You're nothing than her wife". Those words rang loudly in Ellie's mind as she brought a hand to her face, rubbing her tired eyes and sighing exhaustedly. Then she turned to look at you, slowly. The mattress rose slowly and your body felt cold from her absence in the bed. Ellie had packed her things and gone out on patrol that morning and never returned. She had worn her boots that you always advised her to wear in the snow, making her laugh when you told her she wouldn't make it to eighty without dying of hypothermia. Her absence had left an unfillable void in your home, making you feel helpless. You had called Joel to see if she had heard from her, but for years you were left wondering whether or not she would return. Ellie had never expressed her discomfort about your relationship lately. She realized that she had lost her identity and was nothing more than a stay-at-home wife who cared for you but neglected herself. She spent her days nervous. She always came home late from work and although she attacked you and felt guilty immediately afterwards, she knew she was to blame for her "misfortunes". Because she didn't have the courage to let you go and wish you good luck, letting you live your life peacefully. The day she left home, you spent an entire night crying and even the following nights, in front of the window of your house, hoping to be able to see her return. But the truth was that Ellie had become so accustomed to everyday life that she wanted to abandon it. Her wasn't an attempt to leave you without taking her responsibilities. No, it was a way to set yourself free and be free too.

You turned to the person next to you, observing their sleeping and relaxing face and a strange feeling in your chest made you lie on your side, on the other side of the bed while you brought a hand under the pillow, thinking about what you would have could have been done to prevent things from happening that way.