If We Fall Again

Chapter 12

It was a Saturday afternoon, and Nate had just finished a grueling shift at the grocery store. He was exhausted, his body aching from hours of stocking shelves. As he walked out of the store, his phone buzzed in his pocket. It was a message from Elise.

Elise: Hey, how’s work going? Want some company?

Nate paused, debating whether to say yes. He felt grimy and exhausted, but seeing Elise always made everything better.

Before he could reply, his phone buzzed again.

Elise: Actually, I’m already on my way. See you in five.

He smiled despite himself. Typical Elise. She didn’t wait for an invitation; she just showed up.

A few minutes later, Nate spotted her coming up the sidewalk, waving as she approached. "Hey," she greeted, slightly out of breath from walking. "Thought you could use some company."

Nate gave a tired smile. "You didn’t have to come all the way out here."

"I know," Elise said, shrugging. "But I wanted to."

They started walking together, the familiar rhythm of their footsteps falling into place. Elise glanced at him, noticing the weariness in his face. "Rough day?"

"Yeah," Nate sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Been picking up extra shifts. I’m trying to save more for college, but it’s… hard."

Elise frowned slightly. "Nate, you’re already working yourself to death. You need a break."

"I can’t afford a break," he muttered, looking out the window. "I have to make sure I have enough for tuition, rent… everything."

Elise didn’t say anything at first, but Nate could see her deep in thought. They walk in comfortable silence for a few minutes before she sitting into a quiet park, the same one where they often spent time together. She turned to face him.

"Nate," she said softly, "I know how hard you’re working, and I know you want to do this on your own, but… let me help you."

He blinked in surprise, shaking his head. "Elise, no. I can’t let you—"

"I’m not offering to pay for everything," she interrupted, her tone firm but gentle. "I’m saying let me help you. We’re a team, right? If we’re going to get through this, we do it together. You don’t have to carry all of this on your own."

Nate felt a lump form in his throat. He had always been the type to handle things by himself, never wanting to burden anyone, especially Elise. But looking at her now, seeing the determination and care in her eyes, he realized that this was what they had talked about—being there for each other, no matter what.

"Elise," he started, his voice quieter, "I don’t want to drag you into my problems. You’ve already got your own stuff to deal with."

"I’m not being dragged into anything," she said, reaching out to take his hand. "I’m choosing this. I’m choosing you. We’re in this together, Nate. You don’t have to do it all alone."

Her words hit him harder than he expected. For the first time, Nate truly understood how much Elise meant to him. She wasn’t just his girlfriend—she was his partner, someone who had always been there for him, quietly supporting him in ways he hadn’t even fully noticed until now.

"I don’t know what to say," he admitted, feeling overwhelmed by emotion.

"You don’t have to say anything," she said with a soft smile, squeezing his hand. "We’ll figure it out, okay? Together."

Nate looked at her, really looked at her, and for a moment, everything else faded away—the stress, the exhaustion, the endless pressure to be enough. All he could focus on was Elise, the person who had stood by his side through everything.