The Nights We Stay Awake (TemperancexReader)

18. "Grieving in her own way"

Angela pov

The morning sun filters through the blinds, casting soft stripes of light across the floor as i quietly enter Temperance's bedroom. I let myself into her apartment with a spare key. The clock on her nightstand reads 8:00 AM, and the usual bustle of the morning feels strangely muted. Normally, by this time, she'd be up and about, ready to tackle the day with her usual efficiency. But today, there's no sign of movement from the bed, just the still form of my best friend buried under the covers.

I walk over to the bed, my heart sinking at the sight of her. Temperance is curled up on her side, her face half-hidden in the pillow, and i can tell from the way her shoulders are tense that she hasn't slept well- if at all.

"Sweetie," I say softly, sitting on the edge of the bed and gently touching her shoulder. "Hey, it's morning. You should get up."

She doesn't respond, just pulls the covers tighter around herself, her face still turned away from me. It's unlike her to linger in bed like this, especially on a workday, and the worry i felt last night when she'd called me deepens.

"Tempe, come on," i try again, my voice a little firmer this time. "You'll feel better if you get up and move around. We can get breakfast, maybe some coffee... whatever you want. Just don't lie here all day."

She finally stirs, but when she turns to face me, her eyes are red and puffy, clearly from crying. The sight makes my heart ache. Temperance is one of the strongest people i know, but seeing her like this- so defeated and broken- makes me want to fix everything for her, even though i know i can't.

"I don't want to, Ange," she mutters, her voice hoarse and thick with emotion. "I just... i can't today."

I sigh, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. "Sweetie, i know you're hurting, but staying in bed all day isn't going to help, believe me. You need to get out, do something. Work, maybe? You love your work."

But she just shakes her head, pulling the covers back up. "I'm not going in. Not day. I don't want to talk to anyone, especially not about her."

I bite my lip, understanding exactly who she means by 'her'. Y/n. The name hangs in the air between us, unspoke but heavy with meaning. I had a feeling something was wrong when she called me last night to tell me what happened, but seeing her like this makes it clear just how deep that pain goes.

"Tempe," i say softly, but she cuts me off before i can say anything more.

"Please, Ange. I don't want to talk about it, about her, just... let me be."

There's a finality in her voice that tells me there's no point in pushing further. She needs time to process this, to grieve in her own way. I know her well enough to recognise when she's reached her limit.

"Okay," i say gently, leaning down to kiss her forehead. Seems like none of us are heading into work today. "I'll be in the living room if you need me, okay? Just rest."

She doesn't respond, just burrows deeper into the blankets, and i quietly leave the room, closing the door behind me with a soft click. My heart feels heavy as i walk down the hallway, the morning suddenly feeling far too quiet.

I head to the kitchen, making myself a cup of coffee while trying to figure out what i can do to help her through this. Temperance isn't one to wallow in self-pity, but this is different. This is heartbreak, something i've rarely seen her deal with. And i know it's not just the loss of a romantic possibly- it's the loss of Y/n as a constant in her life. We all know what happens when a girlfriend gets a partner.

As i'm lost in thought, the doorbell rings, snapping me out of my reverie. I set down my coffee and head to the door, surprised to find Penelope standing on the other side, her usual bright smile in place, though there's a hint of concern in her eyes.

"Hey, Ange!" Penelope greets me with her usual energy. "I hope i'm not interrupting anything. I'm just here to grab the bag she left before the case. She told me that if i wanted to borrow her clothes i'd have to get them myself."

I try to smile, but i can't quite manage it. "Oh, hey, Pen. Come in."

She steps inside, immediately sensing that something's off. "Is everything okay? You seem a little... i don't know, off."

I glance toward Temperance's bedroom, debating weather to tell her what's going. But Penelope is Y/n's sister, and she has a right to know- especially if it means she can help me figure out how to navigate this situation.

"Pen... there's something you should know," i begin carefully, leading her into the living room. "It's about Tempe."

She frowns, concern deepening in her eyes. "What happened? Is she okay?"

I sit down on the couch, and Penelope joins me, her attention fully on me now. "She's... not doing great," i admit, rubbing my hands together anxiously. "Last night, she and Y/n went out for dinner, and Tempe was planning to... well, she was going to tell Y/n how she feels. How she's been feeling for a long time."

Penelope's eyes widen in realisation that our bulling over the years didn't come from nothing. "Oh, no. What happened?"

I take a deep breath, knowing there's no easy way to say this. "Before she could say anything, Y/n told her that she and Emily are together now. Tempe... she's heartbroken, Pen. She didn't even get the chance to tell Y/n how she feels, and now she's avoiding work, avoiding everything. She doesn't even want to talk to or about Y/n."

Penelope's face falls, the weight of my words sinking in. "Oh, Tempe... i had no idea. I knew she cared about Y/n, but i didn't realise that it was true."

"She's always been good at hiding her feelings," i say softly. "But this... this is tearing her apart. I don't know what to do to help her, and she's shutting down. She won't talk, she won't get out of bed. She's hurting, and i'm worried about her."

Penelope nods, her expression serious as she processes everything i've told her. "I'll talk to Y/n," she says after a moment. "She needs to know what's going on. Maybe there's something she can do even if it's just giving her some space."

I nod, grateful for her support. "That might be best. I think some space is exactly what she needs right now."

Penelope stands up, looking a little lost in thought. "I'll get that shirt and head out," she says, her voice softer than usual. "But Ange... if Tempe needs anything, anything at all, just let me know. She's important to me, too."

I give her a small smile. "I will. Thanks, Pen."

She heads towards the guest room, and i follow her, retrieving the bag with the shirt. Penelope takes it with a nod of thanks, and as she leaves, i feel a mix of relief and sadness. Relief that someone else knows and might be able ot help, and sadness for what my best friend is going through.

And guilt, because i was the one who pushed Y/n towards Emily all because i knew of her crush on her. If i had truly known how deep Temperance's feelings for Y/n were, i never would have done it.

I return to the kitchen, my coffee now cold, and sit down at the table, staring blankly at the mug. The apartment is quiet again, and i know that behind the closed door to her bedroom, Temperance is still lying in bed, trying to escape the pain she's feeling. I wish i could do more, but for now, all i can do is be here for her, ready to listen when she's finally ready to talk.

The morning stretches on, and i sit there in the silence, waiting for the moment when she'll let me in, hoping that somehow, we'll find a way to heal the broken pieces of her heart.