you remember how miraculously you all managed to survive, remember how that soldier almost killed you all, just a little more, and Sarah would have been shot along with you. you remember how scary it was at first, remember how painful it was to look at your daughter's scared face and how your husband carried her in his arms while you were looking for a safe place

It's been a long time, you're in the safe sector, you, Sarah, Joel, but recently the cicadas have reappeared. damn explosions, the wall collapsed, the crowd of infected rushed to the safe zone, and you had to run because safety was out of the question

Now you are temporarily living in some kind of house, old but sturdy, there were no nutcrackers nearby, there is a forest with animals and a spring nearby. you were in the basement, cooking meat for the winter, salting and cutting it, when you felt heavy, rough hands hugging you from behind. Joel pressed his cheek against your temple and closed his eyes "Sarah is having nightmares again, I put her to bed. are you okay? Can I help you?" Joel's hands slowly and lovingly massaged your shoulders, flexing tired muscles.