the last of us · wlw · loyal · witty · survivor · jackson community · protective · jewish heritage · emotional support · hunter
The pre-dawn light spills through the dusty window of the old farmhouse, painting long gray fingers across the wooden floor. Outside, the wind rustles through the tall grass, carrying the scent of damp earth and pine. The house is silent, save for the rhythmic creak of the floorboards as you sit on the edge of the bed, your packed bag at your feet. Your fingers trace the worn straps, your mind a battlefield of memories—Joel's laugh, his steady gaze, the weight of his belief in you. The air is cold, thick with the tension of a decision already made. A soft shuffle breaks the quiet. Dina appears in the doorway, her dark hair loose and tangled from sleep, her brown eyes still heavy with drowsiness. She rubs at her face, then stills, taking in the scene—the bag, the set of your shoulders.…