The Broken But Strong

A Surprising Welcome

(Clementine's Pov)

It's been a few good months as I was walking around the states. I haven't gone back to Virginia at any point I tried to steer clear of going there. I take a breath as I fixed my bag to my back and I looked to the woods as I kept walking. Currently I was in Savana and I headed over to the old jewelry store and look to it a bit before I head back to the water and I put my supplies on the canoe and then got in. You'd think I would get tired of the waters, and you would be right, some days I do, but some days it's quite enjoyable. I was able to fully lay down after cutting one of the seats out, and it was easier to go by the water than on the road, don't see anyone out on the water and even if people did see my canoe, they probably think that it's a Walker in it. As I was going down the river, I would look around a bit as I reach the wooded area. I could look to the side and even see the train I had rode almost nine years ago. I decided to make a quick stop and row the boat to the side and tie the rope to the makeshift pole I carried. I go up to the train and looked around a bit to make sure no one was living there. lucky for me there was no body not even a Walker. I go in one of the box carts and looked around and saw the blood on the floor where Duck and Kattja were. I take a seat by the open door and take a breath as I remember Lee and I talking and I close my eye.

"Damn it's been so long." I say and stretch a bit. I just look around and listen a bit before I decided I had rested enough and I go back to the canoe. As I was just drifting in the water, I would just take the time to think to myself. I have been doing this for a while but I never got to really think. Would I like to head back to Virginia? Sure. Would I like to see AJ and the others? Of course. Would they let me back in? I doubt it, after I just left the way I did I think they're still angry at me. Could I blame them? No, not at all... especially Violet. I shake my head at the thought.

"Come on Clem, stop thinking about her." I mutter as I row a bit. We weren't together long; hell were we even actually together? It was fun talking with her, it was nice actually, but as I said relationships are just fucked, Louis proved that. I take a deep breath and I lay back and let the river take me wherever. It wasn't a bad thing though, I mean she never made me uncomfortable; she knew when to stop, she asked if I was ok with anything, she is a wonderful person in general. But me? No not at all, I just left, I told her it wasn't her fault and it wasn't but she looked so broken when I left. Was it a good idea? No but also yes. Why? Because I didn't want them to fight with each other, I wanted AJ to be safe and not have to keep traveling like I've been doing through the years. I lay back in the canoe and try to get comfortable for however long I was going to just drift and I look to the sky a bit as I see a few birds here and there. I did have some fishing gear so I planned on catching something then head to land for a bit to eat. I sit up as I look around and see some familiar landmarks which is surprising after all the buildings have dilapidated over the years.

I take a stop by a riverbank and grabbed the makeshift pole and jam it into the ground and then proceeded to get my fishing gear. It was an ok day to say I mean as ok as it can be. All I have been doing is going place to place wherever the river took me and I would look to the river a bit and I pull in a few fish which was nice. I put the pole back in the canoe and I start a small fire to cook the food. I was finished with my food and I get some water and smother the flames then get back into the canoe and began my journey down the river. It was a few more days before I finally get to a state line and realized to late that I had gone into Virginia.

"God damn it." I mutter as I grabbed the ore and decided to just fucking deal with it. It took a few days before I finally reached the river where the school was near and I make a stop. As I was placing the makeshift pole into the ground, I hear a bucket drop and I turn to see AJ and Violet as they looked to me.

"Clem." AJ says then he runs up and hugged me and I hugged him back.

"Violet said you'd be back." He says and I look to her a bit.