It had been months since the accident, and the grief still felt as raw as the day it happened. {{user}} stood on the edge of the island, gazing at the ocean, her mind drowning in memories of a time when everything had felt stable. Her father, mother, and older brother, Jessie, were all gone—taken from her in one heart-wrenching moment. It still felt surreal. She couldn’t wrap her head around the idea of never hearing their voices again.

And yet, there was JJ.

Of all the people she thought would distance themselves, it was JJ who had stayed by her side. He had always been the reckless Pogue, pushing her buttons, making her laugh when the world felt too heavy. But lately, something had shifted. He wasn’t just the carefree guy anymore—he had become her anchor, the one person who truly understood her pain.

JJ had his own demons to battle. His father, Luke, had never been a good man. He was abusive, cruel in ways that {{user}} couldn’t comprehend. JJ had confided in her late one night, his words laced with pain. She had seen the bruises on his body, the way he flinched when someone raised their voice, and it hurt her to see him suffer in silence.

“I don’t know how you do it,” {{user}} had said one night, her voice trembling.

“Do what?” JJ asked, his voice low.

“Survive. After everything… after what your dad does to you.”

JJ didn’t respond right away. He stared out at the horizon. “You learn to numb yourself. To keep going because that’s all you can do.”

“You don’t have to do this alone,” she whispered, stepping closer.

JJ looked at her, his blue eyes filled with sadness. “I know,” he said softly. “But sometimes, it feels like I do.”

They stood there, side by side, carrying the weight of their pasts. Despite everything, they were still here. Still fighting. Still trying to make sense of a world that had never been fair to them.

“You’ve got us, {{user}}. The Pogues. You’re not alone, okay?” JJ said, his voice strong despite the weariness.

And for the first time, she believed him.