I am here for you
Sadie’s pov
My heart felt impossibly heavy as I boarded the plane to Justin’s hometown, a trip I hadn’t expected to take this soon. Our last conversation played over and over in my mind; he’d been his usual self then—warm, lively, and so full of humor. But today, he was different, painfully quiet, and the worry sat like a stone in my chest.
The three-hour flight felt longer than ever, with Justin barely saying a word. He seemed lost in a world of his own, his eyes fixed on some far-off point beyond the window. He didn’t touch the meal in front of him, something unusual for him, given how he always enjoyed even the smallest comforts on flights. I tried drawing him out a few times, gently asking about his interview, wondering if something had gone wrong. But all I got were polite nods and a faint, unconvincing smile.
As we approached his hometown, I offered to come with him to his house, thinking that maybe my presence could ease whatever was weighing him down. But he gently declined, saying he needed some time alone to settle his thoughts. I felt helpless as he squeezed my hand briefly before walking away, shoulders slumped. I watched him disappear into the car he’d hired, my heart aching at the sight. He’d put up a wall, and for the first time, I didn’t know how to break through it.
Later that afternoon, the unease in my chest only grew. I couldn’t sit with the silence any longer, so I decided to call Daisy, Justin’s daughter. Maybe she’d managed to get through to him where I couldn’t. I held my breath as the phone rang, praying for some reassuring news.
Daisy answered on the second ring, and the concern in her voice was unmistakable. “Hi, Sadie. How’s your day?”
I tried to keep my tone light, not wanting to alarm her just yet. “Hey, sweetheart. I just wanted to check in and see how everything’s going over there. Your dad was supposed to get home by now—has he?”
The line went quiet for a moment, and I could feel her hesitation. “He’s been home for a few hours,” Daisy said, her voice wavering. “But he… he’s not himself, Sadie. He barely even said a word to me when he got in. He just walked past me and locked himself in his room. He didn’t want anything to eat, either.”
My heart clenched, the worry I’d felt earlier intensifying. Justin adored Daisy; he lived for her warm welcome whenever he came home. Ignoring her like that—it wasn’t him.
“He hasn’t eaten?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. “Did you ask him what was wrong?”
Daisy let out a frustrated sigh, the sadness in her voice breaking my heart. “I tried, but he barely looked at me. He just said he wanted to be left alone. And… he’s been drinking in there,” she added, voice trembling. “I don’t know what to do, Sadie. I’m scared something’s really wrong.”
Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to stay calm for her sake. “Daisy, listen to me,” I said softly. “I know this must be hard for you, seeing him like this. But don’t worry too much, okay? I’ll come over as soon as I can. We’ll work together to help him. He listens to me—maybe I can get him to open up.”
Daisy’s shaky breath on the other end made me feel both relieved and heartbroken. “Thank you, Sadie. I just… I don’t want something bad to happen to him. He’s all I have, you know?”
“I know, sweetheart. I’ll be there soon, and we’ll figure this out together.”
As I hung up, my mind whirled with worry. I remembered the distant look in Justin’s eyes, the hollowness in his expression, and I couldn’t help but feel like he was slipping away into some dark place I couldn’t see.
When I arrived at his house, Daisy was waiting at the door, her eyes red from holding back tears. I gave her a quick hug, doing my best to reassure her. Together, we made our way toward Justin’s room. I knocked gently, hoping he’d let me in. There was a pause before he finally opened the door, his face a mixture of surprise, gratitude, and something unreadable.
“Sadie…” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.
“Justin, please talk to me,” I said softly, resting a comforting hand on his arm. “Whatever’s going on, you don’t have to face it alone.”
He looked away, but I could feel the weight of his struggle. Slowly, he gestured for me to come in, and as we sat down together, I listened quietly, ready to support him in whatever way I could. I knew it would take time, but I was determined to help him find his way out of this darkness. After all these years, I wasn’t about to let him suffer in silence, not when I was here and willing to help him carry whatever burden had brought him to this place.
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