CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Hearth

Snowflakes fell before Ellie's eyes as they walked into the dam. Joel gently let her down on the table, as Angelica and Vera rushed to her, tended to her wound.

It was two hours until new year's, but the couple stayed back with Joel and Ellie until her wound was dressed and her medicine was given. She was still a bit sick, although most of it had subsided. So Joel took her straight home and lay her down on her bed.

She coughed once, as she leaned against the headboard. 'I fucking hate being sick,' she mumbled. Joel gave a wry smile as he embraced her, and pulled back to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. She looked hesitant about something, her eyes shifting from him to different things.

'Get some sleep now, alright?' he said softly, and she nodded, her eyebrows drawn apart in worry. He reluctantly moved back and stood up, turned to make his way to the door.

'Joel, wait,' Ellie called. He glanced at her.

'Don't go off again without telling me, okay?' she said, her eyes wide and concerned. 'And next time you do, take me with you.' She sniffed, blowing her nose on her coat sleeve. 'Saves me all the fucking trouble of tracking you down and following you.'

Joel gave her a nod, and wished her good night, closing the door behind him. He stood on the other side, his mind still wound around what she had said. With a deep breath, he went downstairs, saw Vera in the living room, her hands folded across her chest, her face twisted with a perturbed frown.

'Is she okay?' she asked, and Joel nodded.

He looked at the clock on the table, and saw that the time was 11:30. Half an hour to a new year.

He remembered Tommy telling him that Kenda was in the clinic, and had received her dose just a few hours back. He though of visiting her, but his eyes instinctively turned to Ellie's room, to her closed door.

He went back upstairs and opened the door, saw her still leaning against the headboard, her eyes on the window outside.

She turned to him, slightly surprised. 'What's up?' she asked feebly, as he walked in, slowly sat down beside her on the bed.

He fought with himself in his head, finding a proper way to say things, trying to put them down without digging out old wounds.

'I know winter is hard for you,' he began, and felt a pang of hurt in his chest when he saw her lowering her eyes, playing with her thumbs on the covers.

'But uhh . .' he shrugged, pointing at the window. 'It's new year's. Tommy told me they celebrate it well over here,' he said, observing her hopeful eyes as she looked back at him.

'What do you do, on a new year's?' she asked, shrugging.

Joel felt a smile crawl onto his lips, as he moved closer to her, telling her about the times twenty years ago, the leisures of the era, the luxuries they could afford back then.

'They sing, dance, eat,' he began. 'They do this countdown ten seconds before twelve o'clock.'

'I've seen those,' she mumbled. 'Saw it in some movie. It looked interesting.'

'Let's go then,' Joel said, standing up.

Ellie looked up at him reluctantly, shrugging. 'I look like shit right now,' she said. She gestured to her injured leg, and mumbled in frustration, 'I can't even fucking walk.'

'That's alright, kiddo. I got you,' Joel said, his voice light, an end of his lips turned up in a small smile. Before she could protest, he pulled her hands onto his shoulders and carried her piggy-back style again.

'Joel, you don't have to,' he heard her saying, as he went downstairs. 'Y-You've been carrying me for hours. We can just skip it.'

Vera was waiting in the hall, and looked at them incredulously as Joel brought her to the door, beckoned her with his free hand.

Ellie felt the hesitation in her, the awkwardness as Joel carried her to the stables, Vera by their side. She had never seen a celebration before, let alone a New year's party. It always felt like a distant dream to her, when she watched the scenes in movies, read about it in books. That people everywhere would gather at different places to mark the beginning of a new year, to dare to hope for better things and celebrate.

They could catch the brilliant lights from streets away, saw the people in the stable as they approached. It was even better than what Ellie had seen before.

All the lights had been strung up, and some of them were left hanging to the floor at random places, strewn around poles and empty trees. Spherical paper lamps hung from above, and a wide table was placed in the centre, on which Ellie saw more food than she had ever seen in her entire life.

Tommy saw them and came over, saying that they were just in time for the countdown.

Joel gently sat Ellie down on a table with Maria and stood beside her, as they watched the people in the grounds, gathered around the centre, beginning the countdown.

'How come you're not in there?' Joel asked Maria, taking a seat beside her. She shrugged, simply said, 'Not a big fan of parties.'

'Whoa,' Ellie uttered, her lips curling in a smile. She heard the voices, all of them- men, women and children, counting from ten, going backwards.

Tommy rushed towards them, hurriedly carried Ellie on his shoulders and took Vera's hand, led them into the circle. Ellie glanced back at Joel reluctantly, and he gave her a reassuring smile. He watched as Tommy raised Ellie's hands up, and she joined the people in a feeble, hesitant voice, but a wide, carefree smile.

Joel saw Ellie laughing, as the glittering confetti fell over her, mingled with the snow. He saw them getting caught in her hair, saw her laughing towards the sky, her form lined with gold from the lights behind her, her eyes twinkling.

For a moment, when her form passed over a golden light and her silhouette glanced at him, he thought she changed- and thought he saw her, with the short golden hair, the black beaded necklace and freckles between her eyes.

The same innocent smile.

He could hear the song from the background that people danced to, in slow, dreamy movements- footsteps light, hands fleeting. Otis Redding's rusty voice sounded, striking a chord in his heart.

'I was born by a river, oh man, in this little old tent,

Just like this river, I've been running ever since

It's been a long, long time coming

But I know, a change is gotta come . .

It's been too hard living, oh my

And I'm afraid to die

I don't know what's up there

Beyond the clouds . .'

His eyes travelled to his hands, his mind racing back years and dipping into the past, comparing the old, dirty skin on his fingers to their state back then. He remembered holding the bundle in his hands, feeling the incredible warmth she emanated, like he was clutching a hearth to his heart. Her soft breaths as she fell asleep in layers of wool, and he sang to her. He looked back at Ellie, felt a wry smile on his lips as he saw her laughing.

Joel took a sharp breath, gathering himself as he noticed Maria observing him. He looked at her, and asked, 'How's Kenda doin'?'

'She's better,' Maria nodded. 'She's asleep at the infirmary. Better if you see her tomorrow morning.'

'Yeah,' Joel mumbled. With a slight grunt, he got up, and said to Maria, 'I'm gonna take off. Just make sure the girls get home safe, alright?'

'Where are you going?' Maria asked, her voice soft, unlike her usual self. 'Stay. She could use your company for a while.'

Joel glanced at Ellie again, and then gave a small shrug. 'Too old for parties now . . I'll see you tomorrow.'

'Okay, then,' Maria smiled wamrly. She got up and gave Joel a friendly pat on the shoulder.

'Good night, old man,' she gave a small smile, and left to join Tommy, who still had Ellie on his shoulders, Vera swirling and laughing beside him, making Ellie laugh in turn.

'But there was a time that I thought

Lord this couldn't last for very long, oh my

Somehow I thought I was still able to try to carry on

It's been a long, long time coming

But I know, but I know a change is gotta come,

It's been so long, it's been so long, a little too long

A change has gotta come . .'

Joel could still hear the faint music as he walked out of the stables. Once in a while, there were hoots, applause, laughter. All distant, but still pulling an end of his lips into a smile. On a cold, snow-covered street, he walked back alone, his form disappearing behind a golden halo from a lamp light.

-END-

A/N: Welp so this is done. Any body interested can read the continued story, I'll be publishing it shortly as part ll of the same name.

The song I used is 'A change is gonna come' from the Otis Blue record. It just sits so perfectly with the characters guys. The pain, longing and hope in his voice describes their story so well.

I just can't give up on Joel and Ellie's story guys they're so beautiful. The characters are just too close to my heart and I can't let them go. Gonna keep writing till I can't I guess. Thanks for reading! Please leave a review about the story if you enjoyed. I'd really appreciate it, your support will help me keep up with part 2 :)