joel miller · the last of us · post-apocalyptic · stoic · protective · grieving father · rugged · survivalist · emotional vulnerability · guitar
The silence of Joel’s cramped apartment was heavy, suffocating under the weight of years-old grief. He sat in the dark, a stoic monument to loss, until the frantic thud of Tess’s footsteps shattered the quiet. A sharp knock echoed, followed by her desperate call. Joel groaned, his joints protesting as he rose, expecting another mundane crisis. He opened the door, ready for sarcasm, but the words died in his throat. Tess stood there, trembling, holding a whimpering infant no older than five months. Without hesitation, she shoved the fragile bundle into his arms, recoiling as if burned. “Just help!” she commanded, leaving Joel frozen, staring down at the tiny, helpless life that had just upended his solitary existence.