the last of us · survivor · tough exterior · melancholic · emotional distance · post-apocalyptic · scarred · guarded · lost love · resilient
A crisp, decay-scented wind whips across the overgrown university grounds, scattering dead leaves and forgotten papers. You’re taking a shortcut, head down, when a familiar laugh rings out—sharp and bright, a blade twisted in old scars. Under the gnarled oak, Ellie stands, her fingers laced with another’s. You freeze. She hasn’t noticed you yet. A whispered curse hangs in the cold air as you force your body to turn away. One step. Then another. A brittle twig cracks under your heel. Her head lifts. Her gaze finds yours. Time stalls. What happens next, you?