Worth The Wait

39|𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐇 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐈𝐓

𝐋𝐔𝐂IE 𝐁𝐀𝐒I𝐋𝐋E

The next morning, sunlight slips through the curtains in soft, golden streaks, casting a warm glow across my room. I lie in bed, eyes staring at the ceiling, replaying everything from last night — River's voice, raw and honest talk we had that made my chest ache; the kiss that I tried to forget but couldn't. The knot in my stomach tightens as confusion and fear swirl inside me.

There's a soft knock at the door. Soph's voice floats in, gentle and steady. "You up?"

I force myself to sit up, tugging the blankets around me like a shield. "Yeah. Come in."

She steps inside, and behind her is Ophelia, calm and centered as always. They sit down on the edge of my bed, the two of them a steady presence.

Soph's eyes hold a kindness I haven't felt in a while. "Lucie, you've been carrying so much. You don't have to do it alone."

I bite my lip, swallowing down the lump in my throat. "I'm scared," I admit, voice barely above a whisper. "Scared that if I let go, everything I've worked for just... falls apart. If I trust River, I'm setting myself up to get hurt."

Ophelia's voice is soft but firm. "Fear of failure and fear of being vulnerable often feel the same. But you're not your fear. You're more than your doubts or your mistakes."

I glance down at my hands, twisting the fabric of my sleeve. "I've always been the one in control. If I'm not, if I'm not perfect, I lose everything. It's how I've survived."

Soph nods knowingly. "Those walls you've built to protect yourself? They're strong, but they also keep out people who want to be there for you. People who could be your strength."

I think about River—the way I pushed him away, the bitterness I felt, how I told him to leave. "I thought he was just a distraction, something to avoid."

Ophelia shakes her head gently. "Sometimes, the things we resist the most are exactly what we need. River isn't a distraction anymore, Lucie. He's become part of your strength. You just need to let yourself see it."

I laugh, a little shaky and uncertain. "Letting go feels like falling. I'm terrified of crashing."

Soph reaches out and takes my hand, her grip steady. "Falling can hurt, but it can also teach you how to fly."

I close my eyes, breathing deep, feeling the weight in my chest soften. I think about River's voice—how vulnerable he was last night, how much he needed me, how much I needed him. And for the first time, I realize something I hadn't allowed myself to admit before.

"I do trust him," I say quietly. "More than I thought I could."

Ophelia smiles softly. "That's the hardest step. Trust isn't about being perfect or never getting hurt. It's about choosing to stand together, even when it's scary."

Soph squeezes my hand one last time. "We're here for you, always."

I sink back onto my bed trying to make sense of everything swirling in my head. "I think River and I are in a relationship," I say, almost surprised at how easy the words feel coming out.

Soph arches an eyebrow. "Really? That fast?"

I roll my eyes but can't hide the smile tugging at my lips. "Well... I kissed a guy last night—total mistake—and then I called River. Oh. My. God. I told him all of that, and then he actually showed up at the club. We talked. Like, really talked."

Soph smirks.

 "Wait, didn't you leave with Kolton?" Ophelia asked 

I glance over at her, curious. "Yeah, I thought you left with him?"