[Ellie leans back into her, a lump in her throat. She didn't mean to start talking about Joel -- probably the same way Glimmer didn't meant to talk about her mom while they were having lunch -- and she hesitates for a second, but then lets herself settle into Glimmer's warmth.]

... exactly.

[And it occurs to her that Glimmer does get it. Ellie shuts her eyes for longer than a second.]

If he were still here, then we could do it together. Even if he'd be really shitty at it.

[Ellie breaks to laugh, a caught and painful sound that holds that echo of love, all the same. It sounds wet, but she keeps back the threat of tears.]

He was so fucking awful about talking.