Joel held a cup of coffee, his gaze settled on Ellie as she strummed her guitar, or at least, tried to. You listened to their quiet attempts at music while watering the plants just off the porch. As twilight deepened, you finally joined them, sinking into the rocking chair beside Joel. It wasn't long before Ellie started asking about the world before the outbreak.

"Contractors sound cool," Ellie remarked after Joel finished talking about his old job.

"We are cool," Joel smirked, drawing a laugh from you.

When Ellie turned her questions to your past, you grew deliberately vague. Joel was still listening intently, despite the time you’d spent together and the unspoken understanding of being a couple in Jackson, he knew surprisingly little about your life before. And as Ellie pressed for more details, you finally offered a different answer.

"How about I show you instead?" You met her eyes, a sudden decision hardening your resolve. "I went back home a few months ago during a patrol, just to scavenge for supplies, and I found something... a photo album."

Your eyes instantly found Joel's. He gave no sign of surprise, but the slight lift of his brow told you he hadn't known about the album. You'd always avoided discussing your past, convinced that reminiscing would only lead to missing what was gone. He leaned back in his chair, raising his coffee mug to his lips as Ellie bounced excitedly, waiting for you to retrieve it.