Mabel hasn't been afraid of the dark since she was a small child. But those childish fears seemed to have resurfaced. Not without good reason. This wasn't the type of darkness like sleeping in her bedroom without a nightlight. This darkness was oppressive and engulfing. She had a feeling that if she didn't find a way to escape the darkness, she would be lost in it forever. But there was no visible light anywhere she turned.

She might have given up already if it weren't for one thing.

Her sight may have been rendered useless, but her other senses were still somewhat functioning. She could hear things, taste things, feel things. It was kind of like when she was having a dream and she suddenly hears her alarm go off. The sound of the alarm, for just a second, becomes part of the dream before it wakes her up. It was as though she was stuck in that moment where sleep and wakefulness blend together.

She heard voices. Sometimes, it was a woman's voice speaking with a rhythmic cadence, like a chant. It was a soothing voice that reminded her of her mother. But she knew it wasn't. That disappointed her. She wanted her mother.

Other times, it was a man's voice. Not her father, but someone close, someone familiar. It was hard to understand everything he said, but he said it in such a comforting tone that Mabel couldn't help but feel some peace. There was one phrase she could decipher. It was a phrase he said over and over.

"I'm here."

He didn't just speak to her, he fed her as well. She thinks it's soup. A yummy soup too. But just opening her mouth to eat was strenuous. She tried to speak but no words ever came out. All she could do was allow the soup to slide down her throat.

She was grateful to be fed, but all that food had to leave her body as well. She couldn't get up to go to the bathroom, and it hurt to hold it in. So, she ended up messing herself. She felt embarrassed not being able to control herself. But her caretaker cleaned her without complaint.

She was trying to be brave, but she was scared, confused, and helpless. There were times it was all too much, and she would cry. When that happened, she would feel someone take her hand.

"Shh, it's okay, Mabel. I'm here."

So familiar…

It brought forth a memory. A memory of waking up in a dark, unknown place. She was in a cave. A snowstorm blew mercilessly outside.

She was alone. He left her. He abandoned her. How was she going to survive on her own?

She started to cry feeling almost as scared and helpless then as she did now. Until she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Mabel, what's wrong?"

Mabel turned around. He was back. He didn't abandon her. He was still here with her. She wrapped her arms around him. "I thought you left me."

"Oh, Mabel, I'm sorry. I was just getting more firewood for you. You seemed cold." He hugged her and held her close to him. "Mabel, why on earth do you think I would leave you?"

"Because I can't do anything. I can't hunt for food, or make shelter, or use a gun, or…"

"Mabel, hush." He cupped both sides of her face and raised her head so they made eye contact. "I'm here. As long as you need me, I will always be here, I promise."

Mabel wiped her eyes so that her tears no longer blurred his face. "Thanks, Grunkle Ford."

Grunkle Ford…he was with her.

But why? He didn't need her, and she was so dependent on him. She was nothing but a burden, a liability. She knew it and so did he.

Yet, he stayed with her. He provided her shelter, shared his limited food with her, risked his life to keep her safe. He threw his body over hers when poisonous darts came raining down on them. He snuck into a camp of vicious bounty hunters to rescue her. He surrendered himself to save her. He could have died trying to protect her.

She felt a stinging on her tongue and a burning on her chest. Though honestly, it was hardly comparable to the agonizing pain in her abdomen.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry, dear."

She wanted to tell him it was okay, but she still couldn't speak. She was so tired. It was far too tempting to just let go. Leave the pain, fear, and sadness behind.

Until she heard crying. For once, it wasn't coming from her. It was coming from Ford.

"Don't leave me, Mabel."

She can't. She won't. Ford was sad. He needed her. She can't leave him after all he's done for her.

She felt his hand touch her face. She used the physical contact as a lifeline to pull herself out of the depths.

She can see it. She can see light.

She didn't care that it hurt her eyes. She was just so happy to see it after being trapped in darkness for so long. She stared upwards trying to readjust her vision. She realized she was in a bed, probably the biggest and coziest bed she's ever slept in.

Next to her bed, sobbing with his hands over his face, was Ford. It broke her heart to see it. Ford was so brave and strong. He didn't even cry when Poehler held a gun to his head about to kill him. Was a man who didn't even cry in the face of death really crying over her?

"Grunkle Ford…"

He audibly gasped as he lowered his hands and looked down at her like he expected her to disappear any moment.

"Grunkle Ford, don't cry." Mabel hated seeing tears on his face. She reached up and wiped a tear from his eye even though she didn't really have much energy to do so. Ford helped her weak arm rest by holding her hand. He was still crying. In fact, he was crying harder. Except now, he had a smile on his face.

"Mabel, I can't believe it. You're…oh, thank god." Ford kissed the top of her head and rested his forehead against hers. "I love you, Mabel. I love you so much."

Mabel nearly started crying as well. It all made sense now, why he did all he did for her. "I love you too, Grunkle Ford."

Ford pulled his face away so he could wipe his eyes. "Sleep, Mabel. Everything's going to be alright now."

Sleep? But she just woke up. She didn't want to back into the darkness. She wanted to stay with Ford. "I don't want to. I'm scared."

"Shh…" Ford took her hair and brushed it off her face. "You don't have to be scared, pumpkin. I'm here."

She had to admit she was tired and probably needed more sleep. But she would feel a lot better if…

As though he could read her mind, Ford pulled up the blanket and laid on the bed. She snuggled close to him as much as her feeble body let her move. She didn't have to go far, Ford was already close to her.

She wasn't afraid to go to sleep anymore. Two simple words shoved the fear away:

"I'm here."