Warmth | ✔️ #wattys2021

18. down

TW: mentions of suicide

Jim called Adam the Tuesday after they had their trip. He sounded concerned over Adeline.

They both had to witness a car accident on their way back to London last weekend. They were fine, not involved but whoever was in that car definitely wasn't. Adam tried to drive around the scene as the ambulance was there already.

Initially they thought the driver had just overseen the tree, lost control.

And it did take a toll on both their singing quieting down now. They were crestfallen the rest of the trip, Adeline more than him. He didn't hear from her since then, she just took her stuff and wandered off up to her flat.

Jim asked what was going on with her, said Nora didn't even know and he began to worry. Adeline seemed to be barely holding it in on Monday at the company and didn't show up the day after, he said. She didn't come and didn't even call in, thats very unlike her, he said.

So he showed up at her doorstep but she wouldn't open.

What if she wasn't even there? Where else would she be? He ringed a third time and to his surprise she opened up without first asking who was there. Adam sprinted up the stairs and eventually found her standing on her doorstep in her pyjamas.

"Hey love!" He greeted her, attentively looking at her face to find red eyes or a sign of discomfort. He couldn't find it.

"Hi- Hey, what are you doing here?" She asked surprised. And if he listened close enough he could hear that her voice sounded a bit whiner
"Just stopping bye." he lied. "Can I come in?" He said while already having stepped into her flat.
"Sure." She said and he knew she tried to hide something. Adam sat down on her couch before she even processed what happened.

"So, Jim told me you didn't show up to work...are you okay?" He asked while she just stepped into the living room. And while she didn't look like she just cried, she sure as hell tired and hunched up.

"I thought you were just stopping by..." Adeline rolled her eyes, annoyed by his stunt.

He scoffed. "Babe what's going on?" He asked and didn't even regret the pet name.

"Nothing."

"Then why are you not at work? Are you sick?"

"No."

"Are you sure?

"Yes." She answered curtly not really up to be opening up about her feelings.

"Do you want to do something? I'd have time the whole day just would have to cancel the dinner party at my sisters this evening."

"No, it's fine just go! You can't cancel for me..."

"I'll tell her you tag along."

"Adam-"

"Too late, already sent, you're invited now!" Adeline rolled her eyes again.

"So what do you want to do?"

"I don't want to go out, I want to stay here.." "Great...so we can watch some Telly?"

"Okay, come here." He said as he laid on her couch and opened his arm for her to snuggle against his chest.

"Have you eaten?" He asked as he could already feel her breath on his neck.

"You don't have to babysit me, Adam."

"Well, I do it anyway, so have you eaten?"

"Yes." She answered. "Great."

After thy watched tv for an hour he realized she fell asleep on him. He did not mind that his shoulder began to get a bit heavy or that he couldn't really move as long as she could rest peacefully. He assumed the accident triggered her sadness, he wouldn't know what could change her mood so much in such a short time. It wasn't that it didn't effect him at all, it did. But for him it was just reassurance that one should tell their "friend" when you are in love with them. A feeling that got more and more prominent the more he watched her.