Under His Protection

Chapter 71: Unraveling Threads

The morning passed in a haze of tension. Taylor's emotional outbursts were becoming harder to manage, and Travis was doing everything he could to stay by her side. But the weight of it all was beginning to show. He was exhausted, both physically and emotionally, as Taylor's need for him intensified.

After the incident with the doctor, where Taylor had lashed out in a desperate attempt to hold onto Travis, things had only gotten more complicated. She was increasingly volatile, and it was clear that the situation had reached a boiling point. Patrick, Brittany, and Ross had all stepped in, but there were no easy solutions.

Dr. Caroline had been observing the events from a distance, making her notes quietly while keeping an eye on Taylor's behavior. She had seen firsthand how hard it was for Taylor to function without Travis by her side, how her trust in anyone else was slipping away, and how her emotional attachment to him was reaching dangerous levels. After the confrontation with the doctor, she knew it was time to sit down with the others and lay out her concerns.

The team gathered in the living room, the heavy atmosphere palpable. Patrick sat across from Dr. Caroline, his face etched with concern. Brittany sat beside him, trying to keep calm, while Ross leaned against the doorframe, his arms crossed in a protective stance. They were all on edge, watching Taylor from the next room, where she was clinging to Travis once again, unable to let him go.

Dr. Caroline finally broke the silence. "I think it's time we talk about what's really going on with Taylor."

Patrick nodded, his hands clenched in his lap. "We're all on edge. We've seen the way she's acting. It's like she can't function without Travis. What's happening?"

Dr. Caroline took a slow breath, her gaze flickering to the bedroom door before turning back to them. "Taylor's attachment to Travis is more than just emotional-it's become a survival mechanism. And it's more complicated than we originally thought. There's rage in her if someone tries to take Travis away. She's become so reliant on him that if he's gone for too long, she starts to panic. It's not just anxiety. It's an extreme emotional response." She paused, letting her words sink in. "She's screaming for him, calling for him like her whole world is falling apart if he's not there. And the trust issues-she's not letting anyone else in, no matter how hard you try."

Brittany frowned. "So, she's rejecting all of us? Even me?"

Dr. Caroline shook her head gently. "No, not rejecting you. But she can't open up to anyone else the way she can with Travis. It's as if she's only able to trust him right now-and to an unhealthy extent. It's almost as though she's latched onto him as her only source of stability. But it's beyond normal attachment. She's emotionally dependent on him in a way that is preventing her from functioning as she should."

Ross crossed his arms, looking worried. "So what do we do? She's not going to get better if she can't break away from Travis."

Dr. Caroline nodded grimly. "That's the difficult part. Travis is enabling this. I know it's not intentional, but by always being there for her in this way, by allowing her to rely on him for everything, he's inadvertently reinforcing her dependence on him. It's starting to become a pattern. If this continues, it could worsen her mental state."

Patrick spoke up, his voice tinged with concern. "So what does that mean? How do we break this cycle?"

Dr. Caroline took a moment, considering. "It's going to be difficult, but Travis needs to start allowing Taylor to handle things on her own-giving her space to manage small tasks without him constantly rescuing her. But that doesn't mean abandoning her. The key is to gradually help her build some self-sufficiency, without completely withdrawing. It's a delicate balance."

Brittany shifted in her seat. "But what if she can't do it? What if she falls apart even more?"

"That's the risk," Dr. Caroline said softly. "But staying in this cycle will only make things worse. She has to learn that she's capable of functioning without Travis there every second of the day."

Ross let out a frustrated sigh. "How do we get her to see that, though? She's already in a place where she can't even talk to anyone other than him or Bronze."

"I think," Dr. Caroline said slowly, "it might be time to approach it differently. We need to bring in some outside help to assist with the emotional work. I've spoken with a therapist who specializes in attachment issues, and I think Taylor might respond better to someone other than me. But we have to be careful. It's all about timing."

Patrick looked at Travis, who had been silent for most of the conversation, his gaze fixed on the door to the bedroom. "What do you think, Travis?"

Travis's voice was quiet, almost distant, as he looked up at his friends. "I don't know. I just want her to be okay. I don't know how to help her. She doesn't want anyone else near her. She won't even talk to her mom." He paused, his throat tight. "I just need to keep her calm, keep her with me. I can't risk her falling apart again."

"I understand, Travis," Dr. Caroline said, her voice gentle but firm. "But you have to recognize that by constantly being there, you're not giving her the space to heal. You're reinforcing the very thing that's keeping her from moving forward."

There was a long silence as Travis absorbed her words. He clenched his jaw, his hands shaking as he thought about Taylor in the other room, needing him so desperately.

"But she needs me," Travis said quietly. "She can't breathe without me right now. I can't just leave her."

"You're not leaving her, Travis," Dr. Caroline assured him. "But we need to make sure you're taking care of yourself too. If you burn out, who will be there for her? It's not just about what she needs right now-it's about making sure she has the strength to stand on her own when she's ready. She has to trust that she can get through this without needing you 24/7."

Travis stared at the floor, fighting back his own emotions. "I don't know how to make her understand that."

Dr. Caroline stood up, walking toward him slowly. "You don't have to do it alone. But it's going to take time. And she's not going to like it. But you have to stick with it. She's not just battling her emotions right now; she's battling her fear. Fear of abandonment, fear of being alone. And the only way through that fear is to show her that she can be okay-even when you're not physically right there with her."

The room was silent for a moment as the weight of Dr. Caroline's words settled in. Travis ran a hand through his hair, glancing at his friends, who were all watching him closely, waiting for him to say something, anything.

"I don't know what to do," Travis muttered.

"You don't have to have all the answers, Travis," Patrick said, his voice full of understanding. "But you've got us. We're in this together."

Dr. Caroline nodded. "I'll be back later, but for now, focus on Taylor and see if you can get her to talk. It might be small steps, but even those count."

As she left the room, the others stayed behind, giving Travis a moment of space. But deep down, Travis knew they were right. He wasn't helping her by enabling her dependency on him. The road ahead was going to be long and painful, but if they could get through it, maybe-just maybe-Taylor could start healing.