chapter 4
328 Words
Sydney responded almost immediately.
Sydney: "I’m here. You don’t have to go through this alone."
The words made something c***k inside her. She wasn’t sure if it was relief or fear, but for the first time in a long time, she felt seen.
Her fingers hovered over the keyboard. She had spent so long pretending, telling everyone she was fine, even when she was breaking inside. But Sydney had noticed. And a part of her—no matter how small—wanted to believe that maybe, just maybe, she could trust her.
Me: "I don’t know how to talk about it."
Sydney: "That’s okay. You don’t have to say everything at once. Just tell me what’s on your mind."
She swallowed hard. Where could she even start? The loneliness? The pain? The feeling that she was slowly slipping away, and no one cared?
Her hands shook as she typed.
Me: "I feel like I don’t matter. Like I could disappear and no one would notice."
She stared at the message, heart pounding. Would Sydney think she was overreacting? Would she get annoyed, just like everyone else?
A few seconds passed. Then a minute. She was about to turn off her phone when Sydney finally replied.
Sydney: "That’s not true. I would notice. And I care. I care a lot."
Her breath caught in her throat.
Care. It had been so long since someone said that to her.
Tears blurred her vision. She wiped them away quickly, but they kept coming. She had spent so long hiding her pain, convincing herself that no one would understand. But Sydney cared. And somehow, that made everything feel a little less heavy.
Me: "Thank you."
Sydney: "You don’t have to thank me. You’re important. And I’m not going anywhere, okay?"
She hugged her phone to her chest, closing her eyes.
For the first time in a long time, she didn’t feel completely alone.
Maybe—just maybe—things could get better.
- Writer
