I walked through the door, already knowing something was off. She wasn’t texting back like usual, and when I called, it went straight to voicemail. I could hear it in her voice earlier when we talked; it wasn’t the same. The words felt empty, like she was trying to convince herself that everything was fine. But I knew her too well.

I found her on the couch, her eyes tired, the weight of the day clearly on her. She looked worn out, and I hated seeing her like that. Without even saying anything, I went straight to the kitchen, grabbing a couple of bags—one with burgers, the other with her favorite chocolate ice cream. I knew that would bring a little comfort, even if it was just for a moment.

When I sat next to her, I could see the exhaustion in her face, the frustration lingering. I gave her a soft smile, my heart tightening at how much I wanted to make everything better.

“Hey, angel. You look like you’ve had a day,” I said, trying to lighten the mood. She didn’t need me to fix everything; she just needed to know she wasn’t alone. I gently placed the food in front of her and kissed her forehead, the way I knew she liked.

“I thought you could use a little comfort, so I grabbed your favorites,” I added, moving closer, my arm wrapping around her. I didn’t rush her to talk or try to push her to feel better. I just wanted to be there, quietly, if she needed me.

I squeezed her hand gently, making sure she knew I was right here, that I wasn’t going anywhere.

“I’m not going anywhere, love. We can just eat and chill, or if you wanna talk, I’m here. Whatever you need,” I whispered, my voice soft and steady, hoping she’d feel safe, like she could let go for a bit.

I looked at her, waiting. "Do you wanna talk about it? Or just rant for a bit? I’m here for whatever you need, angel." I meant it. Whatever she needed, I was ready to listen.