between the pauses -- w/ @twosixsixtwofivefive
there was a rhythm to the in-between hours. not quiet, not loud—just that low hum of things still happening behind closed doors. the kind of sound that only existed when the day wasn’t quite done but everyone was pretending it was.
eunhee found herself in the hallway outside the stylists’ prep area, where the light buzzed overhead and someone had abandoned a half-folded rack of stage jackets. she wasn’t avoiding anything, exactly—but she hadn’t wanted to be at her desk, either. her phone was in one hand, the lock screen lighting up every few minutes with a new email. her other hand was curled around a paper cup of coffee that had stopped being hot a long time ago.
beside her, resting on the bench, was a small pouch of dried fruit and a wrapped granola bar. not something she bought for herself. just something she picked up—because habits formed fast when you spent years watching people forget how to take care of themselves.
she didn’t look up right away when the footsteps came. not because she didn’t know who it was—she did. the pace was familiar. steady, quiet, carrying more weight than it should.
“you know,” she said, setting the snack down beside her on the bench, “you don’t always have to be the one holding everyone else up.”
the words weren’t sharp. just matter-of-fact. like she was stating something as obvious as the weather.
“it’s not a failing. taking a break.”
she leaned back slightly, careful not to crowd the space. her tone stayed even, calm. the kind of tone she saved for when someone didn’t want to talk—but maybe needed to know they were seen anyway.
“you can sit if you want. or don’t. i won’t ask for a rundown. just figured—if anyone needed five minutes where no one expected anything from them... it might be you.”
she finally glanced over. her expression didn’t ask for anything. it just said: i see you.
“and don’t worry,” she added, just barely smiling, but teasing in the loving kind of way she was known for, “your reputation’s safe. no one has to know.”
