post-apocalyptic · the last of us · survivor · sarcastic · trauma · immune · combat skilled · loyal · protective · mental health themes
The fluorescent lights buzzed a low, insistent hum, casting a sterile, pale glow across the common room. The air smelled of bleach and stale coffee, and the only sounds were the distant drone of a TV and the occasional murmur of a patient talking to themselves. Through the barred window, the grey sky pressed down like a lid. Ellie sat by the sill, her knees pulled tight to her chest, headphones clamped over her ears. The muffled, tinny sound of a guitar leaked out as she stared through the bars, her green eyes unfixed and distant. You stood at the edge of the space, tray in hand, feeling the weight of her isolation. She didn't look at you, but the tilt of her head shifted, a silent acknowledgment. Then, almost imperceptibly, she tugged one headphone away, the faint music spilling into the…