Work Text:
Ellie looked at JJ and pondered,
...You'll know your dad one day, and why he's not here. And why I'm here instead. And that I'm the reason he's not here. And you'll know that Dina loved your dad and she loves me too. And by the time you're big all of the old guys who call people dykes will be dead, so you'll never have to know that people don't like me and your mom just because we love each other. I'll teach you how to play the guitar. And shoot a bow. And fuck up infected.
Her thoughts trailed further,
You'll be strong. Nothing like me. If I were strong, Joel would be alive. Jesse would be alive. Henry. Sam. Tess. Riley. Tommy wouldn't be crippled. Abby would be dead. You'll be stronger and smarter than I ever was. I'm sure of it.
I wish you were immune like me. I wish everyone was immune but me. I wish I had died in that hospital. They would've put me in history books, but no. Fucking Joel ruined it for me...
Why?
What about me was so important that you gave up the world for me?
"Hey, dinner's ready." Dina popped her head through the door of Ellie's studio.
Ellie lightly shook her head and blinked rapidly, and looked at Dina with tired eyes,
"Okay."