[Well, when you put it like that. He lifts his head to peek at her, scoffing at the last part, but there wasn't any bite to it. Nothing mean. It was what it was, and yeah, that was some big pressure. For both of them.

Joel used to be the one advising her to take it easy and entertain these delusions that they could be normal just so she wouldn't have to think about their shitty lives too long. Now it was their reality and he didn't know what to do. At this age more than half his life was over.

He leans back against the couch to join her side and heaves another sigh.]

Ellie, she, ah. Right now she's gotta be our priority. [So he lays it out honestly for Tess, the adult. Whether she wanted to take it or leave it, he had to admit it to her with real words first.] We think of her first. I know you're not used to that, but I can't do it any other way.