Hold On I Still Need You

*Song: "Hold On" Piano Cover By "Atlantic Lights"

Sophie's POV:

The evening light is dimming, fading into the deep, quiet shadows of night. The stars begin to twinkle, their soft light slipping through the window in little silver beams, and for a moment, I'm just... lost. Not in a way that feels comforting, but in a way that feels heavy, like my mind is a tangle of thoughts I can't quite untie. I know Keefe's sitting next to me, sketching away in his usual manner, but I feel so distant from everything.

The soft sound of his pencil against the paper does nothing to ground me. Instead, it only reminds me of the space between us right now, the silence that's settling like a thick fog, the quiet that feels full of unsaid things.

I let my eyes wander to the darkening sky outside, tracing constellations I don't even know the names of, searching for something, anything to give me clarity.

I'm scared. I'm scared of what's coming, of all the dangers we're still facing, of everything I can't control. I thought after everything, after all the battles and losses and decisions, I'd start to feel... settled. But I don't. The weight of the past lingers on my shoulders, and sometimes, I wonder if those scars will ever fade or if they'll always be a part of me—just waiting to show up again when I least expect it.

I wish I could push those doubts away, ignore the ever-present fear that follows me, but it's hard. It's so hard. My chest tightens, and I feel that familiar pressure building, the kind that comes when you're caught in a storm and can't escape it.

I don't realize Keefe's stopped drawing until he's suddenly there, beside me, his warmth pulling me back to the present. His hand rests gently on mine, and for a second, I just focus on the simple comfort of it. His presence is grounding, but it's also gentle, like he knows the weight of everything I'm feeling but doesn't need to rush me through it.

"Foster... what's going on in that head of yours?" His voice is soft, steady, like a quiet anchor.

I blink, realizing how far away I'd drifted. I shake my head, but the weight of everything still lingers. I don't know how to explain it, or even if I should.

I let out a soft sigh, shaking my head as I try to push away the storm swirling in my mind. I know I'm not fooling anyone, especially not Keefe. The way he watches me—patient, understanding—makes it impossible to hide anything.

So, I force a smile, one that feels too small, too thin to be real, but Keefe sees right through it.

He doesn't even need to ask. Instead, he scrunches up his face in the silliest way, his nose wrinkling and eyes squinting like he's trying to make himself look ridiculous. It's so over the top that a laugh bubbles up from somewhere deep inside me, despite everything.

I let out a breath, shaking my head, feeling that tightness in my chest loosen just a little. "Okay, fine, maybe I'm not the best at hiding things." I give him a reluctant grin, but it's more genuine this time.

Keefe grins right back, but it softens quickly into something quieter, more serious. He leans closer, taking my hand in his, his thumb tracing small circles over my skin. "You don't have to hide anything from me. I'm right here. And you don't have to carry it alone, Foster."

His words settle over me like a blanket, warm and steady, the weight of them sinking into me slowly, as if he's somehow already given me permission to let go of some of that burden.

I squeeze his hand, just a little, and for the first time in what feels like forever, I let myself breathe. I don't have to have all the answers, and I don't have to do everything on my own. With him here, beside me, I don't have to be afraid.