In Her Shadow(GXG)

Unspoken Emotions

The quiet filled the penthouse apartment as Navy lay on the couch, wrapped in a thick blanket Bridget had pulled over her before leaving. The whole night had blurred together, and yet, fragments of it were beginning to come back—the cold press of the bar countertop, that woman's arm around her, the overwhelming sense of loss that had driven her out in the first place.She closed her eyes, trying to shake the remnants of shame and hurt, the realization of how dangerously close she'd come to letting herself slip away completely. And then there was Bridget—Bridget, who had come in like a storm, tearing through the crowd to pull her away, who'd held her without judgment, who'd looked at her with a rawness in her eyes that Navy couldn't forget.

By the time the afternoon sun started to filter through the blinds, Navy's mind was still tangled with questions and emotions she wasn't prepared to confront. But she knew she couldn't stay wrapped up in the blanket of denial forever. She had to talk to Bridget.Hours later, as the evening set in, Navy found herself at Bridget's door, her heart thudding in her chest. She raised her hand to knock but hesitated, her thoughts racing. Before she could talk herself out of it, the door opened, and there stood Bridget, looking worn but relieved."Navy," Bridget said softly, stepping aside to let her in.Navy nodded, slipping past her into the dimly lit apartment, the smell of coffee lingering in the air. They sat across from each other, a silence settling between them that neither dared to break. The weight of everything unspoken was palpable, and yet neither knew how to take the first step.

Finally, Navy drew in a shaky breath, her fingers twisting in her lap. "Why did you come for me last night?" Her voice was barely a whisper, her gaze fixed on the floor.Bridget's eyes softened, a flash of pain crossing her face. "I couldn't just let you go like that," she murmured. "When I saw you, I realized... how much I'd messed up. How much I've pushed you away, even when I didn't want to." She looked down, her voice lowering. "You deserve more than that, Navy. I know I haven't been fair to you."Navy felt the familiar ache in her chest, the flood of emotions she'd tried so hard to bury. She lifted her gaze, her eyes meeting Bridget's, searching for answers.

 "Then why do you keep doing it?" she asked, her voice breaking. "You let me in, but only enough to keep me guessing. Enough to make me think I'm the problem, that I'm asking for too much."

Bridget's face fell, her expression filled with remorse. She ran a hand through her hair, struggling to find the words. 

"It's... it's not you, Navy. It's me. I've been hurt before, betrayed by people I trusted. And I thought... I thought that if I kept you at a distance, I wouldn't get hurt again. But that's not fair to you."

Navy swallowed hard, a lump forming in her throat. She wanted to be angry, to feel justified in her hurt. But seeing Bridget's vulnerability, and hearing the cracks in her voice, made it harder to hold onto her resentment."It doesn't work like that," Navy said quietly. "You can't protect yourself by hurting me. That only pushes me away. And if that's what you want, then tell me. But don't keep doing this—don't keep pulling me close just to let me go again."Bridget's shoulders slumped, the weight of Navy's words settling over her like a heavy blanket. She looked at Navy, her eyes filled with something that looked like regret, a regret so deep it seemed to ripple through her entire being.

"I don't want to push you away," Bridget whispered. "I've tried, but... I can't. You mean more to me than I thought possible, and that scares me. You're young, you're brilliant, you have so much ahead of you. And I... I don't know how to be what you need."

Navy felt a surge of frustration, mixed with something that felt like sympathy. She reached out, placing a hand over Bridget's, feeling the warmth of her skin beneath her fingertips. "Maybe what I need isn't some perfect version of you, Bridget. Maybe I just need you. The real you, with your fears and flaws. The one who came for me last night, who showed me that maybe I do matter, even if just a little."Bridget's hand tightened around hers, her breath hitching as she processed Navy's words. There was something tender, something vulnerable in her expression that made Navy's heartache. She had been so determined to keep herself guarded, but now, looking into Bridget's eyes, she felt herself letting down the walls she'd so carefully built.The silence between them stretched, filled with a thousand unsaid things. And in that moment, Bridget did something unexpected. She reached up, brushing a stray hair from Navy's face, her fingers lingering on her cheek. The gentleness of the touch sent a shiver down Navy's spine, and she closed her eyes, savoring the sensation.

"Navy, I'm sorry," Bridget whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "For everything. I'm not perfect, and I don't know how to do this. But I want to try. For you, for us."Navy's eyes opened, meeting Bridget's gaze with a mix of hope and caution. She wanted to believe her, to believe that this time would be different. But the scars of the past lingered, a reminder of the pain she'd endured."Then show me," Navy said softly. "Don't tell me. Show me."Bridget nodded, understanding the weight of Navy's words. She knew that it would take more than just apologies to rebuild the trust they'd lost. But as she held Navy's hand, she felt a flicker of hope, a small spark that maybe, just maybe, they could find a way forward.And for the first time in a long time, Bridget allowed herself to believe that healing was possible, that she could open her heart without losing herself. They sat there, hand in hand, the silence no longer filled with tension, but with a quiet understanding, an unspoken promise to try, to let go of the fears that had held them back.