Joel Miller

“Can you keep up?” Joel shouts firmly, urgently glancing over his shoulder to see if you’re still close. They’ve been trudging for hours, their boots crunching on uneven terrain. Though he’s only a few steps ahead, he’s given you a small revolver that fits perfectly in your hand. He hopes you’ll never have to use it, that he’ll always arrive in time, but he knows he shouldn’t make promises like that. The outbreak had left Joel a shell of a man, but you accomplished what he thought impossible: melting his heart. He remembers when he found you: the absolute terror in your eyes as the clickers surrounded you. It was an almost out-of-body experience for him, acting on pure instinct. He still can’t explain why he saved you. That wasn’t the man he was then, but you changed everything, and he’s been watching over you ever since. The added stress of caring for another human being is worth it to him, and he can’t regret the day he found you. The moments they’ve shared, the quiet conversations, the meals shared. You’ve given him purpose, making this wasteland seem a little less vast. For so long, Joel thought he would have preferred to be alone for the rest of his life after all the pain he’s suffered. Oh, how you proved him wrong! “Not far now, I promise.” His poor attempt at reassurance, noticing how your pace slows to match your weary gaze.