"Nylah, wake up."

I felt a warm hand on my shoulder and when I opened my eyes, for a split second I thought I was back with my friends.

It was an honest mistake. I have a habit of falling asleep on car rides, even if it's a short trip. I can still see their faces, teasing me and telling me to wake up and pay attention.

But that's impossible. They're all gone and I'm never going to see them again.

"We're here," Aaron said and stopped the car in front of a metal gate.

I'm a new person now. I have a new life. And new friends. At least one anyway, maybe even two.

Someone pulled the gate open. It rattled on its tracks and when it was open far enough, we drove inside. Daryl backed his bike up to the curb and spoke to a guy who nodded and jogged off towards one of the houses.

Looking at those houses through the car window, I felt another bittersweet moment of deja-vu. This time I was on the school bus, staring out the window as we drove through one of the rich neighborhoods where the houses we big and pretty.

Aaron got out of the car and after a minute I did too. I took a few steps, eyes open wide.

The scene was so ordinary. And that's what was so extraordinary about it. The streets were clean, yards tidy, all the windows were intact, and in the distance I could hear children playing. There was not a dead person in sight.

"Don't worry, you'll get used to it," Aaron said, patting my shoulder sympathetically.

Then suddenly Aaron called out, "Eric!"

A man approached with a relieved grin on his face, "You're back!"

Aaron embraced him tightly, "You weren't worried about me, were you?"

"I'm just happy you're back," Eric said, adding, "I missed you."

Then he kissed Aaron on the lips.

I looked away in a rush, hastily clearing my shocked expression, but it was too late. Daryl was standing next to me and, from the frown on his face, he'd clearly noticed my reaction. I stared at the ground, wishing it would open up and swallow me whole.

"You got a problem?" Daryl asked.

"What?" I responded in a small voice.

"You heard me," he said, nodding his head towards where Aaron and Eric were talking, Aaron with his arm around the other man's shoulders.

"No, no. I don't have a problem," I said, feeling like I was on a sinking ship.

Daryl was still glaring at me and I bristled at the hostility before realizing that he was simply being protective of his friend.

I took a deep breath and tried to explain, "I'm not homophobic or anything, okay? I swear. I just... I feel like a huge idiot...That's all."

I stared at the ground. My face felt like it was burning.

"Ahhh," Daryl finally put the pieces together, "You're sweet on Aaron, huh?"

I cut a glance at him and then looked back at my pitiful sneakers.

"Well, it doesn't matter now, does it?" I really wanted this conversation to be over.

"Nah, I guess not," Daryl smirked and lit a cigarette.

A lot has changed in this world but apparently I'm still a hopeless romantic. I know it's stupid to have a crush on someone I've only just met, but I couldn't help it.

I've always been a pretty decent judge of character. I can usually tell right away if I'm going to be friends with someone. Or if I might be interested in them.

Aaron didn't owe me anything and yet he went out of his way to be kind to me. He gave me first aid and encouraged me. And he has such a nice smile. So it's really not a surprise I would start imagining the possibilities.

"I really have consistently terrible luck when it comes to love," I said to myself.

Daryl was absently scraping mud off his shoes on the curb.

"You and me both," he muttered.

I looked at him curiously and he seemed lost in thought so I didn't say anything else. For the first time I thought that maybe we had something in common after all.

Then a new thought occurred to me. Daryl was in the same boat as me when it came to love. Bad timing and bad luck. But what if he meant that he was in the exact same boat?! Did he secretly have feelings for Aaron too?

Before my theory could get any further, which was probably for the best, Aaron came over and introduced me to Eric.

"Nice to meet you," the man said cheerfully.

I was prepared to dislike him but he was so genuinely friendly that I felt even worse. I mentally shook myself and did my best to swallow my jealousy.

"Oh, here's this," I handed over my gun.

Aaron took it, reassuring me that I could have it back again after my interview was over.

"Interview?" I looked at them curiously.

"It's mostly a formality," Aaron explained, "My and Daryl's recommendation carries a lot of weight but we also have an interview process. It's a good way to get to know new people and figure out where they might fit in. Everyone gets jobs here."

I began to imagine handing over a resume but instead of listing my grades or my old summer jobs it detailed how many dead people I've killed. How many miles I can walk in a day. How many graves I've helped dig.

"I'll do anything," I told him.

Aaron and Eric led me down the picturesque street to one of the houses. I glanced over my shoulder and saw Daryl checking under the hood of the car.

The metal wall circling the neighborhood, visible between houses or at the end of a side street, was comforting but it was also a reminder of how the world is now.

"This is it," Aaron said.

I followed him up the steps onto the wide porch. A young woman stood in the open doorway and greeted me.

"Hello. I'm Maggie," she said, reaching out to shake my hand.

There was a sadness in her eyes, even when she smiled at me. I knew instinctively that she hadn't always lived in this safe paradise.

"I'm Nylah," I said, suddenly feeling my throat tighten.

"What is it?" Maggie asked.

I willed myself not to cry and told her, "You remind me of someone I know...I mean, used to know."

Maggie looked at me sympathetically, "Come on, I'll make us some tea and we can talk a bit, okay?"

I nodded. Maggie told Aaron and Eric that she'd catch up with them later and led me into the house. I gathered my courage and stepped through the doorway and into my new life.

...............................

The End!

A Note about the Timeline: The Wolf people attacked Nylah's camp maybe a day before they attacked Alexandria. She's been on her own for maybe two weeks or so. Alexandria has had enough time to start rebuilding.