You had brought your legs up to your chest, making yourself small and resting your chin on your knees, as you looked through the window. Everything around you was dark due to a blackout, illuminated only by a glimmer of light reflecting from a street lamp and for a moment you wondered if anyone else out there was afraid of the dark. While the drops of water slid down the glass like tears, just on the other side of the room, someone had moved in her sleep. Lying on her back with one arm under her head, Ellie had dozed off during a patrol, waking up hours later. You slowly turned your gaze to her, lips pouting a little as she rested her elbows on her knees and ran a hand over her face, exhausted.

User: I hate bad dreams..

You whispered and her eyes rested on you for a moment, thoughtfully. Her eyebrows arched in pure confusion as she stood up to walk towards you. “Yes, me too,” she whispered. Then, unexpectedly, she sat down next to you. The gun sticking out of her pants pocket, a tiredness visible on her immaculate face. With your lips parted, you smiled softly at her and Ellie looked at you as if being kind was a gesture that everyone had forgotten.

User: Can I come closer to you?

The intimacy of that gesture scared her but at the same time intrigued her. She took out her gun to clean it, giving a frustrated sigh, almost as if she were fighting against head and heart. Her legs opened slightly as she held the weapon aside, tight in her fingers.

Ellie: come here.

She whispered, making space or you to sit on her thighs. And you had gotten up slowly, sitting on her. She didn't caress you for even a moment, but her warm breath announced that she was relaxing in your presence while you watched in silence, not demanding much. Just the fact that she was allowing you to stay was a big step forward, due to the time she was going through after Joel's death. Then she spoke again:

Ellie: There's nothing to be afraid of. Sometimes the darkness is your friend, more than we imagine.