Half a heart

Chapter 41

Trigger Warnings: Anxiety, Mental Health, Emotional Distress

Charlie's POV

The dream started like a memory—clear, vivid, almost too real. I was back at the captain's race, the biggest event of the year. The air buzzed with anticipation, the crowd's cheers blending into a roar that filled my ears. I was at the starting line, the adrenaline pumping through my veins as I took deep breaths, trying to steady my nerves. This was it—the moment I'd been training for, the moment I was supposed to lead my team to victory.

As the starting gun fired, I took off, my feet pounding against the track. The world around me blurred as I focused on the finish line, every muscle in my body straining to go faster. I could hear my teammates shouting encouragement, their voices pushing me forward. I was in the lead, every step bringing me closer to the win.

The finish line was just ahead, and with one final burst of energy, I crossed it. The crowd erupted in cheers, my teammates swarming around me in celebration. I had done it—I had won. I should have felt elated, triumphant, but something was wrong. My chest tightened, my vision swam, and suddenly, the world tilted on its axis.

I could feel myself falling, the ground rushing up to meet me. The cheers faded into a distant echo, the faces around me blurring as everything went dark. When I hit the ground, I felt a sharp jolt of fear, the weight of the moment crashing down on me. I was supposed to be celebrating, but instead, I was lying there, helpless, as the darkness swallowed me whole.

**Liam's POV**

I jolted awake to the sound of muffled cries, my heart racing as I tried to shake off the remnants of sleep. It took me a moment to realize that the cries were coming from Charlie's room. Panic surged through me as I scrambled out of bed, the urgency in those cries driving me forward.

I pushed open Charlie's door and found him curled up on his bed, his face buried in his pillow as he sobbed uncontrollably. The sight of him like this—so vulnerable, so broken—made my chest ache with a pain I couldn't describe. I wanted to help, to do something to make it better, but I had no idea how.

Without thinking, I pulled out my phone and dialed Nick's number, my hands shaking as I held the phone to my ear. He answered after a few rings, his voice groggy but instantly concerned. "Liam? What's going on?"

"It's Charlie," I whispered, trying to keep my voice steady. "He's having a nightmare—about the race, I think. He's crying, and I don't know how to help him."

There was a brief pause, and then Nick's voice came through, more alert. "Alright, Liam, just stay with him. I'm on my way. Try to talk to him, but don't wake him up too suddenly. I'll be there soon."

I nodded, even though Nick couldn't see me. "Please hurry, Nick. He sounds so... broken."

"I will," Nick promised, and then the line went dead.

I turned my attention back to Charlie, who was still sobbing into his pillow. I hesitated for a moment before sitting down on the edge of his bed, reaching out to gently place a hand on his back. "Charlie, it's okay," I murmured, trying to keep my voice calm and soothing. "You're safe. It's just a dream. You're okay."

He didn't respond, his body trembling as he cried. My heart twisted with helplessness, the pain of not knowing how to comfort him tearing me apart. I wanted to take his pain away, to tell him that everything would be alright, but I knew that wasn't something I could promise.

Minutes passed, feeling like an eternity, until I finally heard the front door open and close softly. A moment later, Nick rushed into the room, his expression filled with worry as he took in the scene before him.

"Charlie," Nick called softly as he sat on the other side of the bed, leaning over to stroke Charlie's hair. "It's me, Nick. You're safe. I'm here now."

Charlie's sobs quieted slightly at the sound of Nick's voice, his body still trembling but not as violently. Nick continued to speak to him in soothing tones, his words gentle and full of reassurance. "You're okay, Charlie. You won the race, remember? You crossed the finish line. You did it. No one's disappointed in you."

Slowly, Charlie began to stir, his sobs reducing to soft whimpers as he came back to consciousness. His eyes fluttered open, blinking as he tried to make sense of where he was. "Nick?" he mumbled, his voice hoarse and weak.

"Yeah, it's me," Nick replied, his voice thick with emotion. "You're safe now, Charlie. It was just a nightmare."

Charlie's eyes filled with tears again, but this time they were tears of exhaustion and relief. He reached out to Nick, clinging to him like a lifeline. "It felt so real," Charlie whispered, his voice trembling. "I won the race, but then... I fainted. I let everyone down."

"No, Charlie, you didn't let anyone down," Nick said firmly, holding him close. "You crossed that finish line, and that's what matters. You're stronger than you think, and we're all so proud of you. You're going to get through this, I promise."

Charlie nodded, but the doubt was still there, lurking in his eyes. "I don't know how to stop it, Nick. The dreams, the feelings... they keep coming back."

Nick sighed, his expression filled with understanding. "It's going to take time, Charlie. But you're not alone. We're all here to help you through it, every step of the way. And we're not going anywhere."

As I watched them, I felt a swell of gratitude for Nick, for the way he knew just what to say, just how to comfort Charlie in a way that I couldn't. But more than that, I felt a deep sense of resolve. Charlie was going through something incredibly tough, but he wasn't facing it alone. He had us—Nick, me, and everyone who cared about him.

And we were going to get him through this, no matter how long it took.