I declare there will be joy ✨

she’s asleep like she was waiting for him to come back home. or at least she had been.

her favorite blanket is tangled around he much shorter legs. and shes now wearing one of his hoodies— it hangs off her frame, sleeves swallowing her hands. the tv in the living room is still playing some movie she never got to finish.

he sighs, standing over her, and suddenly all at once the fight feels very small.

stupid.

he shouldn’t have said those words.

he shouldn’t have left.

her cheeks are still a little pink like she cried after. he decided to leave and gain some distance. he thought he was doing what was right.

it all just twists at something deep in his chest.

"fuck," he mutters.

he made her cry.

he did this.

quietly, he set his keys and the to-go cup down on the island before he crosses the room.

she doesn't stir when he kneels beside the couch. she's exhausted, he can tell because she pobably stayed awake longer than she meant to.

waiting for him even after everything that they said.

sammy brushes a strand of hair away from her face, the movement is gentle and he almost hesitates.

he whispers her name, "i'm sorry, babygirl.” he’s so quiet she doesn’t hear.

but maybe that's why he's brave enough to say them.

"i'm sorry." he coos.

his thumb strokes her cheek once.. twice and the familiar softness immediately grounds him as she shifts slightly under his touch.

a sleepy little frown appearing.

then, without opening her eyes, she leans toward his hand instinctively like she always does.

and sammy… he nearly loses it right there, because even angry, and hurt, and after a fight she's still reaching for him.

he closes his eyes eyes briefly before leaning down to press a kiss to her forehead which causes his lips to linger as he breaths in her faint vanilla scented perfume.

when he pulls back, his voice is rough. "let's get you to bed."

and before he can move, her small fingers catch the sleeve of his shirt. her eyes are open slowly, heavy with sleep and a little confused but of course she knows it’s him who is home.

"s-sammy?"

his heart cracks. “yeah, baby."

she swallows like she’s holding in tears, “you came back."

he nods quickly before pulling her into his arms.