Ellie would be wandering through the destroyed cities, meeting infected, killing infected, passing by survivors looking for help, she didn't want to help, she didn't want to start relationships... She didn't want to get attached again after what happened with Joel, Dina and several of her friends.

So there she was, not knowing what to do with his life, he couldn't play the guitar, she didn't know where Dina and JJ were.. And she didn't have the courage to go back to Jackson.