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it had been months since the night at the lodge, but the weight of it still clung to sam like a second skin. every day was a battle to convince herself that she was safe, that the wendigos and the horrors they had once unleashed were now gone.
the mountains loomed in the distance, casting long shadows across her new life. no matter how much she tried, no matter what she did, she couldn't shake the memories of those cold, unforgiving peaks.
but you were there, always, just a phone call away.
sam had always been the strong one, the glue that held everyone together. she'd been the voice of reason in the chaos, the one who made it through when everything else fell apart. yet even the strongest need someone to lean on. and lately, that person was you.
she didn't know when it started. when your presence became a quiet comfort in her life, but now she couldn't imagine being without you. whether it was the little texts that made her laugh or the nights where you just sat together in silence, your warmth made the memories of the lodge feel a little less sharp, the weight of it a little less heavy.
today was a bad day. sam stood by the window, staring out into the city streets. the quiet in her apartment making her feel awfully closed in.
her phone buzzed on the counter, your name lighting up the screen, finding herself smiling despite it all.
"hey, just checking in. want to come over? i've got tea and a shoulder with your name on it."
she hesitated for a second, debating whether she should burden you with her haunted mind yet again, but the thought of seeing you, feeling your arms around her, was too tempting to resist. she grabbed her keys and replied with a quick, "be right over."
---
when sam arrived at your place, you could see the tension written all over her face. she tried to hide it, she always did. but you knew her too well by now. wordlessly, you opened the door wider, offering her a soft smile as she stepped inside.
she hadn't said much in the texts, you didn't need her to. the way she exhaled when she entered, her shoulders relaxing slightly, told you enough.
"rough day?" you asked gently, leading her to the couch where a steaming cup of chamomile tea awaited her.
"yeah," sam murmured, taking the mug and wrapping her hands around it. she didn't drink it right away, just held it, as if grounding herself in the warmth.
you sat down beside her, close enough that your knee brushed hers. the small touch was another comfort to her, one she didn't realize she needed until she felt it. there was something in your presence that made the world seem a lot less overwhelming.
"you don't have to talk about it," you said, resting your hand on hers. "but you know i'm here if you do."
sam looked at you, her eyes softening in a way they hadn't in a long time. she set the mug down, shifting so she could face you fully. the vulnerability in her eyes was raw, but there was trust there too, trust that had grown over the weeks, piece by piece, in the tender moments you shared.
"it's just... some days, it's like i can still feel it," she admitted, her voice low. "like i'm still there, in the lodge, fighting for my life."
you nodded, giving her space to continue.
"everyone's moved on, you know? chris, ashley, they're all trying to forget, and i get it. i do. but... i can't. it's still there, in the back of my mind. the cold, the fear, everything we went through. i just can't shut it off like they can."
without a word, you reached for her hand, squeezing gently. "you don't have to shut it off. it's okay to feel it, sam. you don't have to be strong all the time."
for a moment, sam just stared at your hand in hers, her thumb brushing lightly against your skin. "you make it easier," she whispered. "being with you... it makes the nightmares feel less real."
you smiled, your heart swelling at her words. you leaned in slightly, your forehead resting against hers, your breaths mingling in the small space between you.
"i'm not going anywhere," you whispered, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. "whatever you need, whenever you need it, i'm here."
sam closed her eyes at the softness of your touch, her breathing steadying as your words sunk in. she didn't feel like she was drowning under the weight of her memories. she felt seen, heard, loved.
you pulled her closer, wrapping your arms around her in a gentle embrace. sam melted into you, her head resting against your shoulder as she let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. the warmth of your body, the steady beat of your heart, it was the calm she needed.
"i love you," she whispered, so quietly you almost didn't hear it.
you pressed a soft kiss to her temple, holding her a little tighter. "i love you too."
the two of you stayed like that, wrapped in each other's arms, no other words needed. in that moment, the weight of her past didn't seem so heavy. with you, she didn't have to be the strong one. she could be vulnerable, raw, and still feel whole.
