Uncertainty - Stanford Pines x Reader (female)

Chapter 41

Willow sat cross-legged on my bed, idly flipping through one of the paperbacks I'd left scattered on the duvet. Her soft brown hair framed her face, her expression as gentle and thoughtful as ever. I sat next to her, leaning against the headboard, legs stretched out in front of me. The apartment was quiet, the only sound coming from the occasional rustle of pages or the soft hum of the ceiling fan.

I watched her silently, sipping on my coffee and unconsciously picked at a loose thread on my blanket.

Willow glanced up from the book, her soft voice breaking the silence. "You're quiet today.", she observed, closing the book gently and setting it aside. Her pale blue eyes met mine, filled with concern. "Is everything okay?"

I fidgeted with the loose thread, winding it around my finger and then pulling it free. "It's just been a long day, you know? Life stuff." I paused, debating whether or not to share more.
But this was Willow. She always knew when something was wrong, even when I tried my hardest to hide it.

I sighed, my shoulders slumping as I finally let the words out. "It's been... a month.", I admitted, my voice quiet but heavy with the weight of the confession. "An entire month since I've heard from Stanford. Not even a text. Nothing."
Willow's empathetic eyes darkened, understanding washing over her. "Oh, Y/N..." She shifted closer and gently placed a hand on my knee. "But didn't he say he was on his way back? That it wouldn't take much longer?"

I nodded, frustration and worry churning inside me. "Yeah. He said the trip back from the Arctic wouldn't be easy, but he should've reached some kind of station or port by now. Somewhere with a signal. He should've contacted me."

Willow didn't say anything right away, letting the silence stretch between us, but she didn't need to. The calm, quiet way she looked at me said enough. It was one of the things I loved most about her—she never rushed me, never pushed me to explain myself. She just... waited, always understanding.

I ran a hand through my hair, feeling the frustration bubble up again. "I keep telling myself that it's just the weather. I mean, I've seen the forecasts. Ford told me how brutal it can get out there. But it's been weeks, Willow. I can't help thinking something's wrong."

Willow's hand on my knee gave a gentle, reassuring squeeze. "Maybe they're just stuck somewhere. You know he probably wouldn't risk moving if it wasn't safe."

I nodded, trying to take comfort in her words, but it wasn't enough to calm the storm inside me.

Willow tilted her head, her voice as gentle as ever. "You also told me he's not the type to break a promise unless it's out of his control. If he's not back yet, it's because something else is keeping him. Maybe the storms, or maybe it's something with the research. He always gets wrapped up in his work, right?"

I leaned my head back against the headboard, closing my eyes. "Yeah, he does. But this is different. He was excited to come back, Willow. I could hear it in his voice. He said they were done, and he couldn't wait to share everything with me. And now... nothing. Just silence."

Willow shifted her position on the bed, leaning in closer. "I know it's hard.", she murmured. "But you've said it yourself: He can handle more than most people could ever imagine. Whatever's keeping him, it's not because he doesn't want to come back to you."

I took a shaky breath. Her words were like a balm, but the fear still lingered. "I know. It's just... I keep checking my phone, waiting for some sign that he's okay, but all I get is nothing. It's like the longer this silence goes on, the more I start thinking about the worst-case scenarios."

Willow's eyes softened. "You've been through this before. It's not the first time you've had to wait for him. You're stronger than you think, Y/N. And Ford's strong, too. He'll come back. You just have to hold on a little longer."