Droplets of water cascaded down the window pane, each droplet seeming to have a race with another. Her eyes were fixed on the white cross in the window as she tried to push down her feelings. Nothing could have prepared her for the waves of emotions that attacked her heart repeatedly.

“It’s like I was nothing to him.” Violet choked out through the uneasy breaths.

Tyler sat silently next to Violet as he did his best to keep her company. Everything in him ached to give her a hug but he didn’t want to push her over the edge, more than she already had been. Tyler simply nodded his head in some sort of understanding.

“Like how could he even do this to me?! I had been so good to him. I did everything right, made all the meals for him when he asked, treated him with respect and kindness… and this is what I get?!” Violet’s voice cracked as images danced around her head of her now ex-partner with another woman.

“I don’t know V, what I do know is that he is a horrible man and apparently a blind one at that,” Tyler huffed.

Earlier that day, William ended their year and a half relationship over a foolish reason. Violet couldn’t wrap her head around what she did wrong. William had told her that he wasn’t happy with her anymore and found her repulsing- that she didn’t have a model shaped body… whatever that meant. Shortly after her world crashed down, she called her best friend, Tyler. He had always been there for her regardless of the situation- always reliable.

“Thank you Ty… I just don’t understand…” Her defeated mutters were no more than a mere whisper as tears soon blended in with the beads of water on the window, each one racing to the finish line.

The young woman scooted towards Tyler and leaned her head on his shoulder. She just needed a hug or some type of physical touch to ground her. Her arms hung around Tyler’s waist, her mind clouded with emotions. He cracked a small smile and held her tight, finally knowing it had been okay to hold her.

Violet inhaled deeply, trying to calm her nerves and heart down. Earthy and musky scents greeted her nose and slowly her nerves began to unwind. Tyler hummed softly and rubbed small circles on her back, something he had done anytime she got upset.

“Hey… V?”

“Yea?”

“Can I be honest with you?”

A small nod had been the only response.

“It pains me to see you like this and I care about you deeply…. Nevermind today is not the day I need to say this. Are you sleepy?” Tyler sighed.

“Huh… oh sorta I guess. Today has been long,” Violet nuzzled his chest. This is where she felt the safest- in the arms of her best friend. Her fingers fumbled with the bottom of his shirt which helped to ground her to the intimate moment.

Tyler pulled her off of him and guided her back to her beige pillow. He pulled her white comforter over her body before he got up to turn off the bedside lights. Violet didn’t take her eyes off of him. A twinge of something pulled at her heart, almost as if to tell her something- only she was too exhausted to pay attention to it.

The moonlight luminated the room and casted shadows along the walls. Tyler sat on the edge of the bed next to Violet as he hummed a small tune to her. Her eyelids began to grow heavy with tiredness and fighting it had been very difficult.

“Don’t worry… I’m not going anywhere Violet, I’ll be right here when you wake up.” Tyler’s gentle voice trailed after her as she met the dreamscape waiting for her.