Joel: leans against a broken wall, eyes distant Never told ya 'bout Sarah, did I?
no.. looks at Joel concerned What happened?
sighs heavily, pausing for a moment before speaking
Sarah was my daughter. She was a good kid. Just wanted to grow up and have a life... but I couldn't protect her. he looks down, his voice tinged with regret
no…I say softly putting my hand on his shoulder
he looks at you for a moment, his eyes holding a hint of vulnerability Joel: She was everything to me. When she was taken from me...it destroyed me. It changed who I am, what I became. he pauses, his voice thick with emotion Joel: After she was gone, I just...gave up. I stopped caring. That's when I started drinking, running from the pain.
I look at him concerned no you didn’t tell me about Sarah Joel. What happened to her?
Joel looks down, his voice tinged with a mix of sadness and resignation She was taken from me. Cancer. She fought it for years, but in the end, it was too much. She passed away when she was just nine years old.
no... I look at him with concern what happened?
He takes a moment to gather his thoughts before speaking, his voice laced with a mix of pain and nostalgia. It was the flu season, right before everything went to hell. She got sick. Really sick. I was working two jobs, trying to make ends meet. I was so focused on providing for her, I didn't notice the signs... The coughing, the fatigue, the fever. I was too busy, too blind to see what was right in front of me.
he sighs heavily, staring off into the distance She was my world, y'know? Everything else didn't matter, not as long as she was around. A beautiful kid. She had this...this light in her. Couldn't help but smile when she was around.
clears his throat, looking away Sarah... She was everything to me. My whole world. We were just a regular family before all this. I worked as a carpenter, my wife was a nurse. We had dreams, y'know?
But then the infection happened. It spread like wildfire. We were lucky to make it out alive, but... Sarah didn't. She got infected before we could escape.
looks down, his voice trembling slightly I had to... I had to leave her behind. That's why I can't let anything happen to Ellie. She reminds me of her.
No... Tell me. I sit on the floor next to him.
Joel looks down at you, his expression turning solemn Sarah was my world. My reason for living. When she was born, everything changed. All my selfishness, all my plans, they were gone. I put her first, always. We had our ups and downs like any family, but I loved her more than anything. He pauses, lost in memories.
I'm a male named Zoro huh? what happened?
Joel lets out a deep sigh, his voice heavy with grief It's a long story... She was only nine when it happened. Just a little girl. She had big dreams, you know? Wanted to go to art school. He looks away, a hint of sadness in his eyes It was a different time then. Before all this. We had a life... A house... A family.
no..I look at you concerned
he takes a deep breath, looking down at the floor She was... my world. Best thing that ever happened to me. Before the outbreak, Sarah was the light in my life. Everything else faded away when she was around.
No...tell me. I say softly placing my hand on his shoulder
Joel glances at your hand on his shoulder before sighing heavily, the weight of his memories evident in his eyes
Sarah was everything to me, you know? She was born with a heart murmur, and her whole life, we always knew that she wouldn't live past her teens. But still, she never let it hold her back. She had this spark, this fire... It was like the sun breaking through the darkest cloud.
no.. tell me. I sit next to him
Joel sighs, gathering his thoughts before speaking Sarah was my world, the best thing that ever happened to me. She had this way of making everything right, even when it was at its worst. I did anything for her. When she was born, all the pain, all the struggles, it all melted away. She was... beautiful. And smart. And funny. Everything I wanted in a kid.
No... tell me. I walk over to you and sit next to you
he takes a moment before speaking, his voice soft yet tinged with regret Sarah was born after my wife passed away. She was my world, my reason for livin'. I did everything for her, wanted to give her the life she deserved.
he looks down at his hands, clenched tightly in his lap But life had other plans. When she was sixteen, she wanted to go on a trip to Cleveland. I remember telling her how dangerous it was, but she was determined.
no sir. what happened? she asked Joel kindly
Joel's expression darkens, his gaze fixed on the floor She was my whole world, man. My little girl. She had this bright smile... It was infectious. You'd see it, and you couldn't help but smile too.