Where It Feels Safe
The ride to Angela’s apartment was quiet in a way that didn’t feel heavy.
Amanda watched the city roll past in a blur of streetlights and neon signs, her body sagging deeper into the passenger seat with every mile. She hadn’t realized how exhausted she was until now, how the adrenaline had kept her upright for days.
Angela didn’t push her to talk. She just let Amanda sit there, breathing, unraveling slowly at the seams.
When they pulled up in front of the familiar brownstone, Spork’s tiny face appeared in the window, his ears perking up as Angela parked the car.
Angela smiled faintly. "Looks like someone’s excited to see you."
Amanda managed a shaky laugh.
Inside, Spork launched himself at them the second the door opened, his little body vibrating with joy. Amanda crouched down immediately, letting him jump into her arms, his tongue lapping frantically at her chin.
"Hey, buddy," she whispered, scratching behind his ears.
Angela set her keys on the counter and kicked off her shoes. "Make yourself at home."
Amanda hovered awkwardly for a second before toeing off her shoes and following Angela into the living room.
The apartment was warm, the smell of lavender and clean laundry wrapping around her like a blanket. Books spilled from every surface, and a soft throw was draped over the back of the couch.
It felt... safe.
Angela grabbed a blanket and tossed it to Amanda, then flopped down onto the couch, patting the space beside her. "Come on."
Amanda settled in carefully, wrapping the blanket around herself. Spork immediately claimed the space at her feet, tail thumping against the cushions.
Angela clicked on the TV, flipping through mindless late-night shows until she landed on a baking competition full of terrible fondant disasters.
For a while, they didn’t speak.
Amanda let herself melt into the cushions, let her head loll against the back of the couch. She felt heavy, but not in the drowning way. In a way that said she could finally stop fighting for a minute.
Angela glanced over after a while, her voice soft. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Amanda shook her head, the motion barely more than a twitch.
"Okay," Angela said simply. No pressure. No disappointment.
Amanda blinked against the sudden sting in her eyes.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Angela bumped her shoulder gently. "Anytime."
The credits of the show rolled into another episode. Angela shifted closer, until their arms brushed under the blanket.
Amanda closed her eyes, breathing in the warmth of her, the comfort of her.
Tonight wasn’t about fixing anything.
It was just about not being alone.
And somehow, that was enough.