019 | hector im scared

The evening had taken a quiet turn. The apartment was dim, only the soft glow of the streetlights outside casting faint shadows on the walls. Gianna had spent the day in rest, her crutches left aside as she navigated her apartment at a slow pace. Hector had been with her for most of the day, offering comfort and quiet conversation while she adjusted to being stuck at home.

The hours passed slowly, but Gianna had found solace in his presence. Her usual energetic self had been dulled by the constant reminder of her injury, but Hector, as always, was patient.

But now, something felt different. The weight of the evening settled on her, and it wasn't just the quiet of the night that felt off. It was the way her heart kept racing, the unease creeping up her spine in a way that was hard to ignore.

Sitting on the couch, Gianna hugged a cushion close to her chest, her fingers clenching around the fabric as if it could ground her. She had always been tough, resilient even in the face of injury, but tonight something felt wrong. Her mind, usually calm and composed, was now clouded with a deep sense of dread. She wasn't sure where it came from, but it was heavy, almost suffocating.

Hector was sitting beside her, his attention momentarily on his phone as he scrolled through something. He didn't notice right away, but Gianna's sudden stillness was enough to grab his attention. He glanced over at her, noticing the way she was holding the cushion tightly, her face pale in the soft light.

"Gianna?" Hector's voice was soft, but it carried the weight of concern. "You okay?"

Gianna didn't respond immediately, her eyes fixed on the floor. The silence in the room seemed to stretch, every second ticking by like a slow, unbearable drag. She wanted to say something, to reassure him that it was nothing, that she was fine, but the words wouldn't come. The pressure in her chest built up, suffocating her, and it took everything she had not to break down completely.

"Hector..." she finally whispered, her voice tremulous, almost shaky. "I'm scared."

Hector's heart dropped at her words. She rarely admitted when she was afraid. Gianna was strong-too strong, sometimes. She didn't need anyone, or so she always said. But in that one simple sentence, Hector understood more than he could ever say. The fear that was gripping her was not just about the injury. It was more than that. It was the sense of being out of control, of not knowing what was next, and of facing something that left her feeling vulnerable in a way she wasn't used to.

He turned to face her fully, his expression serious now, every ounce of his attention focused on her. "What's going on, Gigi?" he asked, his voice soft but firm, trying to reach her through the haze of her anxiety.

Gianna's eyes lifted to meet his, and she could see the worry written on his face. But even that wasn't enough to quell the storm inside her. She swallowed hard, her throat tight. "I don't know," she confessed, her hands trembling as she pulled the cushion tighter against her chest. "I just... I don't know what's happening to me. It's like everything is spiraling and I can't control it."

Hector took in a breath, his brow furrowing. He could feel the tension in her words, the way her hands shook, how her body was physically trying to keep it together but was on the verge of breaking.

"Hey, hey," Hector said softly, his hand gently reaching out to place itself on hers, a silent offer of comfort. He rubbed her knuckles lightly, trying to ground her in the moment. "You're not alone in this, okay? I'm right here. Whatever it is, we're going to figure it out. I promise."

Gianna closed her eyes for a moment, the warmth of his touch sending a faint sense of relief through her, though it didn't completely dissipate the anxiety that still churned within her. She shook her head slightly, as if to clear away the fog in her mind. "It's like... the more I try to control it, the worse it gets," she murmured, the words barely audible.

Hector's eyes softened, his grip on her hand tightening just enough to let her know he was there, that she wasn't alone. "You don't have to control everything, Gianna. It's okay to feel scared, it's okay to be uncertain. You don't have to hold it all together by yourself."

Gianna took a shuddering breath, her shoulders tensing as she fought back the tears that threatened to spill. "I hate this feeling," she whispered, barely able to speak through the lump in her throat. "I hate feeling weak. I hate feeling like... I can't handle it."

Hector's heart ached for her. He could see it in her eyes-the frustration, the desperation, the unwillingness to admit that she wasn't as invincible as she made herself out to be. The strong, confident Gianna Guiu was still just a person, someone who struggled, someone who needed help sometimes.

"You're not weak, Gigi," Hector said firmly, his voice low and soothing. "You're one of the strongest people I know. But you don't have to carry this all by yourself. It's okay to ask for help. It's okay to need someone."

She didn't say anything at first, only took another shaky breath. She wanted to fight him, to deny it, but the weight of his words began to sink in. She wasn't alone.

"Promise me you'll stay with me?" she asked, her voice small, almost fragile. "I don't want to be alone tonight, Hector."

Without hesitation, Hector nodded. "Of course. I'm not going anywhere. I'm right here."

Gianna exhaled slowly, her body still tense but her heartbeat beginning to slow in the safety of Hector's calm presence. She let her head fall back against the couch, staring up at the ceiling as she tried to steady her breath. For a moment, it felt like the world outside had disappeared, leaving only her and Hector in the quiet stillness.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice small but genuine. "I just... I didn't know who else to turn to."

"You don't have to turn to anyone else," Hector replied quietly, his hand still gently resting on hers. "I've got you. Always."

Gianna nodded slowly, the weight in her chest lightening just a little. The anxiety didn't vanish, not entirely, but for the first time that night, she felt like she could breathe again. She wasn't facing this alone.

And with Hector there, she knew she could find the strength to take one more step forward.