On the drive home, Taylor's thoughts lingered on Hope, on the sense of peace she had found sitting by the ocean, and on Travis's words. For the first time in years, she felt a small shift, like maybe she could move forward—not without pain, but with hope alongside it.As she neared her house, the weight of everything from the past few days pushed her to reach out for comfort. She pulled out her phone, booking a late-night flight to Philadelphia, needing the familiar embrace only her mother could provide.
She called her mom, the phone ringing only twice before Andrea's warm voice came through. "Hey, honey. How's everything? It's been a while since we've really talked."
Taylor swallowed, the sound of her mother's voice loosening some of the tension she didn't even realize she'd been holding. "Yeah, I know, Mom. I was actually wondering if I could drop by for a day or two. I just... I miss you."
Andrea, immediately sensing something was off, softened her tone even more. "Of course, sweetheart. This is your home too. But... are you okay? You sound a little off. Is something wrong?"
Taylor hesitated, her eyes misting up as she stared at the road ahead. "No, everything's fine. I just need to be with you for a little while. I've had... a lot on my mind."
There was a brief pause before Andrea responded, her voice full of understanding. "Alright, honey. Come home. I'll be here, waiting. When will you be arriving?"
"I'll book a flight for tonight. I should be there around 2 or 3 in the morning. I'll text you the details as soon as I get home."
"Okay, sweetheart," Andrea said, her voice gentle but reassuring. "I love you, Tay. Drive safe."
"Love you too, Mom." Taylor hung up, feeling a sense of relief just knowing she'd soon be back in her childhood home, a place where she could let her guard down.
Next, she called Tree. The phone barely rang before Tree picked up, her usual energetic voice greeting her. "Hey, Tay! What's going on?"
Taylor exhaled, already bracing herself for Tree's reaction. "Hey, Tree. I'm going to Philly for a few days."
There was a pause, then a sharp intake of breath on the other end. "Wait, what? When did this happen?"
"Just now," Taylor admitted, sighing. "I know it's sudden, but I needed to get away for a bit. I'm sorry to spring it on you, but I know you can handle everything while I'm gone."
Tree's voice softened, but there was still an edge of surprise. "You know I've got your back, but Tay, what's going on? This doesn't sound like a casual trip."
Taylor smiled, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Nothing serious, Tree. I promise. I just need a break and to see my mom. Things have been... heavy lately."
There was a beat of silence before Tree sighed dramatically. "You're lucky I love you so much. If anyone else dropped this on me last minute, I'd be gone."
Taylor chuckled softly, grateful for her friend's loyalty. "Thanks, Tree. You're the best."
"Yeah, yeah. You owe me a nice lunch when you're back," Tree teased, before turning serious again. "Send me your flight details and I'll have a driver waiting to take you to the airport. Oh, and what about Travis? Does he know you're going?"
Taylor winced slightly. "Uh, no... not yet. I'll leave him a text. But could you assign him to Ryan while I'm gone? I don't want him missing any sessions. He's making real progress."
"Got it," Tree replied, though her tone suggested she wasn't entirely convinced. "I'll schedule him with Ryan. But seriously, Tay, you should have told him."
"I know," Taylor sighed again. "I'll text him once I'm packed."
"And the cats?" Tree asked, mock exasperation creeping into her voice.
"Please, can you look after them? I'll owe you big time," Taylor pleaded.
Tree huffed dramatically on the other end. "Fine. But next time, you're taking them with you."
Taylor grinned, pulling into her driveway. "Thanks, Tree. You're a lifesaver."
"Okay, now just get some rest and take care of yourself, okay?"
"I will. I'll send you all the details in a bit. Talk soon." Taylor ended the call, leaning her head back against the seat for a moment, letting the stillness of the car calm her racing mind.
With a sigh, she got out of the car and headed inside. There was packing to do, a few things to take care of, and then she could finally let herself breath.
After reaching her house, Taylor immediately sent the flight details to her mom and Tree. She packed a small suitcase, but her mind was scattered, emotions tugging at her as she folded her clothes. She picked at her dinner, barely tasting it, and although she had a few hours to sleep before her flight, rest didn't come easily. Her mind was too busy—memories, worries, and thoughts of Travis swirling together. Eventually, she got up from her bed and wandered to another room in the house.
This room was different—painted a soft pink, with a crib in the corner and a few toys scattered on a dresser. The room felt frozen in time. Taylor sat on the floor, her back resting against the wall, staring up at the glowing stars she had stuck on the ceiling long ago. The sadness, always there in the background, pressed in on her, and she laid down on the floor, letting the memories wash over her. After what seemed like ages, exhaustion finally claimed her.
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Taylor awoke to her alarm beeping relentlessly. She had about 15-20 minutes before she needed to leave. Jolted into motion, she rushed to take a quick shower, changed into comfortable travel clothes, and hurriedly checked her bag one last time. When she stepped outside, her driver, Levy, was already waiting.
"Hey Levy," she said as she slid into the car, her voice still heavy with sleep. "Sorry to bother you this late."
Levy smiled politely in the rearview mirror. "No worries, ma'am. It's my duty."
Taylor gave him a small nod of thanks, trying to muster a smile, but her thoughts were already ahead of her—focused on the flight and what she needed most right now: her mom. She couldn't wait to see her mom. For Taylor, family had always been her anchor, and her mom—most, above everyone. Even though she was approaching thirty, with a career that made her feel like she had to have it all together, there was something irreplaceable about her mother's presence. No matter how grown up she became, she still needed her mom's unwavering support, affection, and understanding. Andrea had been there through every high and low, never once judging, only standing by her side through the worst of times. In many ways, her mom wasn't just her parent—she was her best friend.
And after the emotional whirlwind of the past few months, Taylor needed her now more than ever. It had been too long since she'd seen her family, and she could feel it in every part of her. Right now, more than anything, she just wanted to be close to the people who loved her, to feel the comfort of home. She was tired of carrying her burdens alone, tired of suffocating behind the walls she'd built to keep herself together. She was ready to let some of it go—to allow herself to be vulnerable, to just be with the people who knew her best.
At the airport, Taylor checked in, making her way through the motions of security and boarding the plane with a kind of autopilot focus. The plane took off, and as the world below grew smaller, she rested her head against the window, letting the hum of the engines soothe her.
By the time her flight landed, it was a little past 3 a.m. The world outside was quiet, and the streets were empty as she made her way to her parents' house. Half an hour later, she arrived, quietly unlocking the front door with the spare key she always carried. The familiar scent of her childhood home enveloped her, instantly soothing some of the tension she'd been holding onto. She slipped into her old bedroom, leaving her bag by the door, and collapsed onto the bed, the exhaustion finally pulling her under.
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I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can) - A Tayvis Story
Fanfiction"Please, talk to me," Taylor had begged, pacing the room, her heart pounding with fear. "Let me come over. We can get through this together." But he had refused, his words sharp, cutting. "No, Taylor. You can't fix this. You can't fix me." xxxxxxxxx...