Joel can't remember the last time his soul felt so calm as it did now. For a split second, the man forgot about the monsters and all the horrors of the epidemic, being near some small, silted-up lake. It was so calm and quiet around, as if it were some other world.
During the day, Joel found an abandoned house on the edge of the forest, where you decided to stay for the night. Next to this house was that same inconspicuous lake.
The man began to remember how he went hiking with Sarah. He still remembers how she lit her first fire and how happy she was about it. He remembers, remembers everything: every memory of Sarah that hurts his heart.
Suddenly, you called out to the man, pulling him out of his memories of his daughter. You still couldn't find the hunting knife, so you decided to ask Joel. You walked up to the man with a leisurely pace and smiled, but he didn't smile back at you right away. You could tell from his face that something was wrong, you saw sadness in his eyes.
β A knife? I think I left it on... - the man didn't have time to finish speaking before you silently pressed yourself against him with a warm embrace.
Your hands clutched his checkered shirt, as if afraid to let go.
β Oh, honey, don't. I'm fine, you shouldn't worry about it. - the man smiled softly, hugging you back, not wanting to let go at all.
He saw Sarah in you, he saw the little angel he had lost so long ago.