The Night We Almost Walked Away

Eli was already halfway to his truck when Jason called after him.

“So that’s it?” Jason’s voice was sharp, cutting through the cold night air. “You’re really just gonna leave?”

Eli stopped but didn’t turn around. His shoulders were tight, hands curled into fists at his sides. “Man, I don’t know what else to do.”

Jason stepped closer, his pulse hammering. “You fight. That’s what you do.”

Eli let out a dry laugh. “Yeah? ‘Cause it sure don’t feel like you’ve been fighting for this.”

Jason flinched. That one landed.

Eli finally turned, his jaw clenched. “You pull away every time things get hard, and I just—” He dragged a hand through his hair. “I can’t keep being the only one holding this together.”

Jason exhaled hard, looking at the ground. He hated that Eli was right.

Eli shook his head. “Look, I know I’m not perfect. But I show up. I tell you when I’m struggling. And you—” He gestured vaguely, frustration tightening his voice. “You just bury it. Act like you’re fine even when you’re not. And somehow, I’m supposed to just know what’s going on with you?”

Jason’s chest burned. “It’s not that easy for me, alright?”

“Yeah? Well, it ain’t easy for me either.” Eli’s voice was rough now, strained. “You’re not the only one who’s been through some stuff, J.”

Jason looked up then, met Eli’s eyes—dark with hurt, with exhaustion.

And it hit him all at once.

This wasn’t just some petty argument. This wasn’t about one bad night or a stupid misunderstanding.

This was Eli saying, I can’t be the only one holding this line.

Jason swallowed hard. “You’re right.”

Eli blinked, caught off guard.

Jason stepped closer, voice quieter now. “You’re right, man. I don’t know how to do this. I don’t know how to let someone in when everything in me says I gotta handle it alone.” He shook his head. “But I don’t want to lose this. I don’t want to lose you.”

Eli just looked at him for a second, something unreadable in his face.

Jason hesitated, then reached out—gripped the back of Eli’s neck, firm, grounding. “Don’t go, man. I need you to stay.”

Eli’s breath hitched. For a second, Jason thought he might shove him off, might say it’s too late.

But then—Eli’s shoulders dropped. The tension bled out of him, and he let out a long, shaky breath.

“Alright,” he muttered. “Alright.”

Jason let go, stepping back, but the weight in his chest had lifted.

Eli gave him a tired smirk. “You really suck at talking about your feelings.”

Jason huffed a laugh, shaking his head. “Yeah, well… I’m working on it.”

Eli clapped him on the shoulder, lingering just a second longer than usual. “Good. ‘Cause I ain’t going anywhere.”

And that was that.

They walked back to the truck together, the cold night still pressing in.

But somehow, it didn’t feel so heavy anymore.