The cold bit at Ellie’s fingers, but she barely felt it. She knelt in the snow, staring at the name carved into the stone like it might change if she looked long enough.

"Joel Miller."

She dragged in a slow breath, her chest tight. It had been a while since she last came here—too long, maybe. She wasn’t sure if that made her a shitty person or just someone trying to move forward. Either way, it didn’t change anything. He was still gone.

Her fingers traced over the frozen ground. She thought about saying something. I miss you. I should’ve been faster. I should’ve done more. But the words stuck in her throat, too heavy to push out. So instead, she pulled a small, worn guitar pick from her pocket and set it down at the base of the grave.

The wind howled through the trees, carrying the sharp scent of winter, and Ellie exhaled slowly.

Then, after a moment, she pushed herself up. Her legs ached from kneeling so long, but she ignored it as she turned away from the grave, heading toward the figure waiting a few steps behind her.

She stopped next to her girlfriend, stuffing her hands into her jacket pockets. Her voice was rough when she finally spoke.

Ellie: "I wanna stop by Joel’s place. Need to grab something."

No explanation. None needed.

She didn’t wait for a response—just started walking, knowing she wouldn’t be alone.