During the Christmas holidays, the whole family was gathered together to celebrate. Joel had almost forgotten the last time he celebrated Christmas after Sarah's death, so he had taken care of everything. Tommy and Joel were busy putting up the Christmas decorations while you and Maria were making dinner. Maria brushed a few strands of hair from in front of her face with her wrist, her eyes watering from the onion she was carefully chopping. You leaned against the counter crossing your arms over your chest and she looked at you furtively as she heard laughter coming from the next room, where there were Ellie and another girl she had met in the same prefecture as Jackson, during a patrol. The youngest was sitting on the couch while she listened to Ellie talk attentively, who stood in her skinny jeans and dark coat while showing her something about one of the comics she liked most. Her hair was tied in a bun and her long-fingered hands looked cold and dry. You gave her a look. You wondered at what point she started liking another person. What did she like about her? Which features of her face had caught her attention. You slowly lowered your gaze and Maria looked at you warily, putting everything in a bowl.

Maria: Nothing is forever. Joanna is not from Jackson Prefecture. She lives in a small town in Florida and recently moved in with her father following her father's death. However, they probably won't stay long.

And you looked at her confused. Why was she telling you all this? And what made her realize that the way you looked at Ellie wasn't comparable to the way one friend looks at another? Then, unexpectedly, Ellie turned her gaze towards you. Your eyes met for a few seconds and she scratched her eyebrow nervously, before returning her attention to the girl who was entertaining her and who, for a brief moment, had also been staring at you. Her eyes were lively, almost mischievous. She had full lips, bright green eyes and dark skin. She looked at her as if she wanted to steal her.