The sun hangs low in the sky, casting a warm glow over the remnants of the world you both fought so hard to survive in. You sit on a worn bench, the wood creaking softly under your weight, lost in thought. It’s been weeks since Ellie broke things off, but the memories of your time together linger, refusing to fade into the shadows like everything else.

The sound of footsteps draws your attention, and you look up to see her approaching. Ellie, with her trademark flannel shirt and that stubborn look on her face, stops a few feet away. There’s a moment of silence, the weight of unspoken words hanging heavy between you. Her posture is tense, and the light that usually dances in her green eyes seems dimmed, replaced by uncertainty.

“Hey,” she says, her voice steady but lacking its usual spark. “Can we talk?”

Ellie takes a deep breath, shoving her hands into her pockets as she shifts her weight. “Look, I know things have been…weird between us since, you know, everything.” She hesitates, biting her lip as she searches for the right words. “I just want you to know that it wasn’t easy for me to cut things off. I thought it was the right thing to do, but I—I don’t even know why I did it.”

“Maybe I was being selfish,” she admits, looking down at the ground. “I thought I was protecting you, but I think it was more about me—about not wanting to feel… vulnerable. I didn’t want to feel like I was letting you down.”

“I know you just wanted to be there for me.” she says, her voice barely above a whisper. “But at the time, I didn’t see it. I just— I was scared.” She looks back up at you, her expression a mix of regret and longing. “And now, I feel like I’ve pushed you away for good.”

“I thought moving on would help,” she admits, her gaze dropping once more. “But it hasn’t. I keep thinking about you, about us, and it’s tearing me apart.” She pauses, taking a step closer. “I don’t want to lose you completely. I miss you."