427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgpFNrakyd
They sat there for a long time, saying nothing.
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZLEY70EoP
The apartment was silent except for the hum of pipes in the walls.
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlojQtgsiIs
Lena didn’t look at Marcus. She picked at the fraying seam on her sleeve, eyes red and swollen.
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9d9RWjjgg
Marcus kept his hand on her knee, grounding her.
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDECZ6Pm0Q
At some point, she let out a strangled sigh.
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdVQaNco84
“I hate this,” she whispered.
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpac25lNX7r
“I know.”
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZzAeSHq6X
“I hate how weak I feel.”
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvJ3BjROPF
Marcus shook his head. “You’re not weak.”
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQeL8G7IwUg
She scoffed, voice cracking. “Look at me.”
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKhhLXj61O
“I am,” he said quietly. “I am looking at you. And I see someone who’s fighting like hell just to stay here.”
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7M1xWgtp6
Lena’s throat worked, but no sound came out.
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pWCJ4kb9q
Marcus squeezed her knee gently.
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSl4aZB08Vq
“You don’t have to pretend with me. Ever.”
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66PCq5Qjqv
She closed her eyes, letting silent tears slide down her face.
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMAuzu2hwp
He didn’t flinch or pull away.
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32HRKHvwz6
He let her cry.
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGlTSL4XXN
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06HzUbIdJH
A soft knock at the door made them both jump.
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirFlwfGB89
Marcus looked over.
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEjB4TmgIJ
“Who the hell—”
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gsliUKE4z
“It’s probably Jenna,” Lena mumbled, voice hoarse.
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOO1dc2ggYp
He got up carefully and opened the door.
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXIDrTsLQs
Their neighbor Jenna stood in the hall holding a small flashlight.
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLF59gpYq7
“Sorry,” she said in a low voice. “I heard… I just wanted to check. Is everything okay?”
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNR2iV65Ns
Marcus hesitated.
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZoYC30SGSk
He glanced back at Lena, who sat hunched on the couch, rubbing her eyes.
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuLlrWlgh9
“We’re… we’re getting there,” Marcus said.
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRH14KyRRR8
Jenna’s expression softened. She looked at Lena.
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIE2yXkWF9
“I’m right next door if you need anything,” Jenna said gently. “Even if it’s just someone to sit with you.”
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUeI0gxn4t
Lena nodded once. She didn’t trust her voice.
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4awPYM5CT
“Thank you,” Marcus said.
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGywFtWe5H
Jenna gave them a sad little smile and backed away down the hall.
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTEFPHmXo7
Marcus closed the door and locked it.
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZT5xlpdab5
He turned back to Lena.
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjp3wPcZCdF
“You’re not alone,” he said firmly.
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNzIQxKPOy
She sniffed. “I feel alone.”
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYx1rcXr8cY
“I know.” He walked back to her and sat down again. “But I’m not leaving.”
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHOBgWZBZJ
Lena wiped her nose on her sleeve.
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ417LquY9lE
She didn’t argue.
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsd0E2dKlTu
Didn’t tell him to go.
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcU48Ix5H8F
Didn’t say thank you, either.
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhm6YHsDRtP
She just shifted over an inch on the couch.
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvw9MKO4neY
Enough space for him to sit closer.
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBAKSDWVj1
Marcus took the hint and slid in beside her.
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8MP7lK7Eu
They sat in the dark together, leaning just enough to feel the other’s warmth.
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYptqek2wCl
Outside, the storm raged on.
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Inside, the quiet was still heavy.
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvprJr9DBe
But it wasn’t empty anymore.
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrANYRLKRvC
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsWkBpJUCX
AUTHOR’S NOTE
This is the end of “When It Gets Too Quiet.” It’s fictional, but these feelings are real for many people. If you’re struggling, please talk to someone you trust. You matter. You’re not alone. 💛
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