COME BACK
Description: After a brutal argument, Paige storms out of the apartment to cool off, leaving Azzi alone with thoughts that spiral too far, too fast.
The argument starts in the kitchen.
Late.
Too late for either of them to still be awake.
The apartment is dim except for the over-the-stove light casting yellow across the counters.
Azzi is standing near the sink with her arms crossed tightly over herself.
Paige is pacing.
Already frustrated.
“You keep shutting me out,” Paige says sharply.
“I’m not shutting you out.”
“You literally haven’t talked to me all night.”
Azzi laughs once, weakly.
“Because every time I talk lately it turns into this.”
Paige stops pacing.
“…into what?”
Azzi gestures vaguely between them.
“This.”
The silence after that is sharp.
Paige rubs her forehead.
“I’m trying, Az.”
“So am I.”
“Then why does it feel like I’m doing this alone?”
The second the words leave Paige’s mouth, she regrets them.
Azzi’s face drops immediately.
Like she got slapped.
Paige notices instantly.
“…Azzi.”
But Azzi steps back already.
“No, it’s fine.”
“It’s not what I meant.”
“You don’t have to explain it.”
Paige exhales hard.
“I just need space right now.”
That word.
Space.
Azzi visibly folds into herself hearing it.
But Paige is too frustrated to fully notice.
She grabs her hoodie from the couch.
“I’m gonna drive around for a little.”
Azzi nods too fast.
“Okay.”
Too calm.
Too quick.
Paige hesitates slightly at the door.
“…Az.”
But Azzi won’t look at her anymore.
So Paige leaves.
The door shuts.
And the apartment goes painfully quiet.
At first Azzi just stands there.
Still.
Arms wrapped around herself tightly.
Then her breathing changes.
Too fast.
Too uneven.
“No no no…”
She walks toward the couch but her legs feel weak suddenly.
Her chest hurts.
Everything hurts.
Because all she hears now is:
“I’m doing this alone.”
Space.
Space.
SPACE.
Azzi sits down hard on the floor beside the couch.
Hands shaking violently now.
She tries breathing slower.
Can’t.
The apartment suddenly feels too big.
Too empty.
Too cold.
And before she realizes it—
she’s crying.
Hard.
Trying to stay quiet even though nobody’s there.
Her vision blurs.
Her chest tightens painfully.
“I can’t breathe…”
Meanwhile—
Paige is already regretting leaving.
Five minutes into the drive.
Then ten.
Then fifteen.
Because deep down she knows.
Azzi got too quiet.
And quiet is never good.
So Paige turns around.
Fast.
By the time she gets home, she’s practically jogging to the apartment door.
“Azzi?”
No response.
Paige’s stomach drops instantly.
She walks in fast.
And finds Azzi on the floor beside the couch curled into herself crying so hard she can barely breathe.
“Azzi—”
Paige is beside her immediately.
“Oh my God, baby—hey, hey.”
Azzi flinches slightly hearing her voice.
Then grabs onto Paige instantly.
Like she’s drowning.
“I’m sorry,” Azzi sobs. “I’m sorry—I’m trying—I swear I’m trying—”
Paige’s heart breaks immediately.
“No no no, hey—don’t apologize.”
She pulls Azzi fully into her lap on the floor.
One hand holding the back of her head.
The other rubbing firmly against her back.
“Breathe for me.”
Azzi shakes violently.
“I thought you were leaving.”
Paige freezes.
Completely.
“…what?”
Azzi cries harder.
“I thought you were done with me.”
Paige immediately cups her face carefully.
“Azzi. Look at me.”
It takes a second.
But Azzi finally does.
Paige’s eyes are already glossy too.
“I am not going anywhere.”
Azzi’s breathing stutters.
“I was mad,” Paige whispers. “But I should’ve never left like that.”
Azzi shakes her head weakly.
“You needed space—”
“I needed to calm down,” Paige corrects softly. “Not leave you hurting alone.”
Azzi starts crying again.
Paige wipes her tears carefully with both thumbs.
“YOU are not hard to love.”
That breaks Azzi completely.
Paige pulls her against her chest again immediately.
“I’ve got you,” she whispers over and over.
And this time—
she stays.
