crooked heart → the walking dead ⁵

[ 006 ] heal.

CROOKED HEART.

chapter six, heal.
[ season nine episode seven ]

FIVE YEARS AGO, A girl started a new life. Her final life.

It was a long time coming. Everyone in Alexandria knew how much Odessa Grimes hated the place she once called home.

She took her daughter, she took her dog, and she took a small amount of her belongings and she ran away.

She knew it was for the best. She couldn't be in that horrible place anymore. Not with Negan, not with Theo, not with Michonne.

Maggie left not long after Odessa's arrival. She passed the torch of leadership to Jesus. He bitched and he whined and he complained. But in the end, he took the role with hesitation. Still though, he refuses to use Maggie's old office. He still thinks she's coming back.

Odessa knows better.

Maggie ran away from her ghosts, just like Odessa did. And the Grimes woman hasn't returned to Alexandria in five years.

Odessa Grimes is no longer a girl. She is a woman now. Her hair has grown out past her shoulders, she usually keeps it in two French braids. The sparkle that left her blue eyes so long ago has returned. Gone is the girlish facial features. Nothing but a strong, brave woman stands in her place now.

Odessa crouches beside her blueberry bushes, a six year old Golden Retriever lays at her feet. She picks the beautiful berries off of the bushes. She drops them into the stunning woven basket that Tammy Rose made for her. She's had it for as long as she's been here. Tammy Rose said it was a welcome home gift.

"Hey," a voice suddenly says. Odessa looks up to see Tara standing over her. Koda perks up from beside her person, staring at Tara.

"Hi," Odessa says. She raises her hand up to block the sunlight out of her blue eyes.  "What's up? Everything good in the infirmary?"

Tara nods, "yeah. Your shift starts in thirty minutes."

"Okay," Odessa nods. "Need anything else?"

"So. . ." Tara starts. "Enid says she needs more space for her herbs."

"No!" Odessa exclaims. "No way. These blueberries are for the fair. I need as much space as possible to grow these magnificent berries. Take it up with Jesus. This is my space."

Yes, the fair. The single most important event of the apocalypse. It's Ezekiel's idea for all of the communities to come together once again and trade. The Kingdom, the Hilltop, and Oceanside are all going to be there. But Alexanderia. . . their leader is very difficult.

"Come on, Des," Tara puts her hand on her hips.

"No." Odessa says.

"I'm this close," Tara raises her hand to show her thumb and pointer finger almost touching, "to making you and Enid fight it out over garden space."

"I'll win!" Odessa calls.

"Please," Tara rolls her eyes playfully. "When is the last time you actually got into a fight?"