To start this blog is nearly impossible without feeling every ounce of emotion. Most people know how much I love “The Last of Us” and how much I adore Joel, there is a whole number of reasons but I want to be real here so, here goes nothing…

I’ve never really had a “dad” or what I can call a dad, yes my father is still alive and we have a relationship but there is almost no love, he never picks me up when I’m down, he doesn’t hug me, he just doesn’t seem to have any real understanding of who I am. I have been struggling with mental health issues since I was about 14, and I’m sitting here writing this at the age of 22, off work because I have had a mental breakdown. I called my dad to tell him what happened, he didn’t sound he cared. He texted my mum and asked if she thought I needed “psychiatric help” like NOW ITS SETTING IN???

What I get with Joel is the complete opposite, when he gives a “tough love” approach to Ellie it’s to teach her the realism of the world and although it sounds harsh, you know that there will be a “You Got This, Kiddo” right around the corner. I respond to tough love, in fact I embrace it, but there is also nothing I love more than words of encouragement, so when I hear him say things like that I HEAR it, and hold on to it. We’ve seen Joel’s vulnerability after he lost Sarah, I’ve never seen my dad get emotional, he just doesn’t seem to have much emotion from anything. I replay the game over and over again, not just to enjoy the story and take in the scenery, but to hear Joel’s words, hear him be the closest thing to a real dad that I have.

I also see when I’ve met Troy, how much he listens, he is very open about mental health and he loves hearing all kinds of stories. I remember showing him a letter, and him leaning to my level so that he’s looking in my eyes and ask me “what do you mean “rapidly declining”?” When I got all shy about it he gave me a look, the look that screamed “you got this kiddo”. He is such an easy person to talk to, where I’m fully terrified to tell my dad anything personal. It sounds stupid but when I get a hug from Troy, you can feel the care, I can imagine Joel’s hugs being similar.

When we lost him in part 2 it’s like the closest thing to my dad just disappeared, okay we see him in flashbacks & get to replay the game over and over but after witnessing his death, it just shook me. But In saying that, we got to meet Joel and was a part of his story and for that I am forever grateful. Joel thank you for being the closest thing to a “real” father I have and Troy thank you for bringing him to life