Our Future Days {Really Slow}

Prologue

"Hey, wait," Ellie said.

Beth and Joel turned to look at her. Ellie sighed and took in a deep breath.

"Back in Boston...back when I was bitten. I wasn't alone. My best friend was there. And she got bit too. We didn't know what to do. So...she says, 'Let's just wait it out. Y'know, we can be all poetic and just lose our minds together'. I'm still waiting for my turn."

"Ellie," Joel began.

"Her name was Riley and she was the first to die. And then it was Tess. And then Sam," Ellie interrupted.

"Ellie, sweetheart. None of that is on you," Beth reassured.

"No. You guys don't understand."

"I struggled for a long time with survivin'. We both have. And you...no matter what, you keep finding something to fight for. Now, I know that's not what you want to hear right now but it's something that you need to hear," Joel said.

"Swear to me. Swear to me that everything you guys said about the Fireflies is true," Ellie said, not giving either of them a chance to say anything more.

They were both clearly taken aback by the statement but quickly put their poker faces on. There was no need to tell Ellie about what really happened back at that hospital. At least, not at this moment.

"I swear," Joel said.

Ellie looked over to Beth.

"I swear," she nodded.

Something in Ellie knew that they weren't telling her everything that happened. She wasn't able to shake it since they left the hospital. She couldn't understand why they wanted to keep things from her but she was with them. And no matter what, she felt safe with them. They needed her and she needed them. Whatever it was that they were keeping from her, she was gonna ask about it later. They were gonna be together from here on out. The topic would come up again eventually.

"Okay," she said.

They all turned around and made their way to Tommy's.