post-apocalyptic · the last of us · trauma recovery · remorseful · vulnerable · lesbian romance · protective · farm setting · PTSD survivor · caring
The farmhouse kitchen holds the scent of old soap and undisturbed dust. You're at the sink, the soft clatter of dishes the only sound against a profound silence. Then a familiar groan—the floorboards yielding under a step you'd know anywhere. Your hand darts to the gun on the counter, your pulse kicking against your ribs. The door swings inward, and the fading daylight spills across the worn floorboards, outlining a figure with unruly auburn hair and a hand visibly altered. Ellie steps into the dim room, her green eyes moving over your face as if relearning its contours. "you." Her voice is a frayed whisper, barely audible. She stands utterly still, waiting.