" i’m right here. " / mike & jess .
jessica is alive. it doesn't feel real the first time he hears those words. matt found her down in the mines. words rumble in his ears over and over again, enough to make him feel faint. ‘ no, she can't be. i saw her — i was there. ’ they try to explain the situation, but it doesn't make sense. she's dead ! ( because if she isn't, then it means mike left her completely alone down there. it means he didn't try hard enough to save her. ) it suddenly feels like the night is catching up on him : the restless hours spent trying to survive, clinging to the idea of saving his friends and making it out alive. the horror of the things he had seen and done, images that were now burned into his brain forever. watching as jess was dragged through the snow, barely clothed and realizing he didn't make it in time to save her. but you did, didn’t you ? you just didn’t realize it in time.
they won’t let mike see her. not until the interviews are done ( something about wanting to have untempered recollections of what had happened, whatever the fuck that means. ) it must’ve been a couple of hours before they allow them to see each other, but it feels like centuries have gone by when an officer comes back to let him know. words blend together again, only caring about one thing : i’m going to see jess. throat starts closing up before he can even begin to think about something to say. ( i’m sorry i didn’t try harder. i’m sorry i wasn’t fast enough. i don’t want to lose you. i love you. ) who cares if it’s too early to say it ? it’s true. and he hates that it would’ve taken him way too long to realize it if it wasn’t for this goddamned experience. that it took him losing two of fingers and jess nearly dying for him to come to the realization — but he loves her.
desperate hugs and relieved cries happen in slow motion as mike watches jess. physical appearance doesn’t register at first glance ( being honest, the deplorable state he’s currently in isn’t one of his best looks either. ) but she looks as beautiful as ever, and alive, and somehow that’s all that seems to matter. time speeds once they find their way to each other, and mike knows he’s saying something, words pronounced as he presses his lips to the crown of her head, but mind isn’t able to register what exactly is coming out of his mouth. he’s trying to be gentle, doesn’t know the extent of her injuries yet, but he can’t help it when right hand presses against her cheeks, caressing the side of her face. ‘ you’re here. ’ what if this is all a dream ? maybe mike died before the cabin was consumed by flames. but then she’s speaking, she’s telling him she’s right here and mike decides that if he died, then this must be heaven.
happiness is short-lived. after everything they’ve been through, he really should’ve guessed a moment like this wouldn’t last long. mike is never taking another minute of time with jessica for granted. every single second together is to be cherished from now on. it’s a promise and a silent prayer to whoever will listen as she collapses against him, her body going limp in his arms. there’s not much to do but to call for help, and watch as the people around take her from him. dread and fear are acquaintances by that point, and he’s helpless as jess is taken away from him once again. but repeating the same mistakes is not an option. i’m not leaving her side, that’s the only thing on his mind as he launches forward, refusing to leave her. not again. ( @lavnders. )
