So Tess had been pretty young, not that much older than Ellie when it all happened. It's surreal to think about in those terms - that Ellie hasn't even been alive as long as Tess was when her life blew up and everything she knew changed forever.

"Was it fun? You know, before everything went to shit? Read this book once about a college rager and some dude drinking upside down on a ping pong table or something. Weeeeird."

Parties, music, dancing, dating... yeah, weird. Real weird trying to picture a much younger and less burdened Tess whose biggest problem was which class she wanted to skip and what was worth her time.

"My mom was a nurse, she and Marlene were real close, I guess. She died right after I was born."

It's said in the way most kids these days talk about things they'd grown up without, not really having the context to grieve its loss.


[ ooc: oh no you're getting me hyped... I have been trying to keep my expectations low so I won't be disappointed but now I have HOPE........ I am right with you and would've loved it if they fleshed out the earlier stuff in its own season, but I am sooo willing to take whatever we can get hahaha! part of me will foolishly pine after a spin-off or dlc of Joel/Tommy/Tess and leading into giving us more pre-timeskip Boston, ugh!! ]