One Year Later

As I made my security rounds, I was amazed at how far our little prison community had come in just a year. First and foremost is the change in people themselves. We also have crops to feed everyone and an irrigation system for clean water.

We even got power using solar panels that a man named Aaron brought when he joined the community. He had a daughter Judith's age and was hot as hell. "Maybe Rick will play nice and share" I thought to myself smiling as I continued on my duties.

As I walked I saw one of the biggest changes, Carol. She had been abused by her now-dead ex-husband and then lost her daughter, seems to have found a new lease on life and on family.

She has been getting closer to Tyreese as the days go by. I was happy to see her also taking Lizzie and Mika under her motherly wing. Lizzie has a mental disease that's making her feel like the walkers are just looking for acceptance like herself.

I didn't think there was any way for her to see them as they really were but somehow with the love and attention of Carol and Tyreese over months she won't even go near them and now she calls them monsters and is very protective of Mika and the other young kids. She even does small babysitting jobs around the community. Mika stays close to Carol I think because she's young and needs a mom all the time. But she loves being with her big sister as well.

Then there's the fiery girl from the farm where they helped Carl. Maggie Greene is one-half farmer's daughter, one-half lion. Along with her father and sister, Beth, the Greene's are the reason we have fresh food to eat.

Then there's me. I never thought I would be the family type but here I am.

I'm teaching Judith how to walk and doing bedtime stories, checking for monsters under the bed and all that dad stuff.

With Carl I'm teaching him how to use my bow gun and also how to play football, more dad stuff.. Everytime he calls me dad my heart just gets more and more full. Rick still has a bad habit of revolving around them and now me but I just pick them up and leave so Rick can have downtime but he still finds a way to make dinner for the group.

The new people are amazing as well.

We have a doctor named June Dorie and her Husband John who can hunt and shoot like no one's business.

Victor Strand and his husband Thomas are quick thinkers but seem a little shady.

Then there's the Clark-Manawa family. Madison, Nick, Alicia, Chris, and Travis. They were mostly a good bunch and that Nick kid reminds me of myself so I hope I can help him with that nasty drug addiction he has.

Oh and Carl likes two of the new people as well, one is June and John's daughter, Charlie. He also likes a boy named Henry who came with his dad Ezekiel who is a big guy with a giant tiger named Shiva as a friend and his brother, Benjamin.

I told him that he could just go for both, there aren't any rules in love, just feelings and if they don't mind being all together why should anyone else. The way his face lit up when I said that made my day.

And when I found out he took my advice and they were going to try it out made me feel like a superhero. Rick on the other hand wasn't ready for it at all.

When Rick asked why he was growing so fast I just wrapped my arms around him and said "it's just a starting point. Trust me I'm guessing most of the time they'll just hang out and do kid things because that's all they know". I'm not sure Rick believed me but he smiled and kissed my cheek.

It was getting dark and my shift was finally over so I headed back towards the prison when two fighter jets flew over.

I just looked at Sarah, the woman taking my place and said "what the hell is going on now"?