𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐒 𝐆𝐔𝐍𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐄!

“I’m sure she does. Everything that happened to you isn’t your fault, Alan……” she furrowed her eyebrows as she watched him sadly. The pain in his eyes was too intense.

“You have to do better….. If not for you, for her. Okay?” She gently patted his arm.

Her smile completely dropped at hearing him say that. He was hurting…. She knew that. “Alan…. I know you miss her. And I get it…. But.. Alice isn’t around anymore….. She wouldn’t want you to blame what happened on yourself.. She’d want you to heal from this…..”

had that look on his face. He was probably thinking about Alice…. She couldn’t blame him.

“……. Alan.” Amanda would pat his shoulder as she watched him. It was like she knew when he was beginning to squirm. She could tell.

“….. You’re better on the other side. Here with the rest of us.” She believed that. More than anything. He was beginning to give short answers. And he

+

She furrows her eyebrows was the continue to talk. “I’m so glad you’re out of there….. but holy shit…..”

“Oh! Duh. You were in. That place for gos knows how long…..” ehe is tried about Alan. He was by himself for 13 years.

“Does that mean you’re not hungry?” Turning back, she watched him for a moment. Then she looked forward and opened the door.

“It’s day…… And it’s actually very nice outside. Give yourself some rest and enjoy the time outside.” Smiling, she stood up and headed toward the door.

“When did you last eat, darling?”

Sighing dramatically, Amanda let go of the chair. Walking around and sitting on his desk. “Alright, fine… Hurry with your papers…. you’re burning daylight.”

Bouncing her leg, she looked around the room curiously.

Amanda smiled at that as she looked back down at him. “You’re really engrossed in your work…… Can I read it?” She leans in so she could have a better view.

@brightfalls.bsky.social

Amanda gently slaps him on the top of his head. She could only do such a thing when he’s sitting down.

“Guess who?”

She smiles and raises her cup. “Bye-bye, Alan. Thanks for the coffee. I’ll let myself out.”

Amanda smiles as she leaves.

Amanda smiled and nodded at that. That sounded infinitely better than what she originally planned on doing.

“Alright. I’ll be back Imo…… Around 5 hours? How does that sound?”

Taking another slow sip from her coffee.

“Work has to stop anyways…….. eventually.”

She’s writing too. But her writing is a bit different compared to his. Paperwork…. She was buried in it.

“You’re going to kill your organs if you continue like this…”

She said rather flatly with a frown on her face. She didn’t like to see hun like this. And she didn’t want him to sink any further than he already is now.

“I guess we’ll have to hold each other accountable. No flaking out…”

+

Alan really was a trooper. Looking down at her cup, she savored the sol nice for a moment.

“Just don’t push yourself too hard…..”

“You still writing?”

She was a little shocked to hear that. But happy. He always put so much into his writing. And she understood how hard that was for him. Especially after everything he went through.

“Can’t wait to hear more about it. Maybe even read it.”

+

Taking another sip from her coffee, she nodded.

“You know. That would actually be nice. I can use a break…..”

She leaned against the counter and sighed.

“You want to do something tonight?”

“I think my job is gonna kill me…… I can’t step away….”

Amanda gave an understanding smile. He truly went through so much…. A lot of it she didn’t really understand herself. But she was slowly starting to wrap her head around it.

“Well….. that’s good at least….”

Taking a sip from her coffee, she frowned a little.

+

Amanda smiled at him as she took the cup from him. He knew just how she liked her coffee.

“Thanks Alan…… God you’re such a savior. This was just what I needed.”

She wanted to see how he was doing today. It was always nice to visit.

“Been keeping out of trouble?”