It was 3 AM when Travis rolled over in bed, expecting to feel the familiar warmth of Taylor beside him, only to find the space cold and empty. He rubbed his eyes, glancing at the clock, his brows furrowing in concern. Taylor hadn't been sleeping well lately. In fact, she'd been plagued with insomnia for weeks, waking up in the middle of the night or simply staying awake long after he'd drifted off. The telltale soft light from her music room confirmed what he suspected.
Travis sighed deeply as he slipped out of bed, his feet hitting the cool hardwood floor as he quietly made his way down the hallway. He knew exactly where she'd be—wrapped in one of her oversized cardigans, sitting at the piano or hunched over her guitar, notebook open, lyrics spilling out of her mind faster than her pen could move.
Sure enough, when he reached the open doorway of her music room, there she was. Taylor sat at her piano, her fingers lightly brushing the keys as she hummed a melody under her breath. Her notebook lay open on the music stand, the pages filled with hurriedly scribbled lines, half-written verses, and chords. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a messy bun, and she wore a worn sweatshirt that had clearly seen better days. The dark circles under her eyes were a testament to just how little sleep she'd been getting.
"Taylor, babe," Travis said softly, leaning against the doorframe, his deep voice cutting through the silence of the room. She didn't stop playing, her focus entirely on the music, as if she hadn't heard him at all.
Travis took a few steps forward, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. "It's three in the morning," he said with a concerned smile. "You need to get some sleep."
Taylor finally looked up at him, her blue eyes slightly glazed from exhaustion but still carrying that spark of creativity. "I can't," she replied with a sigh. "My brain won't shut off. The melodies, the words—they just keep coming."
Travis knelt beside her, resting his hand on top of hers to still the movement of her fingers on the piano keys. "I know you're on a creative roll, but you've got to take care of yourself too. You can't keep going like this, Tay."
Taylor shook her head, frustration evident in her features. "I've tried, Trav. I just can't sleep. My mind... it won't quiet down."
He could hear the edge of desperation in her voice, and it tugged at his heart. Travis pressed a soft kiss to her knuckles. "Alright, but at least try to come back to bed with me."
"I will... just let me finish this one thing," she promised, turning back to her piano.
Travis gave her a skeptical look but didn't push. He knew her well enough to recognize when it was best to let her have her way. "Okay, but don't stay up too late, alright?"
She gave him a distracted nod, already lost in her music again. Travis lingered for a moment, his concern growing, but he knew he couldn't force her. With a resigned sigh, he kissed her temple and headed back to bed, knowing it would be hours before she joined him—if she did at all.
---
The next morning, Travis woke up to the first light of dawn filtering through their bedroom curtains. He stretched out his hand, expecting to feel Taylor next to him, but once again, her side of the bed was empty. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he threw on a T-shirt and padded down the hallway, already suspecting where she'd be.
Sure enough, he found her slumped over the piano, fast asleep with her cheek pressed against the keys. Her notebook was still open, the pen lying haphazardly across the pages. Travis chuckled softly to himself, shaking his head. "Tay, you stubborn woman."
Careful not to wake her, he gently lifted her up from the piano, cradling her in his arms. She stirred slightly but didn't wake, her exhaustion finally catching up to her. Travis carried her back to their bedroom and laid her down in bed, tucking the blanket around her before brushing a strand of hair from her face. "You're gonna run yourself into the ground if you keep this up," he murmured softly, though she was far too deep in sleep to hear him.
