Introduction

"Joel." A familiar voice called out to me with a blood curling scream. I attempted to shout back but nothing came out I wanted to reassure her that she would be okay. All I could manage through my quick shallow breath was one word.

"Ellie."

I could hear the call of the clickers as I ran toward Ellie's screams. I didn't stop until I reached Ellie who was lying on the ground. I lifted her up only for her face to change into a face I hadn't seen in over 20 years. It was my daughter Sarah, barely breathing in my arms.

"D-dad?" she asked faintly. Her eyes flicked and then the corner of my eye I saw a thin figure walking toward us.

"We're shitty people, Joel it's been that way for a long time."

"Tess." I turned my head and standing there was a scavenger holding a gun straight to my head.I closed my eyes The gun fired twice and I opened my eyes to see Ellie again collapsing. I stumbled forward before I clutched my side. Blood was beginning to seep through my clothing and I fell to my knees.

"Ellie," I whispered once more. "Ellie!"

Summer

I woke up in cold sweat despite the warm July air blowing through the open window in my room. Dawn was starting to peek over the horizon. I swung my feet over the side of the bed and grabbed my cane. With a soft moan I forced myself to my feet and made my way downstairs. I pulled out a skillet and started making breakfast for the morning. I inhaled the air. The sizzling bacon made a nice aroma in the house that made it feel normal like the old days.

The soft creak of the wooden floor boards echoed through the house as Ellie came downstairs. She went in the fridge and grabbed a jug of milk.

"The milk spoiled," she said. "Bummer."
"I'll go shopping later." I replied.

"You're not walking with you cane again." she said.

"For God's sake it's just next to the chair." I told her.

Ellie looked me in the eyes, "You have more grey in your beard old man."

"I'm gettin' old." I chuckled.

"Look I'll go get groceries." she said.

"Fine,"I concluded. "Don't take to long."

"I won't." she said running upstairs. I smiled and took off the finished breakfast off of the fire. I poured myself a glass of orange juice when the light in the kitchen died.

"The power outages are becoming more frequent." Ellie shouted out.

"Tommy must be having a problem with the generators." I muttered.

"I'll be right back." Ellie said grabbing the grocery list.

I turned to look at her.

"Nope, no way you're wearing that outside my house." I said.

She had on a small tank top that she had obviously found in one of the drawers upstairs and a pair of torn up blue jeans.

"What's wrong with it?" Ellie protested.

"It has too much - uh shoulder." I replied.

"Too much shoulder?" she scolded.

"Ellie, during my day men where animals so imagine what they are now," I sighed. "Trust me I was a guy once."
"Once, where did your balls go Joel?" she giggled.
"Ha-ha very funny." I said. "Trust me I was quite the -uh- player."

"Joel the player."

"Yes now go put something else on."

Ellie furiously stomped back upstairs. I walked over to a sofa before I spilled most of the orange juice and doubled over the soft rug.

"God- dammit." I spat out. Ellie returned and helped me onto the couch.

"You need to stay still." she ordered.

"You-ooh- you know I can't," I grimaced. This pain in my side had returned. "But I'll try- just for you."

"You better," she said swinging on her backpack. "You just fucking better."

As soon as the door locked behind her I lifted my shirt to see the scar. The scar was closing up but could still be faintly seen on my skin. I had got it a couple of years ago when I was trying to deliver Ellie to Fireflies only to find out they would potentially kill her. I had fallen on a big rusty rod that impaled my side. It was the time I was the most vulnerable and the time when Ellie was in the most danger. I tried to keep up a tough face in front of her so she would know everything would be okay.

Tears began to form in my eyes.

You're getting soft Joel, the voice of my little brother, Tommy, said in my head. Just to prove I could I went down to the ground and did twenty push ups and then twenty more but halfway through the second set I collapsed on the soft rug and let my ears ring for a minute. I could feel my heart beat inside my chest until I forced myself to do another push up, my hands were shaking violently so I switched to curl ups and did a few of those.

Exhausted I grabbed my cane and went to the back of the house I went for a quiet stroll. I walked and walked in silence until I saw an old tire. It was one of those huge heavy tires that you'd expect to see on one of them monster trucks and such. It brought a small smile to my face. It brought back a memory of Tommy and I when we were stupid teenagers in Texas.

Back then ,we were dumb testosterone driven males so we liked to challenge each other: Can you lift this up? or Can you ask this girl out first? Our lives were dares with one another. One hot summer day, Tommy claimed how I was bragging about how much muscle I had.
"It ain't bragging if its true Tommy." I told him.

"Right then, I'd like to see your muscles in action. Winner keeps the truck." Tommy said, spitting in his palm and holding it out to shake. In our yard we had this old red Ford truck that I'd saved up money for to fix for four summers working hard. I had just ordered some parts that were to arrive soon. Frankly I think Tommy just wanted to piss me off and embarrass me if I lost so I'd put down my bottle of soda and got to work.

I stood over the tire and stared at it for a moment.

I remember what Tommy had said on that day as I stared at the tire as I did now. "It's now or never Joel."

"It's now or never Joel." I muttered. I bent my knees and tried to get a grip under the tire. As soon as I did, I heaved up with a loud groan.