𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 | 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲

𝐓 𝐖 𝐄 𝐍 𝐓 𝐘 - 𝐒 𝐄 𝐕 𝐄 𝐍

Camden

I lay on my bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. My eyes were swollen and stung from crying, my throat sore from the sobs I couldn't control. The blankets felt heavy, suffocating, but I couldn't bring myself to move. I didn't want to. My heart felt like it had been shattered into a million pieces, and I didn't know how I was supposed to put it back together.

Sofia had done this. She'd taken my heart, crushed it, and then walked away like it meant nothing. She'd chosen Matteo. Matteo. The guy who didn't see her the way I did, who didn't know her like I did. But she picked him anyway. And now, I was left with nothing but the pain.

I heard a knock on my bedroom door, soft but persistent. I didn't even bother to sit up. "Go away." I mumbled, my voice hoarse and broken.

I waited for whoever it was to leave, but instead, I heard the door creak open. The soft click of heels on the wooden floorboards told me it was my mom. I closed my eyes, not wanting to face her, not wanting her to see me like this. But I felt the bed dip beside me as she sat down, and then, I felt her arms wrap around me from behind, pulling me into her warm embrace.

"Sweetheart." she said softly, her voice gentle but firm. "You can't keep laying here, rotting away like this. You need to eat, to shower, to get some fresh air."

I shook my head, my voice barely above a whisper. "I don't have the energy to move, Mom. I don't want to go anywhere."

She sighed, her hand running soothingly through my hair. "I'm sorry, baby. I know you're hurting. I know what happened with Sofia broke your heart, but you can't let this destroy you. You have your life, your dreams, and you can't just throw it all away."

I felt a lump form in my throat, the ache in my chest intensifying. "I don't feel like basketball anymore. I don't feel like doing anything anymore. I just want to stay here."

Her silence was heavy, and for a moment, I thought she might leave, that she'd give up trying to convince me to move. But then I heard another set of footsteps, softer but still distinct. My Ma joined us on the bed, sitting on my other side.

"Listen to your mother, Cam." my Ma said softly, her voice filled with concern. "We know you're in pain, but you can't let this keep you down. You have to get up."

I shook my head again, this time more forcefully. "No. Nothing you say will change my mind. I just... I can't."

There was a pause, and I felt both of them sigh, their arms still wrapped around me. I thought they might leave me alone after that, but instead, they held on tighter, their presence grounding me in a way that words couldn't.

"Then we'll stay with you." my Ma said, her voice gentle but unwavering. "We're not going anywhere, Cam. Not until you're ready."

I felt a wave of emotion wash over me, the pain and sadness mixing with something warmer, something that reminded me I wasn't alone. Even though everything felt like it was falling apart, even though Sofia had ripped my heart out, my moms were still here. They were staying with me, even if it was just to sit in silence, even if it was just to hold me when I felt like I was drowning.

I didn't say anything, didn't have the strength to. But I didn't need to. The steady rhythm of my mom's breathing, the gentle strokes of her hand through my hair, and the way my Ma's arms tightened around me said everything. They weren't leaving. They were here, and somehow, that made the weight on my chest just a little bit lighter.

In that moment, with my parents holding me, I felt a flicker of something, a small, fragile flicker of hope. Maybe I wasn't ready to get out of bed yet. Maybe I wasn't ready to face the world again or deal with the pain of seeing Sofia at school. But I knew, deep down, that I wouldn't feel like this forever.

And right now, I didn't have to figure everything out. I just had to let myself be. Let myself cry if I needed to. Let myself feel the pain. Because I wasn't alone. I had my moms, and even though they couldn't fix everything, they were here. And that was enough for today.

I closed my eyes, allowing myself to relax just a little in their embrace. "Thanks." I whispered, my voice so soft I wasn't sure they even heard it. But I felt my mom's arms tighten around me, and I knew they did.

For the first time in days, I felt a tiny bit of comfort. A small moment of peace amidst the storm. I wasn't okay, not yet. But maybe, just maybe, I'd get there eventually.

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~ R