Page 54 of Soaring and Steadfast

A sharp inhale. Then, a sound—half laughter, half something broken—that made her chest ache.

“Oh, gosh,” he breathed.

And then he shattered.

“Louis?”

“He nearly drowned,” Louis wept. “I saw it all. They were able to save him, but Ohio’s not the same. He’s broken and… and they removed him from the ship because he wouldn’t stop screaming.”

Her stomach twisted.

“Oh my gosh…” Horror clawed up her throat. The weight of what he had witnessed—what he was carrying—was suffocating. Her sweet and gentle man was struggling right now, having witnessed something so tragic, threatening his soul.

“Louis?” Her voice was urgent now. “Louis, listen to me.”

“It was so bad…” His breath came fast, uneven.

“Louis,” she said firmly, forcing strength into her voice even as her heart pounded. “I need you to breathe. Right now. Deep, slow. You have to hold on. I’ve done this after a tragedy – you can too. Breathe with me.”

A shaky inhale.

“We’re pulling in tomorrow.” His voice was quieter now. “Can I fly out and see you?”

She didn’t hesitate. “I’ll be there when the ship pulls in.”

A beat of silence.

“You don’t mind flying here?” he asked, disbelief laced in his voice.

“Nothing could keep me from being at your side,” she said, meaning every word. She had so much to show him—the apartment, the tiny pieces of their future falling into place—but right now, all that mattered was getting to him.

“I’m on the flight deck,” he murmured. “Trying to get some air, some sun. I hate seeing his empty rack beside mine.” His voice caught. “But I’m okay.”

“Are you sure?”

A pause. Then, “Yeah. I just hit a weak spot. It all feels overwhelming. But when I let it out, I feel like I can get through it. Until another weak moment comes.”

Her chest ached.

“How’s the rest of the guys?”

“A mess,” Louis admitted. “Trophy called his mom crying. He’s ashamed to cry in front of Stephanie, but we’re all wrecked. Shellac’s taking anxiety meds. Orion’s on the other side of the deck talking to Cherry on the phone and Moonbeam… Moonbeam is in the brig right now.”

“What?”

“He jumped off the flight deck after Ohio. Nearly got himself killed.”

The silence between them was thick, suffocating. Then she heard it—the small, broken hitch in his breath.

“Breathe,” she urged again, softer now, gentler. “Just one more day, Louis. I’ll be there to hold you.”

“I can’t wait,” he whispered.

She closed her eyes.

“Me either,” she admitted openly, treasuring the gentleness of his voice. “Now, get some rest and try to think of me instead of replaying that nightmare in your head.”

Then, a quiet chuckle. “You’re distracting me, you know.”

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