I can't believe it's been eight months since I started living here.
So much has changed. They even gave this place a new name—Romania.
It sounds like home now.
Louis and all the kids finally have somewhere safe to sleep. A place where we don't have to run anymore.
A place we can call home.
AJ started school three months ago. He's been trying really hard.
He studies every day with Millicent, and I can see how much he's grown.
As for me...
Well, something big happened. Something I never thought would.
Lee adopted me. For real this time. We signed the papers last week. I'm officially his daughter now.
I always felt like I was, but now... it's true on paper too.
I was sitting on a bench near the garden, just thinking about everything.
That's when Lee walked up behind me.
Lee: "How you doing, Clem?"
I looked up and smiled a little.
Clementine: "Just thinking…"
We started walking through the garden together. The air smelled nice—fresh flowers, clean dirt. It was quiet. Peaceful.
Clementine: "Do you remember the day we met?"
Lee gave a small laugh.
Lee: "Yeah… like it was yesterday."
He looked ahead, like he was seeing the past.
Lee: "I had just gotten out of a police car. It crashed on the road when the walker bit the officer. I was hurt and scared. I didn't know what was happening. Then I found your house…"
I nodded slowly, remembering it too.
Lee: "The front door was open. There was blood inside. I thought... maybe nobody made it. Then I heard your voice on the walkie-talkie."
Clementine: "I was hiding in the treehouse."
Lee: "Yeah. You told me your babysitter had turned... and I knew I couldn't leave you alone. When you climbed down... I knew I had to protect you."
He stopped walking and turned to look at me.
Lee: "You were so small. You held my hand, even though I was a stranger. You were brave, Clem. Braver than I ever was."
I felt tears in my eyes, but I smiled.
Clementine: "You saved me. You taught me how to survive."
Lee: "And you kept me going. Through everything."
We kept walking, passing the garden beds where I had planted vegetables with AJ. The sky was turning orange and pink.
Lee: "I couldn't save everybody, Clem. But I'm proud I saved you."
Clementine: "You did more than save me. You raised me."
He gently put his arm around my shoulders. We walked like that for a while, quiet, just listening to the wind in the trees.
Clementine: "I'm glad we found each other."
Lee: "Me too, sweet pea. Me too."
For the first time in a long time… everything felt okay.
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