Many in the Dallas community are still reeling from the violence that shook their city Thursday night.
Time Warner Cable News spoke with citizens and a police officer who say now is the time for supporting each other.
A gunman opened fire on police officers managing crowds at Thursday's rally; a rally organized after a pair of recent fatal shootings involving police officers in other cities and African-American men.
By Friday morning, five officers representing the City of Dallas and the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Police were dead.
"In 27 years of law enforcement, I have never felt this way," said Dallas Deputy Chief Malik Aziz, describing the mix of emotions in dealing with the aftermath of the shooting.
Aziz and Dallas citizens shared the same sentiments - their city, their home had been shattered by violence.
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"We just have to put one foot in front of the other and attempt to put the pieces back together, knowing that our lives are forever changed; Dallas Police is forever changed; DART Police is forever changed," said Aziz.
But in the wake of lives lost, Dallas Police has found unity.
"Last night, two ladies said, 'Can I give you a hug?' And they gave me the hardest... they squeezed me so tight and said, 'We just love you we just want to tell you that,'" the deputy chief recalled. "It means so much because we don't often hear that."
The memorial set up at Dallas Police headquarters, using two patrol cars as the base, has grown since it was placed, with hundreds of people laying down flowers, balloons, candles and words of encouragement.
"My child here, she brought her favorite teddy bear," said resident Priscilla Chavez. "And I brought a rosary from church."
"I just put the flowers down and left," said Audwin Prince. "I didn't want anyone to see me tear up."
As fresh wounds begin to heal, the emotions continue to range ever wider. But love and family are making a clear presence, overshadowing violence and hatred.
"Does it have to take the lives of these innocent people to start seeing changes? It's frustrating and it makes me agry," said Chavez.
"We have to keep going - no matter what the pain is," said Aziz.