DON’T LEAVE
Description: After a brutal argument between Juju and Rian, they go to separate rooms until a nightmare sends Rian spiraling in the middle of the night, forcing her to find her way back to Juju for comfort they both didn’t realize they needed.
It starts too loud.
Too fast.
Too sharp.
“I’m not doing this with you right now, Rian.”
“Oh so you just shut down and leave like always?”
Juju stops walking.
Slowly turns back.
“…what?”
Rian’s breathing is already uneven.
“I said what I said.”
Juju laughs once, but there’s no humor in it.
“You don’t even hear yourself right now.”
“Oh my GOD, Juju—”
“No, seriously,” Juju interrupts, voice colder now. “You always do this thing where you act like I don’t care just because I’m not reacting how you want me to.”
Rian’s eyes go glossy instantly.
“That’s not what I said.”
“It is what you meant.”
Silence.
Heavy.
Rian shakes her head.
“You don’t get it.”
Juju steps closer slightly.
“Then explain it.”
Rian tries—but her voice breaks halfway through.
“I just feel like I’m always—always the one chasing you emotionally and you don’t—”
Juju cuts her off again, frustrated now.
“I’m RIGHT HERE, Rian!”
Rian flinches.
That’s the moment everything goes wrong.
Because now it’s not just words.
It’s hurt.
Rian whispers:
“…you don’t even love me like that.”
Juju freezes.
Completely still.
“…what did you just say?”
Rian regrets it instantly.
But it’s too late.
Juju shakes her head slowly.
“No. Don’t do that.”
Rian’s voice cracks.
“I didn’t mean—”
Juju steps back like she got hit.
“You don’t get to say that.”
“I was upset, I didn’t mean it—”
Juju laughs bitterly.
“You always mean it when you’re upset.”
That lands.
Hard.
Rian goes silent.
Juju grabs her hoodie from the chair.
“I’m done talking.”
And walks out.
Door shuts.
Final.
Rian sits on her bed later staring at the wall.
Everything feels too quiet.
Too big.
Too wrong.
She tries to sleep.
Can’t.
Every time she closes her eyes—it replays.
“I don’t love you like that.”
Juju’s face.
The silence after.
Her chest tightens.
She turns over.
Breathing uneven now.
Then—
A nightmare.
Not even specific.
Just loss.
Distance.
Juju leaving and not coming back.
Rian jolts awake.
Gasps.
Her heart is pounding so hard it hurts.
“Juju—”
She grabs her phone immediately.
Calls.
Once.
No answer.
Again.
No answer.
Her hands start shaking.
“Please…”
Voicemail.
She can’t breathe properly now.
She gets up immediately.
Bare feet on cold floor.
And walks.
Down the hall.
To Juju’s room.
She hesitates at the door.
Then knocks.
Nothing.
So she opens it slowly.
Juju is in bed.
Back turned.
Still.
Rian whispers:
“…Juju.”
No response.
Rian’s voice breaks instantly.
“Please don’t hate me.”
That gets her.
Juju turns over slowly.
Sees her.
And everything in her face shifts.
“…Rian?”
Rian is already crying now.
“I had a nightmare and I— I tried calling you and you didn’t answer and I thought— I thought you left me for real—”
Juju sits up immediately.
All anger gone.
Gone.
“Hey. Hey—come here.”
Rian doesn’t even hesitate.
She climbs into bed.
Right into Juju’s arms.
Juju pulls her in instantly.
Tight.
Protective.
“I’ve got you,” she whispers.
Rian is shaking.
“I didn’t mean it,” she repeats. “I didn’t mean what I said earlier.”
Juju closes her eyes for a second.
“…I know.”
Rian looks up at her.
“You do?”
Juju nods slowly.
“I was hurt. That’s all.”
Rian sniffles.
“…I thought you were… gone.”
Juju softens completely.
“I’m right here.”
Rian clings tighter.
Juju strokes her hair slowly.
“You’re shaking,” she murmurs.
Rian whispers:
“I hate fighting with you.”
Juju exhales.
“…me too.”
Silence.
Then softer:
“I shouldn’t have walked away like that.”
Rian shakes her head quickly.
“No, I shouldn’t have said that thing—”
Juju gently cups her face.
“Hey.”
Rian stops.
Juju looks at her for a second.
Then:
“I don’t ever want you thinking I don’t love you.”
Rian’s eyes fill again.
Juju wipes her tears gently.
“Okay?”
Rian nods.
“…okay.”
A pause.
Then Juju leans in and kisses her forehead.
Soft.
Lingering.
Then another.
Rian closes her eyes instantly.
Juju whispers:
“You can always come to me. Even when we’re mad.”
Rian nods against her.
“…I didn’t want to be alone.”
Juju tightens her hold.
“You’re not.”
Rian finally relaxes fully into her chest.
Juju keeps holding her.
Rubbing slow circles into her back.
“No more leaving the room angry,” she murmurs.
Rian gives a tiny, tired laugh.
“…okay.”
Juju smiles slightly.
“And no more saying I don’t love you.”
Rian whispers:
“…never again.”
Juju kisses her hair one more time.
“Good.”
And they just stay like that.
No more shouting.
No more distance.
Just quiet breathing.
And holding on tighter this time.