Chapter Thirteen

Taking deep breaths, I walk slowly towards the house which used to be my home. We as a group have kept vigil near here to make sure the place is safe. It was a few hours after we arrived, when I finally saw her. Blonde hair, blue eyes… She was skipping around the front of the house, singing a song. The words drifted out to me and I smiled at the memories they conjured; she has always had a magnificent voice. I waited a while before I approached, partly out of fear of rejection and partly just so that I could observe her for that little bit longer. When she finally bounded back up the porch steps and inside, I felt a deep longing that I hadn't realised were there.

I knew I couldn't stay watching forever, especially as members of the group were starting to become restless. So, I took a deep breath and walked out towards the house. I take in the look of the building in front of me, which shows no signs of 'walker' destruction. It looks just as it did when I left. Images of my last moments here run through my head and I feel a mixture of shame and fear. The walk towards the house feels infinitely longer than it should, and I keep my eyes pinned forward, never taking my eyes off the front door. As I get nearer, I see a figure race out, stopping on the porch, staring out at me. She holds a rifle in her hands, ready to defend her home if needed. But the gun is never raised towards me, because she knows who I am. The look on her face mirrors my own; happy tears stream down our faces and within moments we are racing towards one another, falling violently into each other's arms.

'Maggie!'

My voice comes out choked, and I hold onto my sister tightly, frightened that if I let her go, then she won't be real.

'J, I can't believe it's you! We thought… With you being away… we just never thought that we would see you again.'

My heart tugs painfully in my chest and I feel overwhelmed with guilt for leaving them all. I hear movement behind us, and I untangle myself from Maggie's arms and look around her to see Beth staring down at me. She was just a child when I last saw her, and now she stands here before me, blossoming into a beautiful young woman.

'Jenni?'

I cry harder, feeling the tears streak down my cheeks and I move forward towards my baby sister and pull her to me, hugging her tightly as I did with my older sister. So far, this reunion has gone well, I almost don't want to ask where everyone else is.

'Maggie! Beth! Get on with your chores, please.'

I hear the strict voice of my Father and I turn to see him looking directly at us. The face I see has weathered a little over the years, but there is no mistaking my Dad. I feel a wash of love come over me for the man who I have always looked up to. Minus the years when I went AWOL, we had a good relationship. He was always the person who made me feel the safest, sure he was strict, but I knew that what he did and said was only because he cared about us all fiercely. My Father looks at me, but he doesn't smile, and he doesn't welcome me with a hug. He simply turns and walks back into the house. I feel my heart break and I want to cry at the injustice, but I know that my own selfishness all those years ago has resulted in this. I had hoped that he would be so happy to have me back safe and well, that past arguments would be forgotten, but obviously not. My Dad has always been a stubborn man, and I know that I have my work cut out to get him back on side, if I even ever can.

Looking back towards the area beyond the clearing, where some of my group are laying low, I signal for them to remain hidden. I need to speak to my family about everyone else joining us here, and I need to make a good argument. I just hope my Father can bear to hear me out.