“ you don’t have to talk, we can just sit together. ”
Lena sat in her office, the late afternoon sun spilling in through the windows. The day had been filled with meetings, numbers, and decisions that left her feeling drained. Her fingers drummed absently on the smooth surface of the desk, her mind wandering. The door creaked open, but Lena didn't need to look up to know who it was. The air seemed to change whenever Kara entered a room, a subtle shift that Lena had come to recognize.
Kara stepped inside, her blue eyes soft. Lena's heart tightened at the sight. She tried to muster a smile, but it faltered. Before Lena could say anything, Kara crossed the room with quiet determination, her gaze never leaving Lena's face. She settled into the chair opposite Lena, her expression steady.
For a moment, they sat in silence, unspoken words hanging between them. Lena felt the pressure of Kara's presence as a warm, reassuring weight. It was comforting, but also disarming. Kara had a knack for making Lena feel raw in a way that was alien to her. She had spent her whole life building walls around herself, and Kara seemed to slip through them effortlessly.
Lena couldn't take the silence any longer. "I don't know if I can do this, Kara," her voice was barely above a whisper. "All of this—my family, the expectations, the constant need to prove I'm different. It's... exhausting."
Kara leaned forward, her hands clasped on her lap. Lena noticed a brief flicker of something in her eyes—pain? empathy? something she couldn't place. "You don’t have to talk, we can just sit together."
The simplicity of the offer caught Lena off guard. She had expected platitudes, reassurances, or perhaps even an attempt to delve into her feelings. But this... this was different. Kara's words weren't about fixing things; they were about being present. She offered nothing but silent support. Without demanding anything in return.
Lena felt a lump rise in her throat. She looked away, blinking rapidly to hold back the tears that threatened to spill. The room was quiet except for the soft hum of the city outside, and the gentle rhythm of their breathing. Lena let out a slow, shaky breath and nodded. It was more to herself than to Kara.
She felt a tentative warmth as Kara reached across the desk, her hand hovering just above Lena's. With a small, hesitant movement, Lena placed her hand over Kara's. The contact was electric, grounding Lena. All the noise in her head quieted, leaving only the steady beat of her heart and the reassuring presence of her friend. Her.... Something more.
They sat there, hands intertwined, the world outside slipping away. Sometimes, it was enough to just be. It was enough to share a space with someone who understood. She glanced up at Kara, who gave her a small, encouraging smile. Lena felt a flicker of something new and tender, a feeling she wasn't ready to name. If she were to name it, she would have to embrace it.
