a whole list of things: my killing of Rick, my recollection of murdering Simon in such a horrific manner, my suffering at the hands of Negan, and witnessing the reanimation and death of Carol, had combined to have such a terrifying dent on my mental state.

I had not told Carl about my situation yet, but it was becoming more severe. Initially, I was reliving the horrible experiences mentioned above only in my nightmares - Negan's laugh as he grated Lucile against my face, and Carol's blood splashing against my shirt. I barely gained three hours sleep each night, but in the company of my boyfriend, my situation was made bearable.

These days, however, my symptoms were beginning to worsen. I was constantly on edge, my paranoia reaching a new level - I believe it was known as 'hyperarousal.' Any and every unexpected, loud noise would send me rushing in a panic to the nearest weapon, and this paranoia was also having a severe effect on my mood recently. I was almost always irritated, with the combination of sleep deprivation and my 'condition' making me volatile toward everyone...

Even Carl.

Whenever I was able to set aside this anger and think rationally - such a freedom of which was rarely possible these days - I hated myself. But there was nothing I could do about it.

So, yes, I was in a secure, friendly community, with friends and even my lover, but did I feel safe?...

The quick answer was no, because I wasn't safe from myself...

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Welcome back everybody!!!

I have a lot to say, so I might as well say it all now.

Firstly: New characters introduced!!! Tyreese, Sasha, Judith and, who I'm guessing will please you the most: Daryl!

The PTSD idea was one of the first and best ones I had, and I was originally gonna use it in the second book but I didn't have time. Hopefully, it will allow for a lot of personal moments between Riley and Carl, both good and bad, in the coming chapters.

As you can probably guess, this story will go at a MUCH slower pace than the previous book. Don't get me wrong, there will still be action and sadness and more, but it will be a lot more spaced out than my last story.

Hope you enjoyed this introduction to my third and final book (*sheds a tear*) and I will try to update soon ;)

P.S. Carl is now 15 years old (late season 4 / early season 5 age)