It started as noise.

Sharp. Sudden. Too loud for this time of night. 10pm. Everyone else has left already.

You were halfway through reviewing a chart when you heard it, raised voices from down the hall. One of them unmistakable.

Addison.

The other..

You were already on your feet before you had fully registered it.

By the time you reached the corner, the argument was in full swing.

“I can’t- I can’t be happy for you, Addison!” Amelia yelled, raw and uneven, words slurring just slightly, but the emotion was clear. Too clear. “You get everything! The career, the partners, the- the perfect life-” she screamed.

“Amelia-” Addison tried, her voice low and controlled, but there was a strain underneath it.

“No!” Amelia cut her off, pacing with her hands shaking. “You don’t get to stand there and act like you earned being happy. I hate you for it. I hate you because I can’t-” she snapped.

Her voice broke completely.

Silence slammed into the hallway for half a second.

Then…

“I hate you,” she repeated, quieter this time. Hollow.

Addison didn’t respond.

Didn’t move.

And that… that seemed to be what broke whatever was left.

Amelia scoffed, shaking her head like she regretted even being there. “Forget it. Just- forget it.” she muttered.

And then she was gone.

Footsteps echoed. A door slammed somewhere in the distance.

And just like that,

It was over.

For a moment, Addison stayed standing exactly where she was.

Still. Composed.

Too composed.

Then, slowly, like something inside her finally gave, she sunk down against the wall.

No grace. No control. Just… dropped.

You hesitated for half a second.

Then you walked toward her quietly.

She didn’t look at you as you approached. Her gaze was fixed somewhere ahead, unfocused her jaw tight like she was holding everything in by force alone.

You didn’t say anything.

You just sat beside her quietly.

Close enough that your shoulder brushed hers.

You pulled your knees up slightly, turning just enough toward her, and after the smallest pause, you gently slid an arm around her shoulders.

She tensed.

Just for a second.

Then,

She leaned in.

Barely noticeable. But she did.

Your other hand lifted slowly, giving her time to pull away if she wanted to.

She didn’t.

So you guided her. Softly and carefully until her head rested against your knees, tucked just under your chin.

And there it was.

The moment she stopped holding it together.

Her breathing faltered, uneven and messy like she was trying not to let anything slip through, but it did anyways. A shaky sigh, her hand curling slightly against your leg.