The real tragedy of part 2

Spoilers for the story of part 2

Something that didn't click for me until playing chronological mode was this part that made joels death so tragic and painful beyond just losing him

!After the fallout with the Fireflies, Ellie had questions, joel's explanation was full of holes and didnt make sense, but she chooses to accept that he was telling the truth when she asked him to promise to at the end of the first game, or at least accepts that he's going to stick to his story. After a while, though, it bothers her, and following the discovery of the couple that went missing from Jackson, a couple she believed would still be alive if the cure was made, she really starts questioning and doubting Joel's explanation, and heads back to the Salt Lake hospital to find the truth for herself, and when she does, it shatters their relationship for a while, and she stops talking to him.!<

!Finally, after the incident with Seth, and joel intervening, i think Ellie recognizes that Joel, more than anything else, cares about her and she starts trying to understand why he did what they did, and they finally hash it out on his porch. Joel says that if given the chance, he'd save her all over again. Ellie replies that she doesn't think she can forgive him for taking her chance at meaning something, her chance to honor all the people who died when she lived and give their deaths meaning, to quiet the survivors guilt that's built up inside her. But then, she says "But I'd like to try"!<

!This marks a new chapter in their relationship. she wants to forgive him, wants things to be right between them again, and start the road towards healing. The very next day, Joel is killed brutally in front of her and she's helpless to stop it. instead of getting to heal, a brand new wound is ripped open right on top of the old one, and it hurts so much worse because of it. Things were finally going to be alright again, and that was ripped away from her as soon as she got it!<