Love through wheels

Doubts

Juliet went ahead to meet James. Her voice trembled, but she forced herself forward.

"You can't give up. You have to keep trying. You're doing your best," she urged.

James didn't look at her. "I don’t want anyone around me," he muttered.

Juliet dropped to her knees beside him, close enough to feel the weight of his silence. "Even me?"

James’s eyes flicked toward her. "Yes… even you."

She stayed there for a heartbeat, then slowly rose. "When you’re ready to walk… you know where to find me," she said, voice low, almost breaking, as she began gathering her things.

James’s mother appeared in the doorway, her eyes narrowing. "Juliet, where are you going?"

Juliet’s hands froze mid-motion. "Ma… I’m grateful for everything you’ve done for me and my sister, but… James said I should leave."

"No, my daughter. You can’t just leave," James’s mother voice shook.

"I’m sorry, Ma… I have to," Juliet whispered. Without another word, she stepped out, the door clicking shut behind her. James didn’t move, didn’t even look.

She moved forward to James. "James… I thought you were healing. You can’t heal if you keep pushing everyone away."

James stayed silent.

Juliet walked the quiet streets back to her house, every step heavy. She burst inside, nearly collapsing into her sister’s arms.

She narrated everything to her sister.

"Big sis… he loves you. He just… he needs space," she said.

"If he loved me," Juliet snapped, voice breaking, "he would have stopped me. He didn’t… not even once."

"Big sis… you’re overthinking. Tomorrow’s his birthday… will you at least check on him?"

Juliet shook her head, staring at the floor. "No. I’m not going anywhere.”