Hold On I Still Need You

-A Bright Future Ahead-

Sophie's POV:

The soft morning light crept through the blinds, casting gentle rays across the room. I woke slowly, the familiar warmth of the blanket cocooning me, and turned my head to find Keefe still asleep beside me. He looked peaceful, his face relaxed in that way that made my heart do an unexpected flip.

I never thought I would feel this way again—safe, content, at ease. It wasn't long ago that I was drowning in worry, stress, and the weight of everything that had happened. But now, with the passage of time, I could breathe. I had learned to embrace the quiet moments like these, moments where nothing needed to be fixed, and nothing was hanging over me.

Keefe shifted slightly, his hand brushing against mine in his sleep, and I smiled softly. He had been my anchor through everything—the good, the bad, the uncertain. I knew without a doubt that I wouldn't have made it through without him. It wasn't just his support; it was his presence, the way he made everything feel like it would eventually be okay. He didn't try to fix me; he just let me be. And in return, I'd learned to trust again, to hope again, in a way that felt real.

When he finally woke, his eyes fluttered open, and he gave me that sleepy smile, the one that always seemed to make the world feel a little lighter. "Hey," he mumbled, voice still thick with sleep.

"Good morning," I replied quietly, running my fingers through my hair. There was something about mornings like this that made me realize just how much had changed. The world wasn't perfect, but at this moment, it didn't need to be. We were moving forward together, one quiet morning at a time.

He had stayed here late last night, we had both fallen asleep watching a movie together.

I never thought I'd be the kind of person to have a "dream destination" or something like that. But recently, as Keefe and I had started to embrace the small joys again, the idea of traveling kept creeping into my mind. I didn't need a huge adventure—just a place where we could take a breath, step away from the chaos of daily life, and maybe see a different side of the world.

Later that afternoon, as we sat in our favorite cafe, I finally blurted it out. "Keefe, I've been thinking about something."

He glanced up from his mug of hot chocolate, his brow furrowing slightly as he gave me his full attention. "What's going on?"

"There's a place I've always wanted to visit... The coast. It's small, but it's perfect. It's this little town by the sea—quiet, away from everything. I've heard it's beautiful, and it just feels like the kind of place where we could go and just... be."

Keefe set down his mug, a grin slowly spreading across his face. "The coast? That sounds amazing. And honestly, a change of scenery sounds like exactly what we need right now. I'm in."

I exhaled a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding. His excitement was infectious. "Really? You don't think it's too much?"

He reached across the table, taking my hand. "No way. We've both been through a lot. We deserve to see something new. Plus, it'll be fun. Just the two of us—no distractions, no rush. We can explore, relax, and just enjoy it."

I nodded, feeling a wave of relief wash over me. "We can plan out everything—where we'll stay, what we'll do. I want to make it the best trip ever."

Keefe's eyes sparkled. "We'll make it ours. We can pick the quiet spots, try out little restaurants, walk along the beach at sunrise... No schedules, no pressure. Just... us."

I felt my heart lighten at the thought. The idea of escaping, even if just for a little while, made everything feel a little more possible. We were building something new together, not just with our hands or with plans, but with the moments we were choosing to share. This trip—it was about more than just getting away. It was about finding joy in the everyday again.