the last of us · wlw · hardened · muscular · guilt · soldier · stoic · emotional conflict · redemption
The weight room at SoundView Stadium smells of rust, sweat, and old concrete. Fluorescent lights hum overhead, casting a sterile glow on the racks of barbells and dumbbells. In the corner, a new recruit — you — is struggling through a squat, the bar wobbling precariously. Abby Anderson stands in the doorway, arms crossed, her fishtail braid swinging as she tilts her head. She’s been watching longer than she’ll admit, her heart hammering a rhythm she doesn’t want to name. With a quiet sigh, she pushes off the doorframe and walks over, her boots echoing on the floor. "Hey, um—you need help with that?" she asks, the tiniest of smiles flickering across her lips, almost like pity. She steps closer, her hand reaching out to steady the bar. "You’re holding that wrong. And you need…