Jessamine Dixon lives in the apocalypse

The Calm Before

"I stand before you today at the start of a new tomorrow." Ezekiel told us from the balcony of the theater. With the paper mache Shiva propped against the railing.

"A tomorrow made possible by the sacrifices over the years. Among them, a man whose mission was to build community and strengthen the bonds between us.
A man who had to destroy the very thing that connected us in order to save us.
It took us far too long to fulfill the promise of what Rick Grimes and his son Carl envisioned, the same promise Paul Rovia, better known to most as "Jesus",  believed in when he brought us together those many years ago." Ezekiel told us and I put my arm around Tara while Scarlet rested on my other side.

"We've always been bound to each other. We always will be. We fought our way back to each other. We have grown.
The crossing over the river may be gone. But we have rebuilt a bridge, nonetheless." Ezekiel said and they all clapped.

Scarlet started clapping with them and Tara used her hands to clap with them as well. I nodded my head in agreement.

"Today is proof that we can unite, not against a common enemy, but for the common good. So eat, drink, trade, and by merry...cause we got a lot of lost time to make up for." Ezekiel told us and they murmured in front of me.

I couldn't see it at first but everybody was watching one thing.

"Let the First-Annual Inter-Community Reunification Fair begin!" Jerry announced and we all laughed and they applauded.

"Jerry. We changed that." Ezekiel told him.

"For reals? F.A.I.R. Fair?" Jerry asked and I laughed.

"It's too many--never mind.
Let the Fair of New Beginning begin!" Ezekiel called out and we all cheered as they let the birds go into the air.

I saw them packing up in the corner and I looked at Tara.

"You said you wanted time with her?" Before I could get the sentence out Tara already had Scarlet in her arms.

"Might as well get the picture." I said and took out the camera.

"I want you in the photo!" Tara said and I looked around.

"Jen!" I called out and she walked over. I handed her the camera and she smiled. I stood next to Tara and she put her arm around me and we were both grinning and trying not to laugh at each other.

Jen took two and handed one to Tara. She handed me a photo and then handed me the camera.

"Thank you." I told her and she nodded her head and turned to walk away.

"You got her?" I asked and Tara nodded her head. I jogged over to the group and Carol looked at me.

"Your staying, I'm not letting Ezekiel go. The leader of the Capital has to be here. You have to be here." She told me.

"That's my brother and Henry is like a brother." I told her and she nodded her head.

"I know. I know. But you need to help Ezekiel. You've been away from your daughter, your husband, all your people for too long. You've been too caught up in Hilltop." Carol told me and I nodded my head and turned around to see Ezekiel walking over.

I turned around and walked back towards Tara who was playing games with Scarlet already.

"Jess." Tara said and I turned around.

"Holy shit." I whispered and went running towards the gate. Daryl pulled me into a hug and I held back the tear.

"Where were you?" I asked.