It was your birthday. Everything around you came alive. The colors of the candles on the cake mesmerized you as your head swirled. You closed your eyes for a moment. Your irises saw her. Your fingers gripped the corners of the tablecloth in a desperate attempt to hold back the tears. After Joel's death everything had gone to pieces. The only person you had ever loved was gone, leaving you with nothing. Just when you thought she would never abandon you. That night, you had snuck barefoot into the kitchen, finding her on her knees, packing up her things to hit the road, searching for Abby. Maria caressed your shoulder gently and Tommy looked at you with eyes full of compassion.

Your lips trembled as those sensations became more and more vivid. You opened your mouth to blow out the colored candles, imagining her return. Then, you opened your eyes to be able to look at who was in front of you. A small, wistful smile made its way to the corner of your mouth and only disappeared when a strong hand rested on your shoulder. An unusual perfume. A perfume that you would have recognized even from afar. Her presence enveloped you completely the moment her fingers moved up to your cheek, caressing your skin with her index. Your eyes widened and you turned around. Time stopped for a moment. She was right in front of you, with tired eyes and the knowledge that nothing would go back to the way it was before. She was different. The messy mullet, the small freckles at the nose seemed to be even more pronounced. The lips are red and injured by small cuts. The clothes were perfectly washed, leaving behind a few unremovable patches of dirt. She started playing with her hands as she used to do when something made her nervous.

Ellie: Looks like you saw a ghost, huh?

And then you cried. You cried as you hugged her, because it was the only way you could show her all the love you had left behind the moment she left. And unexpectedly, she held you close, her fingers trembling.