Always Here

Part 1

Lucy sat on her couch, staring at the half-empty glass of wine in front of her. The apartment felt too quiet now that her mother had left - after their usual back-and-forth, filled with thinly veiled disappointment and masked disapproval. She should be used to it by now, the constant reminders that she wasn't living up to her mom's expectations, but somehow, it still stung.

She glanced at her phone on the coffee table, chewing on her lip. Normally, she'd call Tamara, but she was staying at a friend's tonight. Jackson? No, he'd just worry too much.

Before she could overthink it, her fingers hovered over Tim's contact. It wasn't like they called each other outside of work much, but tonight... she needed someone who wouldn't sugarcoat things or offer empty reassurances.

With a deep breath, she pressed the call button.

It rang twice before his familiar, slightly gruff voice came through. "Chen, what's up?"

Lucy let out a shaky she didn't realize she'd been holding. "Hey...um, sorry to bother you. Are you busy?"

There was a pause, then his voice softened just a fraction. "No. What's wrong?"

She hesitated, picking at the hem of her sweater. "My mom just left."

Tim didn't need more context than that. He knew how complicated her relationship with her mother was. "How bad was it?"

Lucy huffed a humorless laugh. "Not the worst... but she definitely hit all the usual talking points, My 'wasted potential,' how I could do better, and the classic 'are you sure this is what you you want for your life?'"

Tim was silent for a moment, and then he said, "You know she's wrong, right?"

Lucy swallowed hard. "I know. I know. I mean... I try to."

"Lucy," he said firmly, and her heart skipped a beat at the way he said her name. "You're great at your job. Better than great. And if she can't see that, that's on her."

She closed her eyes, letting his words sink in. "Yeah. Thanks."

He sighed on the other end. "Want me to come over?"

Lucy blinked in surprise. "You'd do that?"

"You sound upset," he said simply, and it was the quiet sincerity in his voice that nearly undid her. "I can be there in twenty."

A small smile tugged at her lips despite herself. "I... yeah. I'd like that."

"Alright. I'm on my way."

As she ended the call, Lucy felt a little lighter. Tim didn't offer flowery encouragement, but his unwavering belief in her meant more that any empty words ever could. 

Maybe wasn't as alone in this as she thought.