WITH YOU | TWD

[7] COMMUNITY

The room was clean, almost pristine compared to the places she had been accustomed to since the outbreak. The soft glow of the lanterns cast a warm light across the room, making everything seem almost surreal. The walls were adorned with simple decorations, photos of people she assumed were Deanna's family. Charlie couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in the pit of her stomach. This place felt too normal, too peaceful, and it made her feel out of place.

But amidst the strangeness, there was a sense of longing. A part of her yearned for the simplicity and comfort that this room represented. As she continued to explore, Charlie found herself drawn to a window overlooking the streets of Alexandria. Outside, she could see people going about their daily lives, seemingly unaffected by the dangers lurking beyond the walls.

"You can sit down," a woman said with a smile, waiting patiently for her.

"Sorry."

"Don't be," she shook her head. "It must be hard for you."

"A little," Charlie nodded and perched on the armchair that was standing in front of Deanna.

Charlie felt ashamed in front of a woman like Deanna, elegant in her clean clothes and perfectly styled hair, seemed like a vision of everything Charlie used to know before the world went to hell. shifted uncomfortably, acutely aware of the dirt under her fingernails and the stale smell clinging to her clothes.

"Can we start?" she asked.

Charlie nodded.

"I'll record our conversation. Do you mind?"

Her mind drifted back to a time when her life was drastically different. Before the world fell apart, she had been a breakfast TV presenter, accustomed to being in the spotlight, her every move recorded for millions of viewers to see. She remembered the rush of adrenaline as she stood in front of the camera, delivering the day's headlines with practiced ease. She remembered the thrill of live television, the energy of the studio pulsing around her as she worked to keep her composure in the face of breaking news and unexpected challenges.

Now, sitting in Deanna's room, Charlie couldn't help but feel a pang of longing for the life she had lost. "No."

"How long have you been out there?"

"Since the beginning."

"How did you all find each other? Did you know each other before or..."

Charlie reflected on the journey that had led her to this moment, calling every single person in her group a family member. It started with Glenn, then there were the others— each with their own strengths and weaknesses, each playing a vital role in the group's fight for survival. They had all come from different walks of life, different backgrounds and experiences, but together they had formed a bond stronger than any she had ever known.

It hadn't been easy, of course. There had been arguments and disagreements, moments of doubt and despair. But through it all, they had stood together.

"We didn't know each other before."

"And just like that you trusted some man and followed him? Let others join? Sticking together for good and for worse?"

In that moment she realized that she never really questioned or thought about that. There was something about Rick that inspired trust and loyalty in those around him, and just dragged people in.  They had laughed together, cried together, and fought together, each victory and defeat bringing them closer together as a group.

"Yes," Charlie nodded. "Definitely more for worse."

"You had no doubts?"

"We all wanted to survive. That's what brought us together," she answered. "But when you go through what we did, you can't be hostile towards each other."