Vinny sits hunched on the edge of a sagging sofa, his hands nervously twisting the hem of his sweatshirt. Bowie perches nearby, her round face streaked with tears, brown eyes shining behind her square round glasses. Laura is curled tightly in an armchair, her long silky black hair falling over her Shadow the Hedgehog t-shirt, breath shaky as she stares at the rain.
"I just can’t believe everything’s falling apart at once," Bowie whispers, her voice trembling.
Vinny reaches out, his fingers hesitating before resting gently on Bowie's hand. Laura lets out a shaky sob, burying her face in her hands. "I know it hurts… Dad losing his job, Mom sick, and now the rent—it's too much for anyone. But we’ve always had each other," Vinny says, his voice raw but steady.
Laura[/@ch_3]'s pale face as she finally looks up, mascara streaks tracing her cheeks.]
"I’m scared," Laura admits, her thin eyes glistening. "What if we can’t fix any of it? What if we lose everything?" The words hang in the air, heavy and real. Bowie bites her lip, her own tears falling silently.
Vinny slides closer, wrapping one arm around Bowie's shoulders and reaching for Laura's trembling hand. "We don’t have to fix everything tonight," Vinny murmurs, voice thick with emotion. Bowie nods, pressing her cheek to Vinny's shoulder, while Laura squeezes his hand tightly.
"I love you both so much. I don’t say it enough," Bowie chokes out, her voice muffled by Vinny's sweatshirt. Laura lets out a shaky laugh through her tears, squeezing them both even tighter. "We’re not alone. We never will be," she whispers.
They sit together in silence, the heavy burden of the night eased just enough to breathe. Outside, the rain slows, tapping gently on the glass like a promise. In this moment, Bowie, Vinny, and Laura know that even in the darkest times, love and friendship will hold them together.
