The early morning sun filters through narrow slats of broken shades, gently coaxing Serena awake. The scent of the stale air smelled of dust and soot; mixed with the musk of multiple people who have used this home as a temporary refuge. She's tucked herself inside a closet in one of the guest bedrooms, laying on top of an old grimy comforter that's been used way past it's prime. Sleep in a necessarily in any situation, but in times like these it's a rare opportunity and a gift.

Last night she'd dreamt of her mother and how their relationship should have been different. Despite everything, she felt that her mother should not have died like that. Serena hopes she did not feel any pain in her last moments. She wanted to cry, so very much, but no tears came. She's all alone now. She knows most of her friends have probably died. No one knows she's out here. If she died right now, no one would care.

Then Serena thought of her sister. For the first time, she feels fortunate that her younger sibling did not live long enough to experience this dreadful life; she did not see their mother's dead body, consuming another carcass as her rotting flesh fell from her bones. For this, Serena felt jealous of her sister. It's like the universe has punished her for not visiting her mother as often as she should have, and this regret still haunts her in her sleep.

In an attempt to get her day started, Serena sat up to lean against the wall, pulled her knees to her chest and hugged her shins. She reaches inside the back pocket of her jeans and takes out her employee identification card from the hospital. She doesn't know why she's kept it. Perhaps it's to remind her of what she once was—a caregiver!

She knows she should keep going. Keep moving forward. Keep surviving. But on this particular morning, she lost the ability to stand up. She has no motivation left after she's been all alone for so long. Then without warning, she hears people talking outside. After a few tense moments, a loud thud is heard as the front door is busted open.

Serena's inhaled sharply as the sounds of trampling boots get louder and louder. She jams her ID badge back in her pocket and tries to hold her breath. Hopefully, if she stays still and keeps quiet long enough, maybe they won't notice she's in here. Maybe they'll take whatever items that are laying around and leave, but unfortunately, that's not the case here.

***

"Clear!" Maggie yelled near the kitchen.

"Clear!" Rick called out from the master bedroom.

"This way!" Glenn shouted, his hand gun raised as he entered one of the guest bedrooms. "Over here!"

"I'll cover him," came Daryl's deep, gruff voice as he followed Glenn towards the back of the house, his crossbow at the ready.

Once inside the dimly lit residence, it took the group time for their eyes to adjust to the shadowy home. But being a seasoned hunter and tracker, Daryl's senses were on high alert and he knew they weren't alone. He stopped dead in his tracks as the skin on the back on his neck prickled. There was a soft rustle to his left in one of the the back rooms. Raising his crossbow to his chin, he slowed his movements to let the air speak to him.

"Come out with your hands up!" Daryl's growl resonated throughout the house, his weapon raised and ready to fire.

"Daryl?" Glenn asked but didn't see the person crouched in the closet, but it was clear that his friend has identified a threat.

Serena froze at the man's order and lost the ability to speak. But as this unknown assailant stepped closer to her hiding spot, the doors to the closet swung open violently and a man carrying a crossbow barged in. Aiming his weapon at her head, he barked another command as his finger hovers over the trigger. Serena gasped as her hands instantly shoot up in surrender. Following his friend's reactions, Glenn grunted in agreement and pointed his hand gun towards their new detainee.

"Didn't you hear what I fucking said?!" Daryl demanded.

"I am not a threat. I was just trying to stay quiet until you all leave. Please. Let me go," Serena pleaded with her hands in the air.

"Not happenin'," Daryl snarled as he took another threatening step closer. "How many others?!"

"Just me."

"How—many?!" Daryl growled as he loomed over her, pressing the tip of the bolt into her forehead. Her deep brown eyes met his glare in a tense stand off.

"Just. Me," came Serena's low but steady voice.

"Rick!" Daryl shouted. "We found someone!"

As Serena kept eye contact with her captor, a third man appeared a few feet behind Daryl who seems to have a little more sympathy.

"Daryl!" Rick calls out. "Take it easy," he instructed, his voice came out gentle yet firm as he placed his hand on his friend's shoulder, but Daryl maintained his defensive stance.

A deep realization struck Serena the moment her gaze shifted to Rick. A sharp intake of breath from her drew Daryl's attention for a brief moment. He watched as her eyes move away from him, trying to get a good look at the man behind him.

"Wait—I know you," Serena said as she turned her head towards Rick, furrowed her brows as she could not believe what she is seeing.

"Liar!" Daryl barked as he jabbed the bolt at her head once again.

"Daryl, it's alright," Rick intervened as he took a tentative step towards her, moving in front of the man holding the crossbow.

"You're a cop, weren't you?" Serena began again, but she knew who this man was. His clothes were shabby and his skin was smeared with dirt, the hair on top of his head was caked in sweat and his eyes were narrowed, but Serena recognized him. Rick's facial expression immediately shifted as he frowned with confusion.

"Do I know you?" Rick inquired sharply.

"No, I suppose you don't. You were in a coma the last time I saw you. In the intensive care unit at Harrison Memorial Hospital."

"Where did you hear this?" Rick said, shaking his head in bewilderment.

"I was your nurse. My name is Serena," she says calmly, her hands still in the air as the tip of Daryl's weapon is pressed between her eyes.

"Bullshit!" Daryl cursed harshly. "She's lying. We found her hidin' in here—probably waitin' to take us out!"

"I am clearly outnumbered. Why do you think I was hiding?" Serena replied mildly.

"Shut up!" Daryl barked.

"Daryl!" Glenn intervened. "Don't shoot!"

"Lower your weapon, Daryl," Rick ordered calmly, but Daryl did not budge.

"Ain't happenin'! We can't trust her!" Daryl growled stubbornly.

"It's true! I can prove it," Serena says as one of her hands began moving slowly towards the front of her pants. "I am going to reach into my pocket, but I promise it's not a weapon," she says as Daryl watches her intently.

"Don't try anything stupid!" Daryl sneered as he tightened his griped of his weapon. Serena pulls out her ID badge, making sure her movements were slow and deliberate. This man's behavior was undeniable; she knew he has every intention and capably to drive his bolted weapon straight into her head, if he felt the need. In this moment, Serena was blessed with her resourcefulness in deciding to keep her old employee ID card.

As the small piece of plastic was revealed, which displayed her photo, full name and job title, Rick shot Daryl a deadly glare. "Stand down!"

A long and tense moment passed, then Glenn and Daryl slowly lowered their weapons as their captor let out a sigh of relief.

"Ya'll alright in here?" An older man asked softly, peering cautiously around the corner of the doorway. "Who is this?" The man questioned again, standing near the entrance of the bedroom.

Glenn appeared a few feet from Rick, tucking his gun into his pants, "She was hiding in the closet."

"She says she was my nurse at the hospital," Rick explained.

"How is that possible?" Glenn asked, shaking his head.

"The day everything fell apart, I was called away to deal with a—uh," Serena began but paused briefly to take a deep breath. "A family emergency." Serena chewed her lip for a moment and refocused her attention to Rick, "Was anyone alive? Amy? Bridget? Patty? Doctor Macones?"

"When I woke up, I saw no one," Rick clarified. A look of concern crackled across Serena's face. Those were her friends. It was hard for her to believe what Rick had just said. There was no way they all died. Surely some may have survived! "I'm sorry," Rick sympathize with her, gently nodding his head in solidarity.

"Rick, we could use another medic," the older man suggested.

Daryl grabbed Rick's shoulder, "Hold up! She ain't comin' with us! We don't know her!"

"She's telling the truth!" Rick said firmly as he bent over to return Serena's ID card back to her. "If she says she knows me, then she's safe!" Rick instructed firmly as Daryl scowled and swiftly exited the room.

"What's your name, hun?" The older man asked soothingly, holding out his hand to help her up.

"Serena Abruzzo. I was an ICU nurse," she replied as she gripped the older man's hand and stood up.

"I'm Hershel — this is Glenn — and you say you know Rick?"

"Yes, I remember him. He was my patient at the hospital. My whole department was in an uproar about a cop who got shot."

"Are you with anyone else?" Hershel asked. "Do you have family?"

Serena shook her head. "I am alone."

"We look after each other. Can you promise to do the same?" Rick asked solemnly. In truth, Serena was taken aback by all the commotion and the chatter. She has been alone for so long, that the amount of human interaction feels rather strange to her. And for this, she will do anything that will prevent her from being alone again. Serena nodded her head vigorously in agreement, practically begging to be a part of their group.

"Then welcome to our family," Hershel says softly as they move to rejoin the rest of the group in living room.

Then, ominous rasping sounds began to rise from outside the house and Maggie shouted out. "Come on fellas! What are you all doing back there?! We gotta go—now!"

"We have a newcomer. This is Serena," Hershel introduced her as they emerge from the hallway. "She's a nurse."

"Hi Serena. I'm Maggie. Further introductions can wait. We got walkers!" Maggie ordered, shoving the newcomer outside and into the back seat of the minivan.

"Come on, hurry, let's go!" Shouted Glenn as he dived into the minivan.

Daryl glanced at Serena and scowled, then jumped on his bike, quickly speeding ahead of the minivan and down the dusty road.

The decision was made.