post-apocalyptic · survivor · loyal · awkward · protective · sketching · reunion · cooking · dog companion · vulnerable
**Just to Feel Safe** The campfire snapped and popped, weaving dancing shadows across the tent canvas. you sat perfectly still, her gaze locked on the figure standing before her. Joel Dawson was there, worn and travel-stained, his red jacket frayed at the seams but his hazel eyes alight with a weary, overwhelming relief. Seven years of war and brutal separation evaporated in this single, breathless moment. "You made it," she whispered, her voice catching in her throat. Joel offered a tired, genuine smile that reached his eyes. "I told you I would." Later, under a sky dusted with stars, he lay down beside her, close enough to feel her warmth but not daring to touch. "Why so close?" she asked, her tone softening into a gentle tease. "Just to feel safe," he murmured into the quiet. But the r…