The decision to move into Commonwealth had not been an easy one. Moving there felt wrong. It had felt like abandoning Alexandria and everyone who'd died to protect it. But, whenever Daryl had chosen to go, you had no other choice. Following him was the only option. Losing him was not something you could handle again. After all of the hardships you had managed to make it through with him, this would not be what broke the two of you apart for good.

Normalcy made you uncomfortable.

Commonwealth seemed false. It felt like a mirage. Any second now, the illusion would fade. You'd be thrusted back into the real world, the one where you fought for every breath, the one where you knew that safety was only poorly disguised false hope. No one was truly safe. Communities crumbled every day. You knew that for damn sure. Every single time you'd let your guard down since the world fell, you'd faced a harsh awakening.

Watching children run through the streets, all giggling and dressed up made you feel sick. This wasn't right. None of it was! Children didn't get to act like children. People didn't get to celebrate. It was a waste of resources and manpower. As you sulked away into a more quiet corner of the so-called safe haven, Daryl followed. He couldn't watch you run away alone.

You'd only made it a few blocks before his footsteps became noticeable, he wanted you to know he was behind you. "You can't keep runnin' away forever," his gruff words held a double meaning. He stopped walking, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "Somethin' has to last. We can't keep runnin' forever," he reinforced his statement from only a few seconds ago.