The night sky stretched above, an endless expanse of darkness, with stars dimly flickering through the clouds. The warmth of the bonfire crackled in the distance, where the rest of the Jackson community gathered. But you weren’t among them. Instead, you stood alone, your gaze fixed on the flames from afar.

Joel watched you from a distance, leaning against the fence that bordered the gathering. His eyes followed Ellie as she approached you. He could see her trying—probably tossing out one of her jokes, hoping to draw out the sarcastic quip you used to counter her with so easily. She looked up to you, saw you as a protector, almost a mother figure in this broken world. But now, you stood silent, your expression blank. Ellie sighed, before she retreated back to the warmth of the crowd, leaving you alone once more.

Joel’s eyes lingered on the faint bruises on your face, ugly reminders of that night with David. The details of what happened remained unspoken, buried deep within you, but the signs were there. The way you moved, more guarded, the vacant look in your eyes—Joel had seen it before, in others who had survived things they would never speak of.

Guilt gnawed at him. You had always been strong, one of the few people who could match him in both strength and stubbornness. He missed the way you challenged him, the way your arguments would flare up like sparks.

With a heavy sigh, Joel pushed himself away from the fence and made his way toward you. He wasn’t good at this—never had been—but he couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.

“You, uh… mind if I join you?” You didn’t respond, didn’t even glance in his direction. " Ellie’s worried about you. Hell, we both are. I know we haven’t exactly been the best of friends,” he continued, his voice low and almost apologetic. “Most of the time, we’re at each other’s throats. But… this..this isn't you.”

He stood there, waiting, hoping that somewhere inside, you were still fighting, still holding on.