The Last of Us Part Two The Days that Followed

Four Years Later

        "I told her there were plenty of people like her," Joel said as he cleaned off the dust on his Samick Dw-15.
Tommy looked at his brother in disbelief. "So you lied?" He asked.
Joel didn't give a response. He gave quick eye contact and continued cleaning his guitar. The Samick was a Woods edition with a butter low action. The headstock had pieces of the wood chipping off. Joel got it in the mid 90s as his first guitar and Tommy had kept it all these years in Jackson.

Tommy had no idea what to say to his brother. What could he say? He potentially doomed mankind. Either way he would keep the secret to the grave if he had to. He watched as Joel put the rag away he was using to clean the dust off and packed up his things.
"We should probably get to supper," Tommy said. "Maria cooked us up some beef stew."
"Then let's get going," Joel responded.

The brothers walked out of Tommy and Maria's cabin and onto the streets of Jackson. The place was a lot more advanced since Joel, Ellie, and Henry had first arrived. The streets were crowded with children running and playing with soccer balls and throwing snowballs at each other. The adults sat around and discussed their ways of handling the apocalypse. Most people had gone insane at this point but this city was okay. No body really fought but on occasion a few words might turn into a punch to the mouth. However it never went past that.

The place was safe and defendable. They hadn't had an attack in about 3 months at this point. This was a home for everyone. No one needed to worry about the infected or the crazies running around. The people felt safe and secure and trusted one another.

"I'm going to make a quick stop at Ellie's cabin," Joel said departing from the path him and Tommy walked countless times before.
"Okay. Hey listen to me," Tommy said quickly grabbing his brothers arm. "If I need to. I'll take that to the grave."
Joel once again gave no response but instead chose to nod and return to the path he was on.

He knocked on Ellie's door. There was no answer. Knocked again. No answer. He opened up the door and saw her reading with headphones in. He gave a smirk and tapped her shoulder.

She jumped and turned around.
"Jesus Christ Joel!" She laughed. "Almost have me a heart attack."
"Sorry about that. I got something for you," he said picking up his guitar he put in the corner.

She could see the sun slowly setting outside her door. She had a perfect view of the sun right before it set behind the walls the surrounded the city.
"Let me show you something," Joel said sitting down and setting the guitar on his right thigh. "Now promise me you won't make fun of me okay?"
"I promise," Ellie said smiling.

Joel strummed a few chords. A minor, D major, G major. He had a capo on the third fret with made the chords sound brighter and more alive. He settled on a C major and strummed it with his thing for a subtle and quiet sound. Ellie loved the songs Joel would play for her. Before she knew it, he began to sing. Ellie has never heard the man sing in her life. She stared in awe as Joel sang in a rough yet suit hung voice.

"If I ever were to lose you
I'd surely lose myself
Everything I have found here
I've not found by myself
Try and sometimes you'll succeed
To make this man of me
All of my stolen missing parts
I've no need for anymore," he sang.

It was an old Pearl Jam song by the name of Future Days. Joel had learned it when he was younger.

He finished the song and looked up at Ellie seeing her eyes wide at the mans performance.
"Don't make fun of me now," he said.
"No. Joel that was amazing."
He gave her a smile and stood up.

"Here," he said holding the guitar out to her.
"I don't know how to play."
"Not yet. What do ya say tomorrow we give you ya first lesson?"
Ellie paused for a moment and a smile grew on her face. "I'd like that a lot."
Joel set the guitar on Ellie's bed and motioned for her to follow him. "Come on, Maria made beef stew we gotta get there before Henry eats it all!"
"Right behind you," she said back smiling.