The hours passed, and Courtney couldn’t stop thinking about Daniel. She knew he was trying his best to keep it together, but she also knew how hard it was for him to let go of his worries. Anxiety wasn’t something that could be easily dismissed or ignored—it clung to him, whispering doubts and fears that weighed heavy on his heart.

When Daniel finally called that evening, his voice was tired but warm. They talked about their day, the little things that had happened, and Courtney could feel some of the tension in his voice start to ease. She listened as he vented about work and the endless to-do lists that seemed to pile up no matter how much he crossed off.

“I’m sorry I’ve been like this,” Daniel said softly, his voice laced with frustration. “I just… I hate feeling like I’m dragging you down with me.”

“You’re not dragging me down,” Courtney replied, her voice gentle but firm. “We’re in this together, remember? You mean more to me than anyone in this world, and I don’t want to lose you. I love you, and I’m here for all of it—the good days, the bad days, everything in between. I just want us to focus on loving each other and getting through this, hand in hand.”

There was a pause on the other end of the line, and Courtney could hear Daniel’s breath hitch, the soft sound of a sigh escaping his lips. “I don’t know what I’d do without you,” he admitted. “You’re my everything.”

“And you’re mine,” Courtney said, her voice filled with quiet conviction. “I’m not going anywhere. We’ll get through this, I promise.”

They stayed on the phone for a little while longer, their conversation meandering through lighter topics, and Courtney felt a glimmer of hope. She knew that things wouldn’t magically get better overnight, but she also knew that they had each other, and that was enough to keep her going.

Before they hung up, she sent him one final message for the night: I need you to know that you mean more to me than anyone in this world, and I am completely in love with you. You’re the only person I want, and I don’t want anyone else. I care about you so much, and the last thing I want is for us to fight or go through this pain. We’re stronger together, and I’m committed to making things work because you mean everything to me. I don’t want to lose you. Let’s focus on loving each other and getting through this, hand in hand. I’m here for you, always and forever.