Page 94 of Shadows of Recovery

"I'll talk to Chris," he said gently. "We'll see what we can do to make it happen."

* * *

James and Tristansat on the porch of Tristan and Sophie’s home, staring out at the sunset, the colors of the sky blending into a soft, fading orange. Tristan held a glass of whiskey in his hand, but it barely moved as he sat lost in thought.

Tristan sighed deeply, his eyes still fixed on the horizon. “I just… I don’t know if Sophie’s ever going to heal. Will we ever have a normal life? Will we make love again? Will we get married, have children, live the life we dreamed of?” His voice trembled as he spoke, the words coming out with a mix of sadness and desperation. “I’m scared, James. I don’t know how much more either of us can take.”

James placed a comforting hand on his brother’s shoulder, trying to steady him. “You’re both going through hell right now. But Sophie’s strong, and so are you. Healing takes time, and so does finding your way back to each other.”

Tristan finally turned to look at his brother, his eyes glassy. “But what if it’s not enough? What if she never fully recovers? What if… What if we can’t get back to what we were?” He paused, his voice barely above a whisper. “What if we never have the future we planned?”

James tightened his grip on Tristan’s shoulder, offering him silent support. “Tristan, I’ve seen the way you look at her. I’ve seen how you fight for her every single day. Do you still love her?”

Tristan’s breath hitched, and he swallowed hard, his emotions threatening to spill over. He nodded slowly, the words catching in his throat before he could speak. “I don’t just love her, James. I’min lovewith her. I’m so in love with her, it hurts. It’s not just about loving someone—it’s about being completely, utterly consumed by it. And I don’t know how to live without her. I don’t want to.”

James looked at his brother, seeing the raw pain in his eyes. “Then that’s what matters, Tristan. You love her, and you’re in love with her. Whatever happens, whatever challenges come your way, you’ll face them together. You don’t have to have all the answers right now. But you do have love, and that’s a hell of a place to start.”

Tristan finally let the tears fall, his emotions spilling out as James pulled him into a hug. “I just want her to be okay,” he choked out, his voice breaking. “I want us to be okay.”

“You will be,” James murmured, holding him tightly. “Just keep loving her, and keep believing you’ll find your way through this together. You’re not alone in this.”

That evening, Tristan met with Chris. They discussed Sophie's progress and her heartfelt request to return home. Chris considered the situation carefully, knowing how crucial it was to balance her need for comfort with her ongoing recovery.

"She's made significant strides, Tristan," Chris said thoughtfully, leaning back in his chair. "But I believe she is still holding back."

Tristan shook his head in frustration. "She's made it through sessions without me. She's admitted to things I could never imagine. What else could she be hiding?"

Chris closed his eyes briefly, then opened them, meeting Tristan's gaze. "She's trying so hard to find her way home. Look, take her home. Let her choose if she wants to sleep beside you or not. I want you to have a nurse in the house with a med bag and sedation. And, Tristan, I want you to be emotionally prepared for a potential setback."

Tristan nodded, understanding the gravity of Chris's words. He knew this was a delicate step, and he had to be prepared for anything.

When Tristan returned to Sophie's room, she looked at him with a mixture of hope and anxiety. He sat beside her and took her hands in his. "Chris and I talked. We've decided that you can come home, Sophie. We'll have some supports in place to make sure you're safe and well."

Sophie's eyes filled with tears again, but this time they were tears of relief and joy. "Thank you, Tristan," she whispered. "Thank you so much."

* * *

Tristan and Sophiebegan the journey across the drive back to their home. He held her hand the entire way, his presence a constant reassurance.

When they arrived, he helped her into the house. She took a deep breath, the familiar sights and smells enveloping her like a warm embrace. Tears streamed down her face as she looked around, overwhelmed by the sense of being home.

"Welcome back, Sophie," Tristan said softly, his eyes filled with love.

"We're home." She turned to him, her heart swelling with gratitude. "I never thought I'd be back here.”

He pulled her into a gentle embrace, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "This is just the beginning.”

The atmosphere was both tense and hopeful. Tristan, Sophie, James, and Matt—the overnight nurse—sat together for dinner. The meal was simple but comforting, an attempt to create a sense of normalcy.

After dinner, Tristan and Sophie retreated to the porch, the same place he’d shared his fears with his brother. The night was quiet, the air cool and soothing. She turned to him, her eyes searching his face. "Can we go to bed?"

Tristan nodded. "Of course."

She hesitated before speaking again. "I want to sleep beside you."

He rubbed his chest and smiled. "Okay.”

As they settled into bed, she curled up next to him, feeling a sense of peace she hadn't felt in a long time. "I love you, Tristan," she whispered.

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