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Raven clicked off the tape player, the recordings silent for the first time in hours. The voices from the past no longer echoed in the small room that had become her makeshift command center, their tales of survival, love, and loss coming to an end. Her mind was brimming with facts and snippets of personality from each member of the old world, allowing her to piece together a puzzle as intricate as it was crucial. As she shuffled papers and photos across her desk, matching faces with strengths and skills with roles, a confident smile painted itself across Raven's face. She was ready to assign each person a purpose within their walls – a rebirth of community where each individual would thrive.
Content with her work, Raven stood up and stretched, her legs grateful for the movement after hours of immobility. She strode purposefully towards the door of the room and down the hallway where life thrived under her watchful leadership. It was time to share her decisions with Rick, but as she turned a corner, she paused.
There was Glenn, his gaze lingering on Maggie and Wyatt – Raven's ex-boyfriend. Maggie was oblivious to Glenn's stare, caught up in conversation with others who seemed just as unaware. A pang of sympathy hit Raven as she approached him.
"Hey Glenn," Raven started softly, ensuring not to startle him out of his reverie. "You okay?"
Glenn turned towards her, his eyes clouded with a tumultuous mix of emotions – all too familiar in this new world they were trying to navigate. He gave a nod that didn't quite reach his eyes but offered up a frail smile in attempt to reassure.
Raven gave him an understanding look before moving on to another important order of business.
"Do you want to come with me while I talk to Rick?" she asked gently.
For a moment, Glenn hesitated, his gaze flickering back to Maggie before settling on Raven's earnest face.
"Yeah," he said finally, his voice steady if not entirely convincing.
As they walked away together towards Rick's quarters, Raven effortlessly steered their conversation into laughs – stories from before that found humor despite everything they'd lost. The laughter provided a much-needed reprieve from the relentless pressure of survival. It allowed them for just a fleeting moment to remember that being alive wasn't solely about endurance; it was about finding those pockets of joy amidst the chaos.
Raven and Glenn strolled down the familiar, weathered path toward Rick's house, their laughter mingling with the crisp air. They reached the front door in high spirits, Raven reaching out to knock confidently. The sound echoed briefly before the door swung open, revealing Carl holding Judith carefully in his arms.
