26

Late afternoon.The sun had started sliding across the floorboards. The house was softer now — quieter. But the silence wasn't heavy.

Nick was lying on the floor with his phone on his chest.Matt was reading fan comments out loud every few minutes like dramatic monologues.Chris was sitting backwards in a dining chair for no reason.Colby was on the couch next to Sam — watching, not pushing.

And Sam?Sam was typing.

⸻

Colby (quietly): "You don't have to say everything. Just say something."

Sam: nods, barely whispering "I know."

He hovered for a second.Then started typing again.

⸻

📲 Message from Sam to Melinda:

"I saw it. The signature.I don't even know what to say.That was during a time where I didn't feel worth much of anything.You inked my name into your skin like it meant something good.You have no idea what that does to me."

"I didn't follow you expecting to find all this.But every time I watch you — whether you're explaining trauma or making cookies — I feel something settle.Like maybe there's still safe people in the world."

"Thank you for seeing me.Long before I saw myself."

"And for what it's worth...I see you too."

⸻

Nick: watching him reread it for the fourth time "That's it. That's the one."

Chris: "If she doesn't cry, I will."

Matt: softly, from the corner "That's not a message. That's a memory."

Colby: "Send it."

Sam hit send.

Then exhaled.Not dramatically.Just... finally.

⸻

No one spoke for a while.

And then, from the kitchen:

Chris: quietly "So... this is love, right?"

Nick: "No. This is more."

Matt: smiling faintly "This is what it feels like when someone earns you."

Colby: glancing at Sam "Yeah. And when you finally start to believe you deserve it."