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Lena was half-asleep on the couch when the banging started.
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At first it was distant. Like part of a dream.
457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPiYZYPMxA4
But it got louder.
457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtIcHca8k2
Her eyes snapped open.
457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42NLGms1se
More pounding.
457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zCFJmf1ug
“Lena! Open the door!”
457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUkPNEmrMx
She blinked, disoriented, the blanket twisted around her legs.
457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFVORy43JL
Marcus.
457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxia9GOElxf
Of course.
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She clenched her teeth, pulling the blanket over her head.
457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ruRYWtxAK
“Go away,” she mumbled into the fabric, knowing he couldn’t hear.
457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr37tRiXIXX
The knocking kept going.
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Then it stopped.
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For a second she felt relief, sagging back into the cushions.
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But the door handle rattled.
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“Lena, I swear to God, if you don’t open this door”
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She growled under her breath. Forced herself up.
457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5PK3QmsOR
The room tilted. She hadn’t eaten since yesterday.
457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDH0dUDfwEE
She shuffled to the door. Undid the lock with shaking fingers.
457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfPqH6QUrn
The second the latch clicked, Marcus pushed it open.
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He looked her up and down.
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She was in the same sweatshirt she’d been wearing for three days. Hair matted on one side. Face pale. Eyes sunken.
457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNiL3V0lAeW
“Jesus, Lena,” he breathed.
457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFBanUJhXK
She scowled. “Don’t start.”
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Marcus stepped inside, closing the door behind him.
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“I’ve been calling you for two days. Are you kidding me?”
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She turned away, dragging herself back to the couch.
457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KtAWDG08B
“I didn’t feel like talking.”
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“Clearly,” Marcus snapped.
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He followed her into the living room, taking in the mess. Old takeout containers, mugs with mold blooming inside them, piles of dirty laundry.
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He pinched the bridge of his nose.
457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LtnwRCMX9
“Have you even been outside?”
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Lena didn’t answer.
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Marcus’s voice cracked a little. “Talk to me.”
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“I don’t want to.”
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“Tough shit,” he snapped, voice suddenly hard. “You don’t get to shut me out like this.”
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Lena flinched.
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He saw it.
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He exhaled shakily, lowering his voice.
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“Look,” he said, softer now. “I’m not here to judge you. I just—God, Lena. You scared me.”
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She sank into the couch cushions like she was trying to disappear.
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He crouched down in front of her, elbows on his knees.
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“Tell me,” Marcus said. “Please.”
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Her lip trembled.
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“Everything feels… heavy,” she whispered. “All the time. Like there’s no point in even moving. I don’t want to do this anymore. I don’t want to try.”
457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBrgQ0QSKI
Marcus closed his eyes.
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When he opened them, they were wet.
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“I know,” he said quietly. “I know it feels like that. But you don’t have to do it alone.”
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She let out a bitter laugh. “Don’t make this some cheesy intervention.”
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“It’s not cheesy.”
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“It is,” she snapped. “You don’t get it. I’m so fucking tired. And I don’t want to make you watch me fall apart.”
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He didn’t back away.
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“I’d rather watch you fall apart than not see you at all.”
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Lena’s breath hitched.
457Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYPgfpOT68
Her eyes filled.
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She wiped them angrily on her sleeve.
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Marcus reached out carefully, resting a hand on her knee.
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She didn’t push him away.
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They sat there in silence.
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Outside, the city was still dark from the blackout.
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Inside, it was quiet in a way that wasn’t empty anymore.
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AUTHOR’S NOTE
This is a fictional story, but the feelings are real. If you’re struggling, you don’t have to go through it alone. 💛
ns216.73.217.69da2
and then Add to home screen.