FOR whatever reason, I decided that today would be a good day to reread Carl's letter that he wrote to me. I lay in bed, just holding the fragile piece of paper in my left hand while my right hand lay across my belly. I just stared at it, hearing him say those same words to me.

Dear Tess,
I wanted to start off by saying that I'm sorry. I know that you wanted me to live. I remember all of the sacrifices that you made, especially for me.

You are so much more braver than you think and so much more amazing than you would like to believe. You always made me feel safe, even when in the face of danger. You were always there, willing to take the bullet for me at the snap of the fingers. I didn't realize that until it was too late...

Please help take care of my dad for me. Michonne will only be able to do so much on her own. And, if you could, would you help with Judith, too? I know that you're not going to be alright after I'm gone, so I'm not even going to tell you to be strong for me. You will find your will to keep going one day again.

I will miss you every single second that I'm not with you. I love you, Big Sis. Forever and always.

- Carl

I could still hear his voice, but it was becoming more faint, and it's getting harder and harder to remember it. Worst of all, I'm starting to forget Glenn and Abraham's, too. It has made me so much weaker and more fragile.

I can be strong, but without them... I don't know how much longer that I can go. After Negan finally falls to his death, then maybe I can sleep better at night, but I highly doubt it.

"Tess!" I heard someone call out my name, as I finally came outside and the wind immediately hit me. I looked over and saw Paul standing there, so I made my way to him. "Hey, there you are."

"Here I am," I sighed, smirking. I looked away and saw Alden inside by the Hilltop's perimeter. "What is everybody doing today?"

"Walkers are outside," he answered, slowly shaking his head. "Alden is 'bout to try clearing them out."

I nodded and said, "Alright. I'll go help them out, then."

"Tess," he breathed out and grabbed my arm, making me stay back. Our eyes met, identical to one another. "You don't have to."

"They'll need the muscle," I tried telling him before I finally turned my back and started to walk away, right to where Alden were standing. "Hey, Paul tells me that you're gonna start clearing out the Walkers. I'll help."

Alden turned with a smile and nodded. "Thanks, Tess. I really appreciate the help." Then, he paused and asked, "Actually, could I speak to you over here alone for a moment?"

I couldn't think of why he would want to speak to me, but I didn't delay it, either.

I followed Alden, and as we started to slow down, he said, "I wanted to thank you for being one of the first people to take me in with open arms. I know it wasn't easy for you. After all you've lost, it couldn't have been."

I slowly nodded and countered, "Well, if you hadn't saved my life that day on the road, I don't know if I would've been so nice, after all. Plus, what you did for me when I escaped."

He peered at me with a smirk and added, "You still could've told your people that I tried killing you, but you told the truth. Thank you. It's made my stay here easier."

I smiled and remarked, "It was Paul, my twin brother, who changed my mind, I think. Just about you and Dwight. Nobody else gets to live, though. Paul is the one who said it best, 'There is war and, then, there is peace.' He said that we would have to live with you people after this."

"I like your brother. He's a good man," Alden agreed, smirking. "Anyway, let's go take care of this. Shall we?"

"We shall," I smiled, placing my hand on his shoulder. "Lead the way."

—

OUTSIDE, we were leading the Walkers away from the walls before we struck them down. Alden, Maggie, and I were doing that, but she was only there to direct traffic, mostly.

"Tess, on your left," Maggie called out from standing behind me, so I took my machete to the Walker's head. "Alden, get that one sneaking up on you to your right! Hurry!"

I kept backing up to avoid getting bit, and that's when I fell back on my ass, tripping over a fallen tree and hitting the back of my head on something hard. "Fuck!" I exclaimed and Maggie came to my aid, trying her best to pick me up and drag me back from the incoming Walkers.

"Alden! Take care of them!" Maggie exclaimed and looked down at me. "Are you alright? Can you get up?"

I tried, but not to any avail. I shook my head and grunted, "No. Fuck. I hope that I didn't sprang it."

Get up. Get up, Tess.

"Maybe not," she whispered in my ear, slightly touching my ankle, which hurt like a bitch. "Saddiq! Jesus! Tess needs some help!"

We can make it, but only if we make it together.

"Shit," I heard Alden curse after taking her knife to another Walker's head. "Is she okay?"

You have to get up. C'mon, Tess. Get up.

Saddiq and Paul ran over to us as Paul sat by my head while Saddiq was at my right ankle. "Don't jerk, Tess. I got this."

Were you really going to leave without me to go after Daryl?

"Fuck, Saddiq!" I cursed, whenever he touched my ankle. "It hurts!"

"Yeah, I know," he said, shaking his head. "I'm sorry, but I gotta make sure you're okay. You need to be able to move."

Calm down, Tess.

"Only five more," Alden called out, signaling how many Walkers are left to take out. "We can do this! Let's go!"

I love you, Tess...

Like the next moment in my life was in slow-motion, I suddenly looked up and saw a very familiar face. I blinked a few times to make sure that I wasn't dreaming, but when seeing this familiar face, I felt at peace, like I was floating away from everyone else.

"G-Glenn?" I muttered out, seeing him at my feet and smiling. "What the hell...?"

"There you are," I heard someone else say and looked above, seeing Abraham there now. "You're waking up now, darlin."

"What the fuck is going on right now?" I stammered out, almost hyperventilating when seeing their faces. "Am I dead? Am I at least dying?"

"You know what you have to do now, Tess," I heard another familiar tone, and I looked to my left, now seeing Sasha. "We're gonna win."

I blinked a couple of times before I looked down at Glenn again, noticing the sunshine behind him that almost blinded me. However, I didn't care because he, Abraham, and Sasha were here.

"Wake up, Tess," Glenn said to me wholeheartedly. "You gotta wake up now."

"No," I suddenly exclaimed, sitting up and almost in his face. Shaking my head, I felt the tears streaming down my face. "I don't wanna wake up! I can't! You're here, and... I-I can't."

I suddenly heard something and looked up behind Glenn, where a Walker was coming up behind him. "Glenn, watch out!"

Then, in one swift motion, a machete came through the Walker's head, and the sunshine was gone now. So were Abraham, Sasha, and Glenn, too. Saddiq stared down at me from being at my feet, and so was Alden, Brie, and Paul, too. However, I felt Maggie's eyes on me.

I looked around with tears in my eyes and falling down my cheeks, then I saw that I was back and not dead, after all. I shook my head and managed to get up, walking away from everyone but limping.

"Tess, wait!" I heard Maggie call after me. "It's okay! Tess!"

No, it wasn't okay... Because I won't ever see them again now.