Abigail - Love, Family and Friendship

r

ed to her chest, her face buried in a blanket. The light from the window illuminated the disarray around her-bo

unt of how many times she'd tried to reach Jane in the past few days, only to be met with silen

stepping into the room. "I

didn'

and perched on the edge of the bed. "You haven't ea

f crying. "I don't need you to take care of me, Abigail," she

t. "I'm not trying to hover," she said

breaking on the last word. She turned away,

ting. Abigail sat there, staring at her frien

spered, her voice trembling. "But please, J

idn't

al open before her but the pages blank. The pen in her hand hovered over

was empty now-Jane had slipped out without a wor

orm, her quick wit and playful teasing, the way her fingers danced effortlessly across the piano ke

that ligh

erless, like she was watching her best friend drift furthe

," she whispered

ft that had once filled her with joy now felt like a holl

know how to reach someone she cared about.

hool rooftop. The clang of the door echoed behind her, swallowed by the vast openness of the sk

ow, the school grounds buzzed faintly with life: the chatter of students, the scrape of chairs

ut at the horizon, where the sun was beginning to dip, painting the sky in streaks of

ords replayed in her mind, each one a dagger to her already bruised heart. She had tried ev

" Abigail whispe

thing. The helplessness she felt now mirrored the pain she'd buried deep with

fading into the sterile quiet of a hospital room. Her father's promises; a source of comfort

rmured, her voice cracking. "Why

und, her back against the railing, her knees pulled to her chest. Her shoulders sh

e whispered. "I can't

ords away, leaving her

iga

stood a few feet away, his tall frame silhouetted against the fading light. His

g here?" she asked

" he said gently, stepping close

by her tears. "I just needed some space. I

her room to breathe. "I've been coming up here fo

a shaky laug

intly. "Yeah

between them comforting rather than awkward.

ying a lot,

he's hurting so much, and I don't know how to help her. Every time I try, she

. "It reminds you of your

dad... It's like everything I tried to bury is

se but not touching hers. "You're not useless, Abigai

ds shaking. "It doesn

re there, even if she can't show it right

for some proof that he wasn't just saying it to mak

I drew for you?" he aske

by the shift. "Yes. And thos

en language I came across while researching for a poem

d despite her tears

ut a folded piece of paper. "I wrote it do

aper, his voice s

you've stood, uny

trength in sk

ay whisper, and

ines bright, a

the words, their meanin

y everything on your own, Abigail. You're stronger than you

ter, as though some of the weight had been lifted. Eth

of his embrace grounding her i

u," she w

steadier, like the cracks in her resolve

ane," she said, he

e needs you. And

handle. Her heart was racing, but this time, it wasn't from fear or unce

words, clear in her mind. She

m, the curtains drawn even though the sun had barely set. J

side Jane's bed. For a moment, she said nothing, lettin

ull of emotion. "I know you don't want to talk righ

eted slightly, her breathing hitch

htly in her lap. "And maybe there's nothing I can say or do. But I need you to know that I'm he

t Abigail could see the tear-streaked side of her face.

ight to feel that way. But Jane..." She reached out, her hand hovering near her friend's shoulder before gently resting there. "You're not broken beyond re

ng as tears spilled freely down her cheeks. Abigail

" Jane whispered, her voic

"Then I'll be the one to hold you up," she said simply

ng into the pillow. But then, slowly, she shifted, sitting up and leaning into

t try to offer platitudes or force optimism. She just held her, l

d after a while, her voice

ars slipping down her face. "You don't have to thank me,"

the air. Jane didn't say much, but her leaning into Abigail was enou

here was a sense that the walls Jane had b

Tri

r D

No notes, no poe

e texted me once-just a short "We're here"-and nothing since. I

Every time I try to focus on studying, my mind wanders to Jane,

n there

as this way of saying the exact thing I need to hear. It's comforting, but it's confusing too. I

s, I catch m

art that wonders. The part that drea

bi

aced it on her desk, staring at the blank wall ahead. The silence in the dorm fe

studying. The mounting pressure of exams only amplified her anxiety, and the

e words on the page blurred together, her f

ed her. Abigail looked up,

n," she

amiliar calm presence filling the room. He held two st

break," he said, setting

mile. "Thanks. I'm not g

g across from her. "You've been

. "It's just... a lot. Jane's gone, exams are coming

"You've got a lot on your plate

the tea, her reflection rippling in the surface. "I just wish I could do mo

an you realize, Abigail. Just being there for Jane means more than you think

surprising even herself. "Yo

he said, his ton

elt charged, electric. Abigail's heart raced, but she qu

now," she blurted out, her vo

his expression

's had a crush on you for ages. I

Abigail..." He hesitated, searching for the right

ng him off. "I should probably get back to s

unreadable. Then he stood, nodding. "Okay. But

s the door clicked shut behind h

eat. Around her, students settled into their desks, the usual hum of chatter filling the room.

ll right, everyone," she began, her voice calm yet commanding. "As you know, this week we're starting the cry

ve already paired you up, and your names are listed on the board. You'll need

about Jane. I know many of you are aware of her absence and the loss her family has experienced. This is a difficult time for her, and it's important t

igail's chest tightened at the mention of Jane, her mind fil

le but firm. "Sometimes, the best thing we can do is s

e names appeared, her breath ca

rey & Eth

r way with a small, amused smile. "Looks like we're

replied, her cheek

k, his gaze fixed on Miss Wilson as she explained the project's objectives. Abigail noticed the faint blush on Liam's cheeks whenev

he rush of students heading for the door. Ethan caught up with he

ook against his hip, "about this cr

"Not really. I guess we'll need to look up the best

't too far from here. It's quiet, and we'd hav

pending time with Ethan felt like walking a tightro

work," she s

own. "We can grab the materials after school, and I'll mee

replied, her voi

oise of the hallway fading into the background. Ethan tilted

, surprising herself with

le lingering as he stepped

d but steady. Despite her tangled emotions, she fe