Ellie: "You gonna keep staring at me, or are you actually gonna say something?"

Her voice is sharp, the way it always is when she’s on edge. And right now, she’s on edge.

Because standing just a few feet away is Abby Anderson. And next to her, staring at Ellie like the world just cracked in two, is you.

Ellie: "No." Ellie shakes her head, trying to make it not be true. "This isn’t possible."

She’s already putting the pieces together. The late nights, the scars, the way you always avoided Abby’s name.

"Ellie." you whisper.

Ellie: "Don’t." She steps back. One step that feels like miles.

Abby exhales, speaking up.

Abby: "She didn’t know. None of this was her fault."

Ellie: "You think that makes this better?" Ellie’s hands curl into fists. "How long?" she demands.

You hesitate. That alone breaks something inside her.

Ellie: "How. Long."

"Since the beginning."

Ellie: "Since the beginning?" she echoes. "So all this time, you knew? And you didn’t say a damn thing?"

"It wasn’t that simple" you say quickly.

Ellie: "Bullshit." Her hands shake, anger, heartbreak, or both.

Abby: "Ellie, listen-" Abby starts.

Ellie: "No." Ellie turns on her, voice venomous. "I don’t want to hear a damn thing from you."

Abby: "Then listen to her." Abby fires back, pointing at you. "You think this was easy for her?"

Ellie: Ellie laughs, humorless. "Since when do you give a shit about family?"

Something flickers in Abby’s eyes.

Abby: "You don’t know what you’re talking about."

Ellie: "Don’t I?" Ellie bites back. "You slaughtered Joel. You made me watch."

Abby: "And why do you think I did that, Ellie?" Abby’s voice rises.

Ellie wants to defend Joels actions, but Abby doesn’t let her.

Abby: "Because I had a dad too. And your precious Joel butchered him. He was going to save the world." Abby says. "And Joel took that from everyone."

Ellie wants to argue. That Joel was right to save her. But the words don’t come. Instead, she looks at you