"Let me just grab my bag."
Audrey turned around to fetch it, but Shelby was quicker than her and raced to the living room.
"Got it!"
She raised her fist in victory, holding the purse up in the air so that Audrey couldn't reach it.
"Hey! That's not fair."
Audrey fussed, leaping up to try and catch it and earning a laugh from Shelby, who was now running around the room and waving the bag all over the place. She seemed so enthusiastic about it, Audrey couldn't help but to chase her around the sofa. Shelby turned around to see if she was catching up, and let the handbag escape her hands. As she was still running, it landed quite violently and all of Audrey's belonging flew across the floor.
"Whoops!"
She rushed to pick it all up and carefully place everything back in the purse.
"Don't worry, it's fine." Audrey crouched down to help her. She smiled at a now a little embarrassed Shelby, who smiled shyly in reply.
Shelby picked up a small cardboard packaging and held it up to Audrey.
"What's this?" She asked, trying to decipher what was written on it.
"Oh, that's just vitamins." Audrey replied mindlessly, not really taking a look at the box.
"Audrey, these aren't vitamins." Shelby stated, her concerned tone catching the woman's attention.
Audrey starred at the box for a few seconds, before grabbing it and stuffing it into her bag. She stood up, but Shelby caught her arm before she could walk away.
"Audrey, how long has this been going on?"
The blonde brushed her bangs to the side and looked down, trying to avoid Shelby's stare. Her lower lip started to quiver and her eyes filled with tears.
"Audrey."
Shelby wrapped her arms around her and rested Audrey's head on her shoulder. Stroking her hair softly, she tried to calm her and whispered.
"Audrey, it's okay. It's nothing to be ashamed of."
The actress looked up at her, a tear rolling down her cheek. Shelby wiped it off and locked eyes with her. She could see the guilt in Audrey's eyes, and wished the woman didn't feel that way.
Audrey took a step back and picked up the box of antidepressants. A simple look at it and she burst into tears.
"I don't know why I'm crying. I never cry. What's happening to me?" She sobbed, burying her head in Shelby's neck.
Shelby placed a strand of hair behind Audrey's ear, which had now grown almost down to her shoulders.
"You're allowed to cry, you're allowed to have feelings. That's a normal human reaction."
She felt Audrey sigh slightly against her cheek, and took her face in her hands so that she could look her in the eye.
"You're an amazing human, Audrey. You're so brave, and talented, I truly admire you. Now you don't have to be perfect all the time, you're allowed to have certain feelings. And these feelings will always be valid, okay?"
Shelby did her best to comfort her, she knew how much Audrey needed someone to support her and tell her everything would be alright. That was her way to tell her she loved her. Audrey nodded at Shelby's words, trying to let the words sink in as she dried her tears.
"I'm here to help you, whatever you need and whenever you need me. We can talk about it if you want, but we don't have to, it's your choice. I don't want you to feel obligated to tell me, I want you to be free."
It was as if the weight that had been pounding over Audrey's shoulders for so long was getting lighter and lighter as Shelby spoke. She had been hiding her illness for so long, and now the woman she loved was acknowledging it and accepting her for who she was.
"I thought getting my dream job and dream life would cure me."
Shelby tried to hide the sadness in her eyes, she wanted Audrey to feel like she could rely on her strength.
"You know, you can have the most perfect job, the most incredible relationships with everyone in your life and have everything you've ever wanted, but at the end of the day still not feel that way deep in your soul."
The words pierced right through Audrey's heart. For the first time, she had found someone who didn't make her feel like she wasn't enough. She felt free with Shelby, she could talk to her about anything without the fear of being judged.
Sometimes, you don't have to say "I love you" to tell someone you love them.
"Thank you." She mumbled, wiping the tears off Shelby's cheeks as the blonde did the same for her. They both laughed softly and Shelby pulled her into a hug.
After a few moments, Audrey wiggled her way out of Shelby's embrace.
"Do you still want to go?"
Audrey looked up and nodded, giving her a hint of a smile. Shelby picked up both of their bags and grabbed their coats, leading Audrey out of the house. They walked down the alley that lead to the car, the same alley they had once walked down together when Shelby had taken Audrey on their first date, Audrey recalled.
She had been battling against depression for years, still she only just realised how far she had come despite her illness.
"I'll drive."
Shelby opened the passenger door for her, gestured the seat and curtsied to Audrey as people did to the Royal Family. She was her Queen of England after all.
"Your Majesty."
Audrey giggled sheepishly and sat down, while Shelby made her way around the car and onto the driver's seat. She turned the key and made the engine roar, she liked to pretend she was driving a sports car. Romanticise your own life, that's what she always said.
She pulled out of the drive and Audrey watched the house get smaller and smaller as they drove away.
They looked at each other and exchanged a smile, Shelby placing a soft kiss on Audrey's lips before her eyes went back to the road. Audrey rested her head against her window melancholically. Like in the movies, she thought. It didn't matter where they were going. As long as they were together and there for each other, everything would be alright.
