Separation Anxiety

8: Just Hold On

Griffin's POV

We set Zoey in her room and left her alone. But hours later, I heard noises from upstairs and everyone was downstairs or gone.

I walked upstairs and it was coming from Zoey's room. I leaned my ear against to her door.

(Zoey singing) (Griffin's thinking)

Just hold on
Don't lose control now
Just hold on
Don't lose your soul now
Just hold on
Don't lose control now
Just hold on
Don't lose your soul now

A depressed song?

I know that this life gets hard sometimes
I know that depression's running through your mind
I know that sometimes you just want to cry
But nobody understands so you close your eyes
I know that sometimes you just want to die
I know that sometimes you just wonder why
They leave you on your own just to fight this fight
But I promise you that you gon' get through tonight

Is she ok? I can hear crying.

Cause I've seen it with my own eyes
And I've felt it in my own life
Yeah I've seen it with my own eyes
Yeah I've seen it with my own eyes
And I've felt it in my own life
Yeah I've seen it with my own eyes
And I've felt it in my own life

Why didn't she tell me? I could've helped her.

So just hold on
Don't lose control now
Just hold on
Don't lose your soul now
Just hold on
Don't lose control now
Just hold on
That pain gon' slow down

Oh no. She's really crying now.

I know about the feelings that you're feeling deep within
And I know that sometimes all you want is the evidence
That life gon' get better and that the pain fades away
I know you're under the weather and wanna see brighter days
I know that you're in a chapter you wish that you could erase
I know that life gets hard and you've been losing faith
And I know you feel like nobody cares
And I know you feel like nobody's there
But I swear that everything you're going through
Is just gon' make you stronger
But only if you can promise to

She's only 16. I need to help her somehow. I need to.

(I know that people younger than that have depression, but just go with it for the story.)

Just hold on
Don't lose control now
Just hold on
That pain gon' slow down

I hear more sniffling. I hear her set down her guitar and wipe her tears away. She can't know that I heard her, she'll hate me.

I ran downstairs and the boys look at me weird. I just nodded at Zoey who was walking back in with a red face and they nodded.

"Why the red face?" Kio asked and I mentally face palmed.

"Just tired, but couldn't go back to sleep." Zoey said.

"Oh ok." Quinton said.

"Y'all ok?" Zoey asked. "Y'all are never this quiet."

"Were you crying?" Nick asked.

"Uh no." Zoey said.

"You sure?" Kio asked.

"Uh yeah." Zoey said. "I uh I'll be upstairs if you need me."

"Ok." I said.

"So what happened?" Kio asked.

"She was singing this depressing song in her room while she was crying." I said. "She's not telling us something, guys."

"What do you think it is?" Quinton asked, leaning his head on me.

"Maybe she cuts." Nick shrugged.

"Bryce? You've been really quiet over there." I asked.

"Sorry. Do you think she cuts?" Bryce asked, looking really sad.

"You ok, Bryce?" Quinton asked.

Bryce pulled up his sleeves and he had scars down them. I felt a tear go down my cheek.

It went completely silent. Quinton walked over and hugged Bryce real right. Slowly, everyone joined in on the group hug.

"Why?" I asked.

"Hate." Bryce simply said and we nodded, not questioning.

"Who's going to talk to her?" Bryce asked.

Kio and Nick looked at Quint, Bryce and I.

"What?" Quinton, Bryce and I asked in sync.

"Bryce has cut before. You're her dad and Quinton is Quinton." Nick said.

"What do you mean?" Quinton asked and Kio rolled his eyes.

"She clearly sees something in you, Q." Kio said.

"I vote Quinton."  Nick said.

"Me too." Bryce said.

"Me three." Kio said.

"Fine." I said. "Be nice."

"I will I promise." Quinton said and took off upstairs.