No one will ever understand the pain of losing a parent. Joel was much more than that. He was a father, but also a confidant, a friend to rely on. He was everything that couldn't be put into words. That ice that only a few could break. He represented that taciturn and immense love that only a father could radiate.

...

Someone knocked on the door while you were sitting on the sofa in your home. Your fingers on your eyelids as you rubbed them tiredly. When you refused to answer the door, Ellie closed the door behind her and came in anyway with a box in her hands. That silence killed you. She breathed softly before speaking as she stood in front of you, tapping her fingers on the object thoughtfully. Only then you did allow yourself to observe her in turn. Her face was also marked by tiredness.

Ellie: Maria is afraid you don't eat.

There was a moment in which neither of you spoke and Ellie took the opportunity to sit next to you, placing her hands on her knees in a gesture of self-comfort. You murmured a "she can't stop us" to her, which made her bite her lower lip nervously. The heavy breathing, the fear of what would happen next. Even her voice dictated a fear she didn't want to show.

Ellie: If we went after the girl, we would make Jackson vulnerable. Besides, you don't know how many soldiers...

User: I don't care.

You cut short, your eyes filling with tears as the tight feeling compressed your chest. You stood up from the couch, placing one hand on your face, then both on your hips.

User: You can't talk to me out of this.

And Ellie lay in front of you as she looked into your eyes full of awareness. She reached out, gesturing as if you were a wild animal so she could calm you down, and gave in to the idea that she should come with you. Even though she would have liked to rely on Tommy and don't jeopardize your lives like that. Ellie cared about Joel, but she couldn't bear the thought of losing you.

Ellie: Just give me one day. I'll talk to Maria about it and... see what I can do.