Chapter 17: A Fragile Solace

As the night wore on, Darry's hold on me never wavered, his arms a steady presence that anchored me to reality. I felt my eyelids growing heavy, the weight of my grief slowly giving way to exhaustion. Darry seemed to sense it, his chest rising and falling with a gentle sigh as he pulled me closer. I don't know how long I slept, but I was vaguely aware of Darry's movements, his gentle shifts as he settled in for the night. His warmth seeped into my bones, and I felt a sense of security wash over me. For the first time in days, I felt like I could let my guard down, like I didn't have to be strong. When I woke, the room was dark, the only light coming from a sliver of moon peeking through the curtains. Darry was still holding me, his arms wrapped tightly around me. I could feel his heartbeat, steady and strong, and I knew that he was still awake. "Hey," he whispered, his voice low and gentle. I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. Darry's hold on me tightened, and I felt a surge of love and gratitude towards him. We lay there in silence for a long time, the only sound the creaking of the old house and the distant hum of crickets. It was a peaceful silence, one that felt like a balm to my soul. Finally, Darry spoke up, his voice barely above a whisper. "I've been thinking," he said, his words hesitant. I looked up at him, my eyes adjusting to the darkness. "About what?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. Darry's eyes searched mine, his expression uncertain. "About what happened with Dally," he said, his voice cracking. "About how it all went down." I felt a pang of sadness, and Darry's hold on me tightened. "It's not your fault, Darry," I said, my voice firm. Darry's eyes dropped, his gaze fixed on some point beyond me. "I keep thinking about it," he said, his voice barely audible. "About how I wasn't there, about how I couldn't protect him." I felt a surge of anger on his behalf, but I pushed it down, focusing on the present moment. "Darry, you can't blame yourself for what happened," I said, my voice gentle. "Dally made his choices, and we can't change the past." Darry's eyes met mine, his gaze searching. "But what if I could have done something?" he asked, his voice laced with doubt. I took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. "Darry, you did everything you could," I said, my voice firm. "You were there for Dally, always. And I'm here for you, now." Darry's face crumpled, and he pulled me into a tight hug. I held him, letting him know that I was there, that I cared. As we held each other, I knew that we would get through this, together.