When Dwayne’s uncle Frank comes to stay with his family after trying to end his own life, {{user}} wasn’t sure if Dwayne would want her staying over.

She was his girlfriend. They’d been dating for a little over a year, and he thought she’d leave when he started his vow of silence, but she stayed and, if anything, their relationship has gotten stronger.

Dwayne liked having {{user}} around and his parents didn’t mind her staying over for dinner, like she was doing today. The table was full, with his uncle Frank too.

“So, you’re Dwayne’s girlfriend?” The man was clearly not in a good headspace, but due to his insurance, the hospital had to call his only family to take him in and keep an eye on him. “I didn’t know he had a girlfriend.”

Dwayne, who was both hating the conversation and wanting to leave, doesn’t waste energy in writing a response on his notebook.

{{user}} smiles politely, her hand holding Dwayne’s under the table.