Chapter 180:
Late Night Confessions
Megan’s POV
The minutes slid by with the ticking of the wall clock, every second throbbing in the quiet hum of the night. Megan lay in bed, working her brain through the day. The exhaustion from training seeped into the bones as the sleep was the furthest thing to come. She had lain in bed for hours, shaking her body about and reverting back to thoughts regarding her conversation with Chris and, more pointedly, an emotional weight that rested on her.
She finally gave up, reaching for her phone to scroll through to the messages that had come through. One of them was from Chris, and all it said was that he was awake and would like them to have a discussion. She immediately felt unsure if she was ready for another late-night argument.
Chris: Hey, Megan. You awake? I sat here thinking about our conversation this afternoon. Want to talk?
Megan took a second before answering. Megan: Yeah, what’s wrong?
Within moments, she felt the vibration of Chris’s response. Chris: May I call?
Megan answered without a second thought. Megan: Yeah, go ahead.
Right after, she was dialed. Megan picked up softly. “Hey, Chris.”
“Hey, Megan. Sorry to call so late,” Chris said, his voice laced with concern.
“It’s all right,” she replied. “I have been awake since. So, what’s up?
“I’ve been thinking about what you said earlier. You seemed pretty down,” Chris began. “I just wanted to check in and see how you’re holding up.”
Megan sighed. “Honestly, it’s hard. I mean, I’m trying to stay positive, but it feels like everything is piling on. All these doubts, pressure… it’s a lot.”
Chris’s voice was so soft: “I get it, Megan. It feels like you carry the weight of the world on your shoulders sometimes. You don’t have to do it all on your own.”
“I know,” Megan’s voice returned barely above a whisper, “it is just I feel no matter how hard I try, I am never good enough for anything. Like I’m gonna let people down with everything going on.”.
Chris hesitated a bit before he spoke. “You know, I have known my miseries and uncertainties, too. There were times that tempted me to give up this career of writing. It was too invisible and plain impossible to be motivated.”
Megan listened well, and the fact that Chris could understand her struggles relieved her. “What kept you going?”
“Honestly, it was some mixture between sheer bull-headedness and people who kept pushing me on their own. More than that, finding something deeper in me kept me going. I had to remind myself all the time why I started, what I wanted to achieve.”
Megan nodded, though Chris couldn’t see her. “I need to remember why I started too. It’s just, sometimes, the pressure and expectations get overwhelming.”
Chris continued to encourage him, saying, “It’s normal to feel like that. You are, however, much stronger than what you think, and you have so much more potential than what you have done already. It’s okay to fall down; just don’t let the falls define you.”
Megan laughed, but her laugh was tinged with sadness. “Thanks for the words, man. It’s hard to focus when you’re always second-guessing yourself.”
Chris’s voice was soft. “It’s okay to have doubts, Megan. What matters is what you do because of them. You’ve got a lot of people who believe in you, and inside you’ve got a lot of strengths. Sometimes it takes a little time to see it.”.
There was a pause on the line before Megan then took a deep breath. “Thanks for saying that. It really does mean so much to hear it from you when I’m this low.”
“I’m glad I could help,” said Chris in a warm, gentle tone. “And you don’t have to do it alone, remember. I am there if you need a person to support you or just to listen to you.”
A wash of gratitude went through Megan. “I really appreciate that, Chris. It is nice to know that there is somebody there for me, especially when things are tough.”
Chris’s voice was completely sincere. “Of course, and if you ever just want to talk or sometimes need some kind of diversion, call on me. I am here for you always.”
Megan smiled softly, comforted now in the middle of the night. “Thanks. It helps to know that I am not running mad.”
There was another silence, then Chris spoke again. “You know, it’s not just about external pressures. It is finding peace within yourself. Sometimes, that is the hardest part.”
Megan nodded, even though Chris couldn’t see her. “Yeah, finding that inner peace definitely is a challenge. I’m working on it, but it’s a process.”
Chris’s voice was reassuring. “It is a process, and it’s okay to take it one step at a time. You’re making progress, even if it doesn’t always feel that way. Just keep moving forward, and trust that things are gonna get better.”.
This thought lightened Megan’s heart, for she had listened to what Chris had said earlier: “I shall remember that. It is so easy to get caught up in the moment and to forget the bigger picture.”
Chris chuckled softly. “We all do. It’s part of being human. But as long as you keep going, stay true to yourself, you will find your way.”
An icy coolness washed over Megan. “You’re right. I just have to keep focusing on the journey, not just the obstacles.”
Chris’s voice was warm, encouraging. “Exactly. And if you ever want to talk, you know where to find me. We’re in this together.”
“Thanks, Chris,” Megan said, her voice full of gratitude. “I really appreciate your support.
“No problem at all,” Chris replied, “I’m glad I could be here for you.”
Megan took a deep breath, and the burden of the day was just a little lighter now. “I think maybe I might finally be able to get some sleep now. Your words really did more than you know.”
Chris’s tone was soft. “I’m glad to hear that. Goodnight, Megan. Tomorrow comes another day, and you are equipped with what it takes to face it.”
“Goodnight, Chris,” Megan replied, now calmed in her feelings.
“Goodnight, Megan. Take care,” Chris replied.
Megan lay back against the bed afterward with much clearer mind and heart. This was the boost she needed from Chris, enough to build her strength to fight whatever lies ahead.