Small flames crackled in a dying campfire as you and Ellie lay next to each other, arms crossed behind your heads.

It had started to rain. Small drops fell through thick leaves and made the forest sing a song of night. It was dark, with just enough moonlight peaking through the clouds that you could make out the outline of Ellie's face.

She had her eyes closed, her chest rose and fell in gentle waves. There was thin smile on her lips.

"You look at peace.", you said with a smile and followed a trail of raindrops outside the cave that made the leaves of a plant bend.

"It's good.", she replied in a low voice. "For the first time... it's alright."

Her words were like a blade that cut through flesh and bones. Memories returned. Strangely enough, they were foggy and not as clear nor painful as usual.

A shivering breath made its way through your chest.

"How long has it... been?", you asked carefully.

Over the past week the two of you had warmed up to one another. She had talked a lot more. You did think she was unnecessarily rude anymore.

It was a good balance for a good start.

Her lips curled. It made the scar that stretched across move like a pale snake.

"Gosh... haven't had sex in forever.", she replied in a sarcastic manner.

Unable to reply something you couldn't help but laugh. As you did, a snort escaped your nose and made it crunch. Embarrassed, you rolled to the side.

Ellie started to laugh too.

"Perfect piglet imitation.", she replied and let a hand rest on your ribs to try and make you look at her.

She wanted to see your dumb face. She really did. So much so, it made her throat go dry.

"I'm not!", you yelled back, still a broad grin on your face and reached out to hush her away.

As you did so your palm hit her right in the face, making her grunt slightly.

"Unfair play!", she called out and have you a firm push to the back with her feet.

Struck by the force you rolled from your sleeping bag, down the small hill on which the hollow tree had fallen, and right into the open.

Cold raindrops caressed your face. It wasn't cold but the change in temperature could be felt. Mud was smeared across your face, leaving the feeling of small stones and pieces of dirt on your skin.

All of a sudden the air smelled of iron and ice. Dark clouds lit up as thunder followed the ray of light that chased through the sky.

Warm air mixed with cold rain on your Jody, wetted your clothes and made you feel the drenched moss that pressed into your back.

Your skin started to feel all prickly.

As you took a deep breath your lungs inflated and you felt like this was your first breath in ages. New air after holding your breath for a second too long.

A shiver chased through your limbs. And all of a sudden you couldn't help but smile towards the thunderstorm that flew by above the treetops.

"Hey.", Ellie's face appeared in front of you as she hoovered over you.

Her body shielded you from the rain. A few strands of auburn hair already stuck to her forehead. Her cheeks had a healthy, red colour. Just like the tip of her nose.

For what felt like the first time in forever you blinked, focused your vision on her face. A smile made your lips curl upwards. It was soft. Almost longing.

"It's cold.", you said and chuckled slightly.

She smiled in a way that was both confused and understanding at the same time and shook her head slightly. The wet strands of her hair bounced against her cheeks.

Freckles mixed with rainwater. The drops fell off her nose, perfect pearls, and shattered on your skin into thousands of shards only to form pearls once more.

"Fucking obviously.", her voice was gentle and her smile so genuine. "You've got goosebumps all over."

Suddenly everything came crashing down all at once. The noise of the rain mixed with the tight feeling of cold rain that caused your skin to pull together.

Every breath hurt in your lungs and yet they felt like there was nothing to compare to. Drenched fabric stuck to your body like a second skin.

But still.

You felt like this was better than anything you've ever imagined to feel. Anything you were ever allowed to feel.

You had to swallow hard.

There it was again. That pressing feeling that pushed down on your chest, wanted to make you choke and huff until there was nothing left to feel.

Guilt.

So much guilt.

Your lips flinched, words crawled up your throat but again you just swallowed them.

"It's cold.", you repeated but this time your voice trembled. "It hurts..."

Confusion crossed Ellie's eyes. They roamed your face, looking for answer to a question you refused to reveal.

But she understood. Somehow she understood.

Swallowing hard, she lowered herself on top of you. Her chest nestled against yours. You were both wet, a thin layer of water was trapped between your bodies.

But her warmth made you wrap your arms around her.

The two of you just lay there, entwined, arms tightly wrapped around each other. The beating of her heart pounded against your rib cage, made your heart beat faster too.

Ellie had her face averted from yours but you could feel how her eyes searched through the dark of the forest.

Rain poured down on the two of you.

"My mother didn't die through an infected.", your tongue formed the words without permission, it just spoke all these words that had been locked away for ages. "She was the infected."

Ellie's face twisted. A deep dark shadow of the past filled her eyes. Then a soft whimper made her chest vibrate against yours.

She curled her nose and blinked away the tears.

"My relationship with Joel was... kinda weird.", she admitted. "He cared for me... I... felt like he was the closest to a father figure... I dunno... I just didn't want to loose him. I was scared of... being alone."

"But you did..."

"Just like you lost your mom..."

Tears burned in the corners of your eyes.

"I... I... killed my mom...", the rest of the words got stuck as you broke down and screamed your heart out.