THE WALKING DEAD: Survival Legacy

Seeds planted

Clementine was taken aback by Lee's revelation. She couldn't believe that he had kept such a significant secret from her. The boxcar they were standing in felt confined, the train's rhythmic movement adding to the tension in the air. She locked eyes with Lee, waiting for an explanation. The silence was only broken by the steady rumble of the train as it sped along the tracks. After a few minutes, Lee gathered his thoughts and finally spoke up.

LEE: I never mentioned him, Clementine, because I wasn't ready to confront the loss. If I'd have acknowledged the possibility that he was still out there, alive, it would have consumed me. I would have done anything to find him, to bring him back

CLEMENTINE: Then just tell me what happened Lee, start from the very beginning... before you met me

Eight years earlier

Lee Everett awoke to sight of his bedroom ceiling, he ran a hand down his face as he mentally prepared himself for the day. Peering over to his right, he spotted the digital clock atop his nightstand that was only minutes away from sounding off, he woken up early...

LEE: Baby, what time do you head off for work again? Layla?

Silence

Turning to his left, he then realized his wife was already gone, had he actually overslept? No, maybe she was just downstairs or something. Lee sat up before heading towards his bathroom to get ready. He slipped into his usual get up. a nice form fitting long-sleeved shirt, his favorite blue blazer, a pair of jeans, and his loafers. Once he'd gotten dressed he was off to the races. Making his way downstairs, he made a slick turn to his left, entering the kitchen. When he entered, he was met with the sight of his seven-year-old son, Shawn Everett. The young boys hair was curly, and his skin was a lighter tone due in large part to his mother's Asian heritage, his expressive green eyes also a trait given to him from his mother. In fact, the only physical trait he had in common with his son was the nose and facial structure

LEE: Oh, hey Shawn, you're up pretty early. I'm guessing your mother already left for work?

SHAWN: Morning dad, and yeah, mom left an hour ago

LEE: I see...

Lee then observed the book the boy was reading

LEE: Is that my book?

Shawn blushed a bit before sheepishly replying

SHAWN: O-Oh, um, yeah. I mean, I can't exactly play outside or anything since I'm on punishment and so I just grabbed one the books from your study... you aren't mad at me, are you?

Having prepared himself a cup of coffee, Lee sat down near his son before speaking

LEE: Mad? about you reading? No, I could never be, so what story did we pick?

SHAWN: The book thief!

Lee chuckled at his son's enthusiasm, the young boy's thirst for knowledge was something Lee took a great amount of pride in as a father. A teacher, of all the careers his son could have picked, it was Lee's very own profession that interested his child. Though, Lee's smile then faded when he remembered why his son was suspended in the first place. Of all the traits Shawn had gotten from both his mother and father, it was that classic Everett propensity toward anger that was passed onto him as well, something every Everett had to deal with at some point in their life. Shawn was a smart boy for his age, but like all children, he was quick to act on his emotions...

LEE: An entire weeks worth of suspension huh? That's a long time away from school you know?

He watched as Shawn slumped down into his chair, burying his face into the book, not wanting to face his father out of shame.