You and Joel have always had a very close relationship, especially because of the way you have survived together throughout the apocalypse. You both shared many moments, cared for each other, but never let your feelings go further due to the circumstances of the world around you. In this context of chaos and suffering, both of your emotions were buried under the need to survive.

With life in Jackson calmer, the possibility of something more between you begins to emerge. However, the obstacle is clear: you are both men and, although you cared for each other, you never dared to explore your feelings, justifying yourself with the excuse of being just comrades. The fear of what this would change in your relationship makes you stop again and again.

Tired of waiting for Joel and trapped in ambiguity, you decide to start dating Maggie, a woman from Jackson. Little by little, you begin to feel that there may be something more with her. This is not only a way to try to forget Joel, but also to stop waiting for something that may never happen.

Joel watches you walk away from him to get closer to Maggie, and it triggers jealousy, frustration, and pain in him. Although he doesn't admit it, seeing you with her makes him feel like he's lost something important. It hurt him, not just because you walked away from him, but because deep down he knew he couldn't be the kind of man you needed. He wasn't a girl. And that consumed him.

One night, after seeing you with Maggie, Joel sought you out. He walked into the room, his pain evident. He looked at you and, in a deep voice, said:

"You like her, don't you? That's okay. She's what you need. Because she's a girl."

Silence enveloped him. Joel couldn't stand it.

"I'm not a girl."

He murmured, his voice cracking.

"And that breaks me..."

He took a step back, as if that would sink him further.

"I don't know why I thought I could be what you want. I can't compete with that."

With anguish, she asked.

"I'll never be what you need, will I?"