𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧 ~ T. Nichols

Lull

Theo sat on the edge of his bed, the world outside his room feeling distant and muted. The sunlight streaming through the curtains was a stark contrast to the heavy darkness that surrounded him inside. He could hear the muffled sounds of life continuing outside—Freddie and Cami's conversations, the distant sound of cars passing by—but it felt like he was trapped in a bubble, isolated from everything and everyone.

His phone lay face down on the bed, buzzing intermittently with notifications he didn't want to face. Each missed call and text from Tory felt like a reminder of the life he was trying to escape. He knew he should reach out, but the weight of his grief was suffocating.

On the fifth day, the familiar sound of knocking brought him momentarily back to the present. It was Freddie and Cami, their voices light, calling for him to come out. But he remained silent, lost in his thoughts, unable to muster the energy to respond. The guilt washed over him, but it was quickly drowned by the overwhelming sadness that had taken residence in his heart.

When the knocking faded away, Theo thought he was alone again, but soon after, he heard another voice.

"Babe?" Tory called softly through the door, her tone filled with concern.

Theo's heart ached at the sound of her voice. He could imagine her standing there, worry etched on her face, desperately wanting to talk with him. He wanted to respond, to reassure her that he was okay, but the words felt stuck in his throat.

"Tory," he finally managed to whisper, knowing she could hear him.

"Please, let me in," she pleaded, her voice trembling slightly. "I'm worried about you."

He closed his eyes, grappling with the emotions swirling inside him. He felt like he was letting her down by shutting her out, but he didn't know how to let her in without falling apart.

"I just... I can't right now," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Okay, I understand," Tory said softly, her tone shifting from urgency to empathy. "Just know that I'm here for you. I'll wait as long as it takes."

Theo felt a tear slip down his cheek, surprised by the depth of his emotions. The thought of Tory waiting for him, standing outside his door, made his heart swell with both love and guilt. He hated that he was hurting her by being so distant, but he felt too lost to reach out.

After a moment, he heard her move away from the door, and he felt a pang of regret. He wanted to tell her to stay, to let her in, but the walls he had built felt indestructible.

Time passed slowly, and the silence in the room became deafening. Thoughts of Tommy flooded his mind again, the memories of their brief yet impactful connection. The laughter, the shared stories, the way Tommy had believed in him. It felt so unfair that he was gone, leaving a void that Theo struggled to fill.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he stood up, wiping his eyes. He approached the door and placed his hand on the knob, hesitating for a moment before finally turning it. The door creaked open, revealing Tory standing there, her eyes wide with concern, but there was also a glimmer of hope.

"Hey," she said softly, taking a tentative step forward.

"Hey," Theo replied, his voice hoarse. "I'm sorry for... everything."

She stepped closer, wrapping her arms around him, and for the first time in days, he felt a flicker of comfort. "You don't have to apologise. I'm just glad you're here," she whispered, holding him tightly.

Theo buried his face in her shoulder, the warmth of her embrace grounding him. Tory pulled back slightly, her hands resting on Theo's face as she searched his eyes for understanding. "Your mom told me what happened. I'm sorry," she said, her voice gentle and sincere.