Invisible String

30

The soft morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. I woke slowly, the quiet hum of the house around me somehow comforting. The night had been long, filled with a jumble of thoughts and emotions, but now the new day felt like a fresh start.

I sat up, careful not to disturb the warmth of the blanket, and glanced over to where Austin was still asleep on the couch. His breathing was steady, peaceful-a rare calm I hoped he could hold onto. The past weeks had been hard on him, but seeing him here, in this safe space we'd created together, made my heart ache with hope.

Quietly, I moved to the kitchen to start breakfast. The smell of toasted bread soon filled the air, and I smiled softly, imagining the simple comfort of grilled cheese sandwiches spread out on the living room floor, everyone gathered around watching Titanic like we had joked about the night before.

When Austin finally stirred, rubbing sleep from his eyes, I caught his gaze and gave him a small nod. No words were necessary-we both knew this journey wasn't over, but for now, we had this moment. A moment to breathe, to heal, and to keep trying.

I couldn't sleep. The worries swirling in my mind kept me restless, so I slipped out of bed and made my way to the kitchen. The quiet of the house was comforting, and the soft morning light made everything feel a little gentler.

I leaned against the counter and stretched, letting out a big yawn, one hand covering my mouth. Just then, I caught movement out of the corner of my eye-Travis was standing there, barefoot, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"Morning," he said softly, that familiar roughness in his voice.

"Morning," I replied, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd start breakfast."

He stepped closer, wrapping his arm around my waist, pulling me gently against him. I leaned into him without hesitation, craving the warmth and steady presence he always gave me.

"You're up early," he said.

"Yeah," I admitted. "Guess I'm just anxious about today."

He squeezed my shoulder reassuringly. "We'll get through it. Together."

And in that quiet kitchen, wrapped up in him, I felt the knot in my chest loosen just a little. Whatever happened next, we weren't facing it alone.

---

I looked up at him and gave a small, tired smile. "It's just my anxiety doing its thing for no reason, like usual. But I'll be fine."

Travis shook his head gently, not convinced. "You don't have to push through it alone, Taylor. I know how hard this stuff can hit you. I'll take the kids for most of the day. You need the space to breathe."

His words settled over me like a warm blanket. I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded. "Thank you. That means a lot."

He pulled me into a soft hug, and for the first time in a while, I let myself lean into that support.

---

I sank onto the couch, still feeling that ache in my chest I couldn't quite place. Travis was in the living room with the kids, laughing and making funny faces, effortlessly pulling them into a game that had them all giggling. The way his eyes lit up when he connected with each of them made my heart twist in a mix of love and something I couldn't name.

I watched from the couch, trying to focus on the sound of their laughter, letting it wash over me. But the ache stayed-a quiet, restless feeling deep inside that wouldn't go away. I took a deep breath and tried to steady myself, telling myself it was just nerves, or the weight of everything we'd been through.