Fragments of Tomorrow (Supernatural Fanfiction Book 5)

A Ray of Hope

Sam's First Person Point of View

The next day, I find myself walking to the park to meet Raven again. I've been looking forward to our time together; it's become the highlight of my days. Raven's presence is a welcome distraction from everything going on, and I genuinely enjoy our conversations. But today, there's a different feeling in the air—something I can't quite place, and it makes me uneasy.

When I see her, sitting on our usual bench with her back to me, I notice something different. Raven's face seems a little more drawn than usual, and her clothes hang off her frame a bit more than they did before. It's subtle, but it's there, and it worries me. She looks like she's lost weight, and I can't ignore the tight knot forming in my stomach.

I walk over and sit next to her, trying to shake off the feeling of dread. We chat about casual things, but my mind keeps drifting back to her appearance. I want to ask her if she's okay, but the words stick in my throat. I'm afraid of upsetting her or overstepping boundaries.

Eventually, she catches me looking at her, and her eyes drop. She sighs heavily, and I can see the weariness etched in her features. "I've just been struggling," she says quietly. "I promise I'm okay; it's just hard sometimes."

The words hang between us, and I nod, not entirely convinced but wanting to respect her privacy. I take a deep breath, deciding it's time to be honest about my own feelings. "Raven," I start, my voice trembling slightly. "I need to tell you something. I've really grown to like you. More than just as a friend."

Her eyes widen, and she looks away, a shiver of fear or uncertainty crossing her face. The silence stretches between us, filled with unspoken words and unresolved feelings. I try to gauge her reaction, but she doesn't say anything. Instead, she gets up abruptly, her long-sleeve dress rustling as she turns to leave. The way she walks away, it feels like she's trying to escape something—or maybe just trying to escape me.

I sit there for a few moments, feeling the weight of my confession and her sudden departure. I'm left alone, confused and hurt. My mind races with questions and fears, and I can't make sense of what just happened. After a while, I slowly get up and head back to the safe house, feeling more lost than I have in a long time.

When I walk in, I pass by Dean and Bobby, who are sitting in the living room. Dean looks up at me with concern, but I can't muster the energy to address it. I walk straight to the room Dean and I share and throw myself onto the bed. The familiar surroundings offer little comfort as I bury my face in the pillow.

A few minutes later, my phone buzzes, and I see a text from Raven. I pull it up with trembling hands and read:

"Sam, I'm sorry for leaving like that. I really like you too, but I don't think you should get attached to me. I don't deserve to be loved."

Her words cut deep, and I'm left staring at the screen, feeling a mix of confusion, sadness, and frustration. I don't understand why she thinks she doesn't deserve love or why she pushed me away. All I wanted was to be close to her, to understand her better.

Dean's First Person Point of View

I'm sitting in the living room with Bobby, going over plans for the next steps now that things have calmed down a bit. It's been a while since I've felt even remotely normal, but I'm trying to get back into some semblance of routine. I can't deny that seeing Sam so wrapped up in his phone and the way he's been behaving around Raven has caught my attention. I've seen the way he lights up when he talks about her, and it's obvious he's got strong feelings for her.

Bobby and I are talking when Sam walks past us, his face set in a deep frown. He doesn't even acknowledge us, just heads straight to our shared room. It's clear something's bothering him, and I know it's not just the weight of everything we've been through.