“Do not fear, dear reader, for this may seem like a scary book at first, and your mommy or daddy may even read it in a scary voice. Shame on them. But this is not a scary story. This story is about hope. One day a long time ago, dead people decided they didn't want to be dead anymore. Nobody knows why. And don't be embarrassed, it scared everyone. Nobody knew what was happening, or why... but life changed. Everyone was tested. That's why this time came to be called the Trials. You've probably heard your parents talk about it. It was a scary time, and many good, strong people lost themselves along the way. They started to forget who they were, they even started to forget what was good and bad. They only worried about living. There was no time to follow the rules. Almost nobody brushed their teeth or went to sleep by their bedtime. A great darkness fell across the whole world. It made everyone sad. People didn't know if things would ever get back to normal. Most people were sure it never would... and they got sadder... and meaner. When things were at their darkest... a man came along. Someone who had been hurt by the Trials. But he didn't let it make him sad. Not all the time at least, and we all know it's okay to be sad sometimes. Rick Grimes had an idea. He knew that if we stayed together and made friends instead of enemies... we could do anything. Even remake the world. He made friends and lost friends as he moved across the country. He met people he thought would be friends, but they turned out to be bad. He sometimes had to hurt the bad people to protect his friends. Sometimes he was scared that he was becoming a bad person. But he never did. And he taught other people how not to let the Trials turn them into bad people. He even met bad people and turned them into friends. Rick traveled far and wide, always bringing his friends with him, and they made him stronger. They made him safe. And he taught people how to make friends and use them to make themselves stronger and safer. The Trials made people so angry that some of them just wanted to fight. But Rick knew this was wrong. He showed them how to be friends instead. The Trials were dangerous times, and even Rick himself didn't survive them. But he was able to show us the way. With his teachings, the Trials ended... and life returned to normal. We even have ice cream again! People are happy instead of sad, and safe instead of scared, and nice instead of mean. All because someone was strong enough to do what was right. Wherever you are, whatever you're doing... you're there and you're safe because of Rick Grimes.”
