Tayvis one-shots (3)

A Heart That Heals (requested)

Hi! As you can see this was requested, but I decided to change it a little. I hope you all enjoyed it!
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Taylor sat at the edge of her bed, staring blankly at the soft light filtering through the curtains. The quiet of her apartment felt too loud, each minute stretching out like an eternity. It had been a month since the breakup with Joe, and though she had tried to stay strong, some days were harder than others. Today was one of those days.

Joe had been her world for seven years. They had shared dreams, laughter, and plans for the future. But over time, the cracks in their relationship had grown, too big to ignore. What started as small arguments had turned into full-blown fights, leaving Taylor emotionally drained and doubting herself. The breakup had been inevitable, but it didn't make it any less painful.

She had hoped the sadness would fade with time, but instead, it seemed to come in waves. Some days she could laugh and feel almost like herself again, but on days like today, the weight of the past felt unbearable. Memories of their time together flooded her mind, and with it came the hurt — the feeling that she hadn't been enough, that she hadn't seen the red flags early enough.

Taylor sighed, burying her face in her hands. The memories of their last few months together were still fresh. Joe had been emotionally distant, manipulative even, making her question her self-worth. She hadn't realized how much he had eroded her confidence until after they broke up. The emotional scars were still there, lingering, whispering to her on days like this.

A knock on the door broke her train of thought. She looked up, startled. She wasn't expecting anyone. Slowly, she made her way to the door and peeked through the peephole. Standing there, looking concerned, was Travis.

Travis had come into her life a few months after the breakup. They had met through mutual friends at an event, and he had been nothing but kind and supportive since day one. Their connection had grown quickly, but Travis had never pushed her for more than she was ready for. He knew she was still healing, and he had been patient.

"Hey," Travis said softly as the door opened. He was holding a takeout bag in one hand and a bouquet of flowers in the other. "I figured you could use some company today."

Taylor managed a small smile, her heart warming at the sight of him. "You didn't have to do that," she said, her voice quieter than usual.

"I wanted to," he replied, stepping inside and setting the food and flowers on the counter. "You don't have to go through this alone, Tay."

She bit her lip, fighting the tears that were threatening to spill over. "I just... I don't know what's wrong with me today. Some days are fine, and then days like this... I just feel stuck. Like I'll never move on."

Travis walked over to her, his eyes soft with understanding. He gently placed his hands on her shoulders, guiding her to sit down on the couch. "You don't have to explain," he said. "Healing isn't linear. You're allowed to feel sad, and you're allowed to take your time."

Taylor nodded, but the weight of her emotions still pressed down on her chest. "It's just so hard," she whispered. "I keep replaying everything in my head. All the things he said to me, all the things I didn't realize were toxic until after we broke up. I thought I was strong, but some days... it's like I don't even know who I am anymore."

Travis sat down beside her, gently taking her hand in his. "Taylor, you're stronger than you know. You went through something incredibly painful, and you came out the other side. That doesn't mean you won't have tough days. But the fact that you're still standing, still trying — that's strength."

Taylor let out a shaky breath, grateful for his presence. She hadn't told Travis everything about her relationship with Joe, not yet. But in this moment, she felt like she could trust him with the truth.

"I haven't told you the worst of it," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "Joe... he wasn't just emotionally distant. He was manipulative. He made me doubt myself all the time. It was like I was constantly walking on eggshells, trying to keep him happy. I didn't realize how bad it was until it was over."

Travis's expression grew serious, his hand tightening slightly around hers. "Tay... I'm so sorry you went through that. You didn't deserve any of it."

She nodded, her throat tight with emotion. "I know, logically, that it wasn't my fault. But sometimes, it still feels like it was. Like maybe if I had been better, he wouldn't have treated me that way."

"Taylor, none of this was your fault," Jake said firmly. "You deserve someone who treats you with respect and kindness, someone who loves you for exactly who you are. Joe didn't deserve you, and he sure as hell didn't appreciate what he had."

A tear slipped down her cheek, and Travis gently wiped it away with his thumb. "Thank you," she whispered. "I'm trying to believe that. It's just... hard."

"I know it is," Travis said softly. "But I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere. You don't have to go through this alone."

For the first time in what felt like forever, Taylor felt a small sense of relief. She had been carrying the weight of her past for so long, afraid that opening up would make her seem weak. But sitting here with Travis, she realized that sharing her pain didn't make her weak — it made her human.

"Thank you," she said again, her voice steadier now. "You've been so patient with me, and I don't know how to even begin to repay you."

"You don't have to repay me," Travis said, his voice full of sincerity. "I care about you, Taylor. And I want to help you heal, however long that takes."

Taylor looked up at him, her heart swelling with gratitude. "I don't know where I'd be without you, Trav."

"You'd still be the strong, amazing woman that you are," Travis said with a soft smile. "I'm just lucky I get to be here with you."

Taylor smiled through her tears, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. For the first time in a long while, she felt like she wasn't carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders alone. She had Travis by her side, and with him, she knew she could face whatever came next.

As they sat there in the quiet of her apartment, Taylor realized that healing wasn't about forgetting the past — it was about moving forward, one step at a time. And with Travis's steady hand in hers, she knew she was finally
ready to take that step.