The Transfer

Chapter 14: Anchored in Strenght

3rd person's POV:

Tim and Lucy had fallen asleep side by side in the hospital room, the rhythmic sound of their breathing was a momentary relief from the turmoil of the past hours. As the night wore on, the sterile hull of the hospital enveloped them, creating a fragile cocoon of peace.

But Lucy's rest was anything but peaceful. Her dreams were plagued by memories of Caleb, his face twisted with rage, his hand holding her captive. She woke with a start, her heart pounding and sweat slicking her skin. For a moment, she lay still, listening to the steady breathing of Tim beside her. She didn't want to wake him, he had been through so much already.

Quietly, she slipped out of bed and tiptoed to the bathroom, closing the door softly behind her. Once inside, she leaned against the sink, trying to calm her racing heart. But the panic wouldn't subside. The walls seemed to close in, and the memories assaulted her with relentless force.

Lucy's breath came in short, ragged gasps. She frantically searched the bathroom for something sharp, anything to release the pain and tension building inside her. She opened drawers and cupboards, her desperation growing as she found nothing. The frustration only intensified her panic, and she sank to the floor, her hands shaking.

In her distress, Lucy began scratching at her arms, the dull pain barely registering through the haze of her anxiety. Tears streamed down her face as she continued, the red marks growing more vivid with each scrape. She felt trapped, unable to escape the horror of her own mind.

Meanwhile, Tim stirred in his sleep, sensing something was wrong. He reached out instinctively for Lucy, but his hand found only the cold, empty sheets. His eyes flew open, and he sat up, heart pounding. "Lucy?" He called softly, his voice thick with sleep and worry.

Getting no response, he quickly got out of bed, noticing the light seeping from under the bathroom door. He knocked softly. "Lucy, are you in there?"

Inside, Lucy froze, her heart pounding even harder. She didn't want Tim to see her like this, so broken and desperate. But his voice, filled with concern.

"Lucy, please talk to me." Tim said, his tone gentle but urgent. "I'm here for you. Whatever you're feeling, you don't have to go through it alone.

After a moment of silence, Lucy managed to whisper. "I'm fine, Tim. Go back to bed."

But Tim wasn't convinced. He could hear the strain in her voice. "Lucy, please. Open the door. I promise, I'm not going anywhere."

Slowly, the door creaked open, and Tim stepped inside, his heart breaking at the sight before him. Lucy was sitting on the floor, her arms covered in angry red marks, her face full of tears.

"Oh, Lucy." He murmured, kneeling beside her. "You don't have to do this. I'm here. We'll get through this together."

Lucy looked up at him, her eyes filled with tears and shame. "I...I didn't know what else to do. I just wanted the pain to stop."

Tim gently took her hands in his, his touch warm and steady. "I know it's hard, but hurting yourself won't make it better. Whenever you feel like this, please wake me up. We'll face this together. You don't have to be alone in this."

Fresh tears welled up in Lucy's eyes. "But what if I wake you up too much? What if it becomes too much for you?"

Tim shook his head, his expression determined . "It will never be too much, Lucy. Your safety and well-being are more important than anything. I care about you to much too let you go through this alone. Promise me, next time you feel like this, you'll come to me."

Lucy nodded, the weight of his words sinking in. "I promise."

Tim pulled her into a gentle embrace, his heart aching for the pain she carried.