who is...she?

thirty-one

?GF? pov

the days stretched into weeks, and each day brought something new—sometimes a small victory, sometimes a setback, but always progress. i could walk a little further now, with help. my balance was shaky, and every step felt like i was learning to move all over again, but it was something. every morning, when the therapist came in, i would take a deep breath, brace myself for the struggle, and push through. the pain was still there, like an old companion, but i was learning to live with it.

alexia was always there. she never left my side, never wavered in her support. i'd see the exhaustion in her eyes, the way she leaned back in her chair when she thought i wasn't looking, but she never complained. she was my constant, my rock. and when i felt like giving up, she was the one who pulled me back, reminding me of the strength i had forgotten i possessed.

on one particularly hard day, i stumbled during therapy, the pain in my head flaring up so badly that i nearly collapsed. the therapist caught me, helping me sit back down on the bed. i was shaking, tears of frustration filling my eyes. it felt like i would never get better, like this was my new reality—weak, broken, dependent on everyone around me.

"i can't do this," i whispered, more to myself than anyone else. the words burned in my throat, bitter and raw.

alexia knelt beside me, her hand on my knee, her eyes soft but determined. "yes, you can. i know it's hard. i know it hurts. but you're getting stronger every day. you've already come so far."

i shook my head, tears spilling over. "it doesn't feel like it. i feel... stuck."

"it's okay to feel that way," she said, her voice gentle. "you've been through so much, and healing isn't easy. but you're not alone. i'm here, and i'll be with you every step of the way. we'll take this one day at a time. you don't have to rush."

her words were like a balm, soothing the storm inside me. i didn't have to be perfect, didn't have to heal all at once. it was okay to struggle, okay to take it slow. as long as i kept moving forward, even if it was just one step at a time, i was still healing.

-----

three weeks after the surgery, something shifted. i woke up one morning and, for the first time in what felt like forever, the pain in my head wasn't unbearable. it was still there, a dull ache, but it didn't consume me the way it had before. i could think more clearly, focus on the world around me without feeling like i was swimming through fog.

when the therapist arrived that day, i felt a renewed sense of determination. i stood up from the bed, my legs trembling slightly but steady, and took a few steps on my own. it wasn't much, but it felt like a turning point, like my body was finally starting to remember how to function again.

alexia was beaming beside me, her eyes filled with pride. "you're amazing," she said, her voice full of warmth. "i knew you could do it."

i smiled, feeling a flicker of hope that had been missing for so long. maybe i could do this. maybe i would make it out of this stronger, not just physically, but emotionally too. the thought of going back to our life—back to normal—didn't feel so distant anymore.

-----

by the fifth week, the doctors finally cleared me to leave the hospital. it was a moment i had been waiting for, but when the day actually came, i felt a wave of uncertainty. the hospital had become my world, the place where i had fought through the worst of it. leaving felt like stepping into the unknown again.

but alexia was there, her hand holding mine as we walked out together. her strength made me feel brave, like i could handle whatever came next.

we drove home in silence, the city passing by in a blur of lights and movement. when we pulled into the driveway, i felt a lump in my throat. home. it felt strange, surreal, to be here again after everything that had happened.

alexia parked the car and turned to me, her eyes soft. "are you ready?"

i nodded, though the truth was, i wasn't sure. but with her by my side, i felt like maybe i didn't need to be. we could face this new reality together.

inside the house, everything felt both familiar and different. the furniture was the same, the pictures on the walls were the same, but i wasn't the same. i moved slowly, carefully, my body 

still adjusting to this new normal. but it was okay. we had time.

alexia walked over to the couch, patting the spot beside her. "come sit with me."

i joined her, leaning into her warmth, feeling a sense of peace i hadn't felt in weeks. "thank you," i whispered, my voice barely above a breath.

she kissed the top of my head, her arm wrapping around me. "for what?"

"for staying with me. for believing in me."

she smiled, her eyes glistening with emotion. "i love you. i'll always be here."

we sat there for a long time, the world quiet around us, just the two of us, holding onto each other. it wasn't over, not by a long shot. there would be more hard days, more struggles. but for the first time, i believed i could handle it.

we would handle it. together.

-----

the days at home were both a relief and a challenge. i had dreamed about coming back, about the comfort of familiar walls, the smell of our place, and the way alexia made everything feel like home. but being here brought new realities—ones i hadn't anticipated. simple tasks, things i used to do without thinking, now felt like mountains to climb. brushing my teeth, walking to the kitchen, even standing up too fast left me dizzy and breathless. the bullet may have been gone, but its impact lingered.

alexia was patient, never rushing me, always there with a quiet word of encouragement or a steadying hand when i stumbled. she would cook meals, help me shower, and do her best to keep things light, cracking jokes to make me smile even when i felt frustrated. but i could see the weight she was carrying—the strain of watching me struggle, the sleepless nights, the fear she still tried so hard to mask. we didn't talk about the night at the club. neither of us was ready for that yet.

one afternoon, as i sat on the couch, staring out the window at the world beyond, i caught alexia watching me from across the room. her eyes were filled with so much love and worry, and it hit me just how much she had been through too. i wasn't the only one healing.

"come sit with me," i said, patting the space beside me. when she sat down, i took her hand, my thumb brushing over her knuckles. "i know this hasn't been easy... for either of us. but we'll get through it. i'm getting stronger every day. and so are you."

she looked at me, her lips curving into a soft smile. "we're getting through it together," she whispered, leaning her forehead against mine.

and for the first time in weeks, i felt like we were both moving forward—not just surviving, but truly healing, one step at a time.

vote a ⭐if you enjoyed