In Her Shadow

A Night Out

The night had settled deep, and a restless energy coursed through Navy as she sat alone, nursing a drink she'd barely tasted. The club was pulsing with music, neon lights casting colorful shadows over a sea of people, but for her, it was only noise—white noise against the heartbreak simmering inside.Her encounter with Bridget at the bar had left her feeling raw, vulnerable. Bridget's apology had been sincere, but it wasn't enough to ease the ache of all the confusion and distance between them. Navy needed something, anything, to numb herself to the feeling that maybe she would always be a burden, a person people loved until it got too hard."Another?" the bartender asked, raising a brow when he saw her empty glass.She nodded, maybe too eagerly. "Please."

As she waited for the refill, a woman slid onto the stool beside her, her hair falling in soft waves and her eyes dark with an intensity that seemed to cut through the haze surrounding Navy. Her smile was easy, too easy, as she leaned a little too close."Mind if I join you?" the woman asked, her voice low and suggestive.Navy managed a small smile, though her stomach churned. She was looking for distraction, but the attention felt... wrong somehow. Still, she shrugged, forcing herself to be polite."Sure," she replied, feigning a confidence she didn't feel.The woman wasted no time, slipping her arm around Navy's waist and ordering another round for them both. She laughed easily, her voice lilting as she leaned in closer, and although she was friendly enough, there was something about her gaze that felt too sharp, like a predator studying its prey.

As they chatted, the woman's hands grew bolder, her touch lingering in ways that made Navy's skin prickle uncomfortably. She could feel herself slipping, her senses dulled by the drinks, the pounding music, and the false bravado she'd worn like a shield. Yet somewhere in the back of her mind, a voice nagged at her, warning her that she was in over her head.Back at her apartment, Bridget sat in bed, a book open in her lap but unread. She hadn't been able to focus on anything since Navy walked out of the bar. She could still picture the hurt in Navy's eyes, the way she'd pulled herself away as though she was protecting something fragile inside her. A pang of regret shot through Bridget as she considered the mess she'd made of things. She'd been distant, but it was out of her own fear, her own brokenness. Navy was right; she had to stop pushing her away if she wanted to keep her close.Just then, her phone buzzed. A message from one of her friends.

Saw Navy at a club downtown. She's... not looking good. Might be worth checking on her.

Bridget's heart skipped a beat. She didn't even pause to think. Tossing on her coat, she grabbed her car keys and rushed out, her mind racing with worry. Navy alone, heartbroken, and vulnerable—it was the perfect storm for something bad to happen, and Bridget knew she couldn't let her suffer alone. She had to find her.In the club, Navy was slipping further away from herself. She tried to brush off the woman's touch, but her mind felt fuzzy, her limbs heavy. The music blurred in her ears, and her vision began to swim. Panic clawed at her, a faint instinct trying to warn her to get out, to get somewhere safe. But her body wouldn't cooperate.

The woman's hand moved up her arm, fingers tracing a path that made her skin crawl. "Come on, let's go somewhere quieter," she murmured, tugging Navy toward the back exit."No... I don't think..." Navy mumbled, trying to resist, but her legs felt like they were made of lead. She willed herself to pull away, to stand, to say something, but the words died in her throat.Just as they reached the door, the club lights flickered, and through the crowd, Bridget's figure appeared, her eyes scanning the room until they landed on Navy. Relief flooded through her as she pushed her way forward, not caring who she shoved aside."Navy," she called, her voice sharp enough to cut through the noise.The woman holding Navy's arm stiffened, her eyes narrowing at Bridget. "Who are you?" she sneered, tightening her grip on Navy.Bridget didn't answer. Her eyes never left Navy's as she closed the distance between them. She saw the exhaustion, the drunken haze, and the faint trace of fear in Navy's eyes, and a surge of protectiveness overtook her.

"Navy," she repeated, her voice softer this time. "Come on. Let's get you home."The woman scoffed, pulling Navy closer as if she had a right to her. "She's with me," she said coldly.Bridget's jaw clenched, her gaze steely as she looked at the woman. "Let her go," she demanded, her tone laced with a quiet fury that made the woman falter. "Now."There was a tense moment as the two locked eyes, the air thick with an unspoken challenge. Eventually, the woman rolled her eyes and released Navy's arm, muttering under her breath as she stormed off, vanishing into the crowd.

Navy swayed, her balance failing her, but Bridget caught her, pulling her close. "It's okay," she whispered, brushing a strand of hair from Navy's face. "I'm here."Navy looked up at her, her eyes glassy with tears she hadn't realized she'd been holding back. "Why are you here?" she slurred, her voice wavering. "You keep... pushing me away, Bridget. Why did you come?"Bridget swallowed hard, guilt and regret tightening in her chest. She had no answer, no excuse that could take away the hurt she'd caused. All she knew was that she couldn't bear the thought of something happening to Navy, of losing her."Because," she said softly, her voice thick with emotion, "I care about you, Navy. More than you know."They stood there, lost in each other's gaze as the world moved around them, and for a moment, everything else faded away. But as Bridget held her, the weight of her own mistakes pressed down on her, and she knew that if she wanted to keep Navy in her life, she'd have to face her own fears, her own darkness.As they stepped outside, the cool night air hit them, clearing some of the fog in Navy's mind. She looked up at Bridget, her eyes filled with questions, with doubt. But she was too tired, too drained to ask. Instead, she let Bridget guide her to the car, her head resting against the window as they drove in silence.

But just as they neared her apartment, Navy stirred, her voice barely a whisper as she asked, "What happens now, Bridget? Where do we go from here?"Bridget gripped the steering wheel, her own heart pounding as she realized she had no easy answer. She could sense the tension simmering beneath the surface, the fragile line they were both walking. But as Navy looked at her, vulnerable and unsure, she knew she couldn't keep hiding. Not anymore."I don't know," she admitted, her voice quiet. "But I know I don't want to lose you, Navy. I'll do whatever it takes to make this right."