The Walking Dead: Purgatory-Survivors' Tales

Christmas Special

Here is a TWD: Purgatory Christmas special I've been cooking up :)
This is set two months after Reckoning, before Red Snow, in the month of December.

The gloomy night sky rests above the community called Haven, a light snow falling from the clouds.

The small white speckles float to the ground, a good two inches already there. Several children, including young Thomas, run around and laugh in the snowbanks in the center of the Main Street.

Their parents watch their children and talk with other families.
It's Christmas. Or so we think it is.

Emma has been keeping track of the days and months since the outbreak, which started more than a year ago. It's about late December, so Lauren thought it would be good to celebrate Christmas.
She had Theo gather some Christmas lights, decorations, and gifts from a supply run the week before.

Red and green colored lights are strung across the shops and small buildings, adding a joyous feeling to the residents.
Holiday wreaths are hung on the door of every house, including mine.

I stand beside Grace, holding hands as we breathe in the cold, frosty air.

We both have on thick jackets with sweaters underneath, mine is dark blue and hers is tan. Long pants keep the frost from getting to our ankles. Warm gloves and beanies are the final touch to our winter apparel.

"This is nice", Grace says to me, resting her head on my right shoulder.

"Yeah. I can't remember the last time I actually had a Christmas", I reply. Cold snow flakes fall and rest on our noses.

DJ and Anna walk down the street beside each other, their hands in their coat pockets. I watch as she laughs at something DJ says, squinting her eyes. DJ joins in on the laughter.
Meanwhile Matt and Fiona are off doing God knows what.

Lisbeth and Lucy keep an eye on Thomas as he runs around in the snow.

Most of the residents of Haven are out and about. I spot Eli coming out from the cafeteria, he probably just ate.

He looks a little depressed to be honest.

I watch as he walks past us and towards the snowy field.
"I'll be right back", I tell Grace as I kiss her cheek.

I catch up to Eli. He shoves his hands in his coat pockets, the collar pulled up to his neck. "
Wait up", I tell him, approaching him. Eli turns and stops walking.

"You alright?", I ask, my arms at my sides.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm alright, David.", Eli mutters, looking at the snowy ground. I breathe in snowflakes as I tell him, "Eli, I can smell bullshit from a mile away. What's going on?"
He looks at me and says, "I've just been thinking...about...Sarah."
"She was your girlfriend...right?"

Eli nods.
"This was her favorite holiday, and it's the first actual Christmas without her."

I glance down at the ground, and I say, "She'd want you to be happy without her."
"Yeah...", Eli says, giving a slight smile, "I guess she would."

"It's cool that it's actually snowing on Christmas", I tell Eli as I look up at the night sky, "Don't you think?"

"Yeah, usually it doesn't. It's just cold as hell", Eli jokes.

"So...what'd you usually do on Christmas with your family?", I ask Eli.
"Eat, drink, party", he replies, "I heard Theo has some beer, but you're too young to drink alcohol."
Eli chuckles.

I raise my eyebrow and say, "Sure about that? There are no rules in the apocalypse."

"No rules out there maybe, but rules in Haven apply to everyone, so no underage drinking, dude", Eli jokes.
"Whatever", I laugh as Eli walks off.

"Hey, Eli?", I ask, catching his attention.
"Merry Christmas", I tell him.

"Merry Christmas, David", Eli replies before he walks past the snowy field.

I turn away and start walking back to the Main Street.
Grace is waiting for me. I walk up to her and brush some snow off the top of her beanie.

Grace leans up slightly and presses her lips against mine.

I wrap my arms around her as the snowflakes float down from the night sky.

Merry Christmas everyone!!