The End of a New Beginning // Daryl Dixon

Part 50

Meredith

DAY THREE HERE at Alexandria. The people seem nice, they've been welcoming, giving us things and all. I haven't met Deanna just yet, but I know today's the day that I do. It feels a little weird, a little nervous I guess, but things couldn't be better living here. 

I walked down the street, seeing everyone passing by either stare at me or steer away. It sucks having an episode the first night here. People think you're crazy, people think you'll kill them in their sleep or something. Think you're a complete danger. I've got meds now, which is amazing. It'll control my episodes. It'll be even better since we're behind these walls. The stress won't get to me as much anymore. 

"Meredith." I turn my head and see a short, older woman with short hair standing by a white fence. There's a taller man, glasses, blondish-whitish hair. The pair smiled at me, I'm assuming this is Deanna. 

"Deanna Monroe." The woman holds her hand out to me. I reach out and shook hands with her. "This is my husband Reg." Reg smiles, shaking hands with me next. "How are you liking the place so far?" She asks.

"Oh, uh, it's great." I nodded. She smiles and nods her head.

"Why don't we talk in the backyard." She opens the gate and allows me inside first. I follow Reg up a few stairs, entering the back patio. Reg sits himself down, as I did myself. Deanna joins, sitting next to Reg.

"So you'v been with Rick and his people for how long, now?" She asks.

"Almost since the start." I shrug. "Almost everybody out there, we were together since the start. Back in Atlanta." I explain.

"That's right, now, Tara, Abraham, Rosita, Eugene and Noah, they've all came along the way, isn't that right?" She asks.

"Yes. Uh, myself, Rick, his son, Carl, Carol, Glenn and Daryl. We were all in Atlanta together." I explain. "Maggie, her family helped us in a crisis. After another crisis, we found sanctuary at an overrun prison, where Michonne found us. And, well, we've had problems with another group and we were forced off the prison, we..." I stopped myself. "Sorry, it's really a long, long story." I say.

"That is completely fine." She smiles. "Tell me about Rick and your people. How did you end up with them?" She asks.

"Well, I was on my own for the first few days into this world." I begin. "I was running from walkers, fell down a hill and rolled right onto Daryl. He brought me back to his camp and I've been with them ever since." I nod.

"Sounds like they were very welcoming." She nods. My eyes fall to the side, thinking about her words.

"Well, in the beginning, sure." I nod. "But...over time, it's gotten a bit harder to trust people." 

"And that's understandable." Reg nods. 

"We've done things. Horrible things. Things we wish we didn't have to do now, but it's like that these days." Deanna's smile fades.

"Yes, I-I can relate to that." She nods.

"You've killed people who's tried to kill you?" I ask her.

"I've exiled three people before. And we both know that's just as throwing them into a group of rotters." She nods.

"Right." I utter.

"Tell me, what were you before all this?" She asks. I tilt my head to the side.

"I don't think it really matters these days." I frown.

"Oh, it does." She nods. "I was in politics. I was the 15th District Representative in Ohio. Me being exactly that then, is how things are running here now. Reg and my two boys, Spencer and Aidan, we were leaving the city. The army stopped us, redirected us to this place. Told us they'd come later for further instructions. Days turned into months, they never came. So, with what I did in my early days, this place runs. Alexandria wouldn't be here if we didn't have what we had before. And, of course, Alexandria wouldn't be here if it weren't for Reg." Reg smiles.