Enhypen Imagine 💫

"A Reason to Stay"

Angst...

You sat in your room, feeling like the weight of the world was pressing down on your chest. The thoughts swirling around your head weren’t new; they'd been lingering for a while now, like a storm cloud that never seemed to pass. No matter how many smiles you put on, how many conversations you pushed yourself through, nothing felt real anymore. It felt like you were fading, becoming invisible.

Your phone buzzed on the desk, pulling you out of your thoughts for a moment. It was a message from Jake, your friend who always seemed so bright and full of energy. You stared at the screen for a moment, not sure if you had the energy to reply. But then again, Jake always had a way of making you feel a little bit lighter, even on the darkest days.

“Hey, you doing okay? Haven’t heard from you today, just wanted to check in :)”

You sighed, staring at the blinking cursor. Could you really tell him how you felt? That everything was just... too much? You started typing but deleted the words, unsure. But before you could decide, another message popped up.

“You free tonight? I’m coming over. We need to have one of our late-night talks.”

There was no escaping Jake when he decided something, so you didn’t even try to protest. A part of you was relieved—maybe you needed someone to break through the silence.

---

That evening, Jake arrived, and true to his word, he brought along snacks and a quiet smile that told you he already sensed something was off. He didn’t force you to talk right away. Instead, he sat beside you on the bed, cracking open a soda, and handed one to you like it was the most normal thing in the world.

For a while, you both just sat there, watching the night sky through the window. The silence wasn’t uncomfortable, but heavy. After a while, Jake spoke up softly.

“You know, you don’t always have to be okay,” he said, eyes still focused on the stars outside. “I get it if things feel hard right now.”

You bit your lip, holding back the words that threatened to spill. The dam inside you was starting to crack, and Jake’s gentle presence made it hard to keep everything bottled up.

“I just... I feel like I’m not enough,” you admitted in a small voice. “Like I don’t matter. Like I could disappear and no one would care.”

Jake didn’t respond immediately, and for a moment, you feared that maybe even he wouldn’t know what to say. But then, he turned to you, his expression soft and full of understanding.

“Do you remember that time we went hiking last summer?” he asked, catching you off guard. “You kept saying you were going to give up halfway, but you didn’t. You made it to the top, and when you looked at the view, you were so proud of yourself. I was too, even if I didn’t say it then.”

You blinked, remembering the trip, but not the moment the way he did. You had been so focused on the struggle that the achievement had felt distant.

“You matter more than you realize,” Jake continued, his voice steady but full of emotion. “Maybe you don’t see it right now, but you make a difference. To me, and probably to more people than you think. The way you listen, the way you care... You think you're invisible, but trust me, you’re not. I notice you.”

His words felt like a lifeline, pulling you out of the dark fog that had settled over your mind. Tears welled up in your eyes, but you didn’t fight them this time. Jake didn’t seem uncomfortable with the tears; he simply placed a hand on your shoulder, squeezing gently as if to say, I’m here.

“You don’t have to be perfect,” he said softly. “You don’t have to be anything other than who you are right now. And that’s enough.”

For the first time in what felt like forever, you let yourself believe it—maybe, just maybe, you were enough. And maybe there was a reason to keep going, even if you couldn’t see it yet.

Jake stayed with you that night, talking quietly until the tears dried up and the weight on your chest felt just a little lighter. He didn’t have all the answers, but he gave you something else—hope.

And for tonight, that was enough.

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