You watch Ellie mess around with her friends, excitedly telling stories of how you, her and Joel took down a bunch of clickers. Watching her like this — so young, so full of life, knowing that one day she won't be like this anymore — gives you that odd melancholy feeling. You have to sit down for a while.

"She won't always be this young," Joel says, sitting beside you with a sigh. It seems he knows exactly how you feel. "And there ain't anythin' we can do to stop it."