Last of Us

The morning sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a soft, golden glow over the bedroom. Ella blinked awake, her eyes adjusting to the light as she turned to find James still asleep beside her. His face was relaxed, peaceful in a way that made her heart swell with love. For a moment, she lay there, watching him, savoring the quiet intimacy of the early hours. It was in these moments that she felt the most connected to him, as if nothing else in the world mattered but the two of them.

But beneath the surface, a strange unease simmered within her, a gnawing sense that this peace was fragile, that it could shatter at any moment.

James stirred beside her, his eyes fluttering open. He smiled sleepily, reaching out to pull her closer. "Morning, beautiful," he murmured, his voice still thick with sleep.

"Morning," Ella replied, her voice soft. She rested her head on his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. It was a sound that usually calmed her, but today, it felt as though it was counting down to something inevitable.

James kissed the top of her head, sensing the tension in her body. "You okay?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.

Ella hesitated, unsure of how to put her feelings into words. "I'm fine," she lied, hoping to convince herself as much as him. "Just… I don't know, something feels off today."

James pulled back slightly to look at her, his eyes searching hers. "You've been through a lot lately," he said gently. "It's normal to feel uneasy. But I'm here, okay? We'll get through this together."

Ella nodded, managing a small smile. "I know," she said, though the sense of dread refused to dissipate.

They spent the morning together, moving through their routine with an unspoken agreement to savor every moment. James made breakfast while Ella set the table, and they ate in companionable silence, occasionally exchanging affectionate glances. Despite the unease, there was a warmth between them, a shared understanding that whatever came next, they would face it together.

As the day wore on, James prepared to leave for work. He was hesitant, not wanting to leave Ella alone, but she insisted she would be fine. "I'm going to see Lydia today," Ella mentioned, hoping the visit would help ease some of the tension between them. The last few encounters with Lydia had been strained, and Ella wanted to clear the air.

James frowned slightly but nodded. "Just be careful, okay? Lydia's been acting… different lately."

"I know," Ella agreed. "I'll talk to her. Maybe we can work things out."

He kissed her goodbye, lingering longer than usual as if sensing the same unease that plagued Ella. "I love you," he whispered against her lips.

"I love you too," she replied, her voice tinged with emotion. "Always."

James left, and Ella stood by the window, watching him disappear down the street. The sense of foreboding grew stronger, but she pushed it aside, determined to resolve things with Lydia.

Ella arrived at Lydia's apartment later that afternoon. The building had an air of neglect about it, as if it had seen better days. She hesitated at the entrance, taking a deep breath before pressing the buzzer. The door clicked open, and Ella stepped inside, her footsteps echoing in the dimly lit hallway.

Lydia's apartment was on the third floor. As Ella ascended the stairs, her heart pounded in her chest, each step bringing her closer to a confrontation she wasn't entirely prepared for.

When she reached Lydia's door, she paused, her hand hovering over the doorknob. Finally, she knocked, the sound sharp and sudden in the silence.

The door swung open almost immediately, and Lydia stood there, looking disheveled and exhausted. Her eyes were red, as if she'd been crying, and her clothes were wrinkled as if she hadn't changed them in days.

"Ella," Lydia greeted her, her voice flat, devoid of the usual warmth. "Come in."

Ella stepped inside, noticing the mess that cluttered the usually pristine apartment. Empty wine bottles lined the coffee table, and clothes were strewn across the floor. It was a stark contrast to the Lydia she knew, who always kept things in order.

"Lydia, what's going on?" Ella asked, concern coloring her tone.

Lydia sighed, sinking onto the couch and running a hand through her tangled hair. "Everything's falling apart, Ella," she confessed. "I don't know how to keep it together anymore."

Ella sat beside her, reaching out to take Lydia's hand. "Talk to me," she urged. "Whatever it is, we can figure it out."

For a moment, Lydia was silent, her eyes fixed on a point in the distance. Then, she turned to Ella, her expression twisted with anger and hurt. "You and James," she spat, her voice trembling. "You think I don't see what's happening between you two?"

Ella's heart sank. She had known this was coming, but it didn't make it any easier to face. "Lydia, I never wanted to hurt you," she began, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. "But James and I… we've grown close. I didn't plan for this to happen."

Lydia laughed bitterly, a harsh sound that echoed through the room. "You didn't plan it, but it happened anyway. And now, here I am, stuck in this mess while you two get to play happy couple."

Ella shook her head, tears pricking at her eyes. "It's not like that. We care about you, Lydia. You're important to both of us."

"Important?" Lydia's voice rose, her anger flaring. "If I was so important, you wouldn't have betrayed me like this!"

The room seemed to close in on Ella, the weight of Lydia's words pressing down on her. "Lydia, please," she pleaded, her voice breaking. "Let's talk this out. We can find a way to fix this."

Lydia stared at her for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Then, without warning, she stood up, her movements jerky and frantic. "I can't do this," she muttered, grabbing her coat and keys. "I need to get out of here."

"Lydia, wait!" Ella called after her, but Lydia was already halfway to the door.

"I just need some space," Lydia snapped, her hand on the doorknob. "I can't deal with this right now."

Ella watched helplessly as Lydia stormed out of the apartment, her heart hammering in her chest. She hesitated only for a second before grabbing her own coat and keys, determined not to let Lydia leave in such a state.

Ella followed Lydia out of the building, trailing her at a distance as she walked briskly down the street. The evening was growing darker, the city lights flickering on as the sun dipped below the horizon. The air was thick with tension, and Ella could feel it pressing down on her, making it harder to breathe.

Lydia was heading toward her car, parked at the curb. Ella quickened her pace, reaching her just as Lydia fumbled with the keys. "Lydia, wait!" she called out, desperation in her voice.

Lydia turned to her, her expression a mix of anger and despair. "Leave me alone, Ella," she said, her voice trembling. "I just need to be alone."

Ella shook her head, her heart pounding in her chest. "Please, Lydia, let me help you. You shouldn't be driving right now. You're too upset."

But Lydia was already in the car, slamming the door shut. The engine roared to life, and Ella barely had time to react before Lydia sped off, tires screeching against the pavement.

Panic surged through Ella as she watched the car disappear around the corner. Without thinking, she ran to her own car, fumbling with the keys in her haste. She had to catch up with Lydia, had to stop her before something terrible happened.

Ella drove as fast as she could, her hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly her knuckles turned white. The city streets blurred past her, and all she could think about was finding Lydia, making sure she was okay.

But as she rounded the corner onto a narrow, winding road, she saw it—the flash of taillights skidding out of control, the screech of tires on wet pavement, and then the sickening crunch of metal as Lydia's car slammed into the guardrail.

"No!" Ella screamed, her voice tearing from her throat as she slammed on the brakes. The car screeched to a halt, and she was out of the car before it had even fully stopped, running toward the wreckage with her heart in her throat.

Lydia's car was crumpled against the guardrail, smoke billowing from the engine. Ella's hands shook as she fumbled with the door handle, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps. "Lydia! Lydia, can you hear me?"

There was no response. Ella's heart pounded in her ears as she yanked the door open, the metal groaning in protest. Lydia was slumped against the steering wheel, blood trickling down her forehead. Her eyes were closed, her body eerily still.

"Oh, God, no," Ella whispered, her voice trembling as she reached out to touch Lydia's face. "Please, Lydia, wake up. Please…"

Her hands were shaking so badly she could barely hold her phone as she dialed 911, her voice barely audible as she gave the dispatcher their location. The minutes stretched into eternity as she waited for help to arrive, each second a dagger to her heart.

When the ambulance finally arrived, Ella was pushed aside as paramedics worked to free Lydia from the wreckage. She stood there, numb with shock, watching as they loaded Lydia onto a stretcher, the blare of the ambulance siren piercing the night as they sped away.

Ella followed in her car, her mind racing with fear and guilt. She should have stopped Lydia, should have done something, anything, to prevent this. Now, all she could do was pray that Lydia would be okay.

The hospital was a blur of harsh lights and sterile smells, a cold contrast to the warmth of the morning. Ella sat in the waiting room, her hands clasped tightly in her lap, her mind spinning with worst-case scenarios.

Hours passed in a haze of worry and exhaustion. James arrived at some point, his face pale and drawn as he pulled Ella into his arms. They clung to each other, their mutual fear and grief the only thing keeping them grounded.

Finally, a doctor emerged, his expression grim. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice heavy with the weight of his words. "Lydia didn't make it. The injuries were too severe."

The world tilted beneath Ella's feet, and she felt herself falling, falling into a dark abyss of guilt and sorrow. She barely registered James holding her, his voice distant and hollow as he tried to comfort her.

Lydia was gone. And it was all her fault.

Lydia's funeral was a somber affair, the sky overcast as if even the heavens were mourning her loss. Ella stood beside James, her heart heavy with grief as they watched Lydia's casket being lowered into the ground.

The ceremony was quiet, filled with the muted sobs of those who had known and loved Lydia. Ella felt like she was suffocating, the weight of her guilt pressing down on her chest, making it hard to breathe.

As the last shovelful of dirt was placed on the grave, Ella's vision blurred with tears. She turned to James, her voice barely a whisper. "I'm so sorry, James. This is all my fault."

James shook his head, his own eyes wet with tears as he pulled her into his arms. "No, Ella. It's not your fault. Lydia… she was struggling with a lot. This isn't on you."

But Ella couldn't shake the feeling that she had failed Lydia, that she had let her down when she needed her most.

In the days that followed, Ella and James withdrew from the world, retreating into the solace of each other's company. They didn't speak much, the weight of Lydia's death hanging over them like a dark cloud.

But in their shared grief, they found a deeper connection, a bond forged in the fires of loss and sorrow. They made a pact to live fully, to honor Lydia's memory by embracing life with all its joys and sorrows.

One night, as they lay in bed, James turned to Ella, his voice soft in the darkness. "Let's get out of here," he said. "Let's leave this place and start fresh somewhere new."

Ella looked at him, her heart aching with love and gratitude. "Where will we go?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"Anywhere," James replied, his eyes filled with determination. "As long as we're together."

Ella nodded, a sense of peace settling over her for the first time in days. "Okay," she whispered. "Let's go."

And with that, they made their decision. They would leave the pain and guilt behind, carrying only Lydia's memory with them as they forged a new path forward, hand in hand, ready to face whatever the future held.