PS: This is a sequel to "When Eric Met Dark Raven". Click here to read if you haven't read the first short story.
Eric never imagined this day would come. He’d always seen Dark Raven as untouchable, soaring high on the wings of her music, but that world had come crashing down after the accident. One terrible slip during a concert had resulted in vocal damage. Doctors said it wasn’t reversible, and Raven could no longer sing like before.
That moment broke something inside her. The Dark Raven who once captivated the world with her electrifying performances had vanished, replaced by someone Eric barely recognized. Their laughter-filled nights had become quiet, and Raven, who once adored being in the spotlight, now hid away from it—shut off from everyone, including him.
Eric tried to be there for her, as he always had been. He tried everything—bringing her favorite pizza, suggesting new ways she could still stay connected to music, but Raven wasn’t the same. She was angry, withdrawn, and the bond that had been so strong between them began to feel strained.
And then Adrian came along.
Adrian was a top-tier music producer, known for his genius in reinventing artists. He entered Raven’s life when she was at her lowest, promising to help her regain her footing in the industry—but this time, behind the scenes. His confidence was intoxicating, and Raven, who had lost all hope, seemed to hang on his every word.
Eric felt the shift immediately.
It started small: Raven spent hours in the studio with Adrian, discussing plans for producing other artists or composing music for movies. When she came home, she was quieter, distant. But the real blow came when Raven started confiding in Adrian more than she did in Eric. It wasn’t just about music anymore. Adrian became her emotional lifeline, the one she turned to when she was hurting.
Eric didn’t know how to compete with that.
One night, as Raven stayed late at the studio again, Eric sat alone in their apartment. His mind was racing. Was this it? Was Raven slipping away from him?
A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts. It was Raven. She looked tired, her eyes weary, but something was different.
"We need to talk," she said softly, avoiding eye contact.
Eric’s heart sank. The dreaded conversation was coming. He could feel it in his bones.
"Raven, if this is about Adrian—"
"It’s not about Adrian," she cut him off. "It’s about us."
Her words hit him like a punch to the gut. She sat down across from him, fidgeting with the sleeve of her jacket.
"I’m sorry I’ve been distant," she started, her voice barely a whisper. "After the accident, I just... I lost myself. I thought everything I was, everything we had, was tied to me being Dark Raven. And when I couldn’t perform anymore, I didn’t know how to handle it."
Eric swallowed hard, feeling his throat tighten. "You don’t have to be on stage to matter to me, Raven. I love you. That hasn’t changed."
She looked up at him, her eyes shining with tears. "I know. But I changed. And it’s not fair to you. I’ve been leaning on Adrian because... he wasn’t there when I was Dark Raven. He doesn’t remind me of what I lost."
The weight of her words hung in the air. Eric knew this was the moment that would make or break them.
"I get that," Eric said slowly, trying to keep his voice steady. "But you didn’t lose everything. You’re still you, Raven. You’re still that incredible person I fell in love with, whether you’re on stage or not. I don’t want to lose us because you’re afraid of what you think you lost."
Raven’s tears finally spilled over, and for the first time in months, she reached for him. "I’m so scared, Eric," she admitted, her voice cracking. "I don’t know who I am anymore."
Eric held her tight, feeling the weight of her vulnerability. "We’ll figure it out. Together. We don’t need Adrian, or the spotlight, or any of that. We just need each other."
They stayed like that for what felt like hours—holding on to each other as if their lives depended on it. In that moment, Raven realized that no matter how much she ran from her past, Eric had always been her constant, the one person who saw her for who she really was, not just the superstar she used to be.
The next day, Raven made a decision. She met with Adrian and thanked him for all his support but told him she needed to step back. She wasn’t ready to dive back into the industry—at least not yet. Adrian respected her choice, though Eric could see a hint of disappointment in his eyes.
From then on, things began to change between Eric and Raven. It wasn’t easy—there were days where Raven still struggled, days where she felt like a shadow of her former self. But Eric was patient. He knew healing took time, and he was willing to walk that path with her.
Slowly, they started finding their rhythm again. Raven began exploring new hobbies—photography, painting, anything that allowed her to express herself without needing her voice. Eric encouraged her every step of the way, and their love, tested by the storm, emerged stronger than before.
Raven would never be the pop star she once was, but that was okay. She didn’t need to be. She had Eric, and that was enough.
In the quiet moments, when they lay together, Raven would whisper, “Thank you for not giving up on me.”
And every time, Eric would smile and respond, “I never will.”
Because in the end, their love wasn’t about fame or fortune. It was about two souls who found each other, weathered the storm, and chose to stay together—no matter what.
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