save me - taylor swift

Ruby woke up to the quiet hum of early morning light peeking through the curtains, her body still tangled in the softness of their bed. She reached out instinctively, her hand brushing against the empty side where Taylor usually was—except this morning, Taylor hadn't left. That in itself was unusual. By now, Taylor would either be recording something new in her home studio or humming around the kitchen, making breakfast with a kind of early-bird efficiency Ruby had quietly come to love. But now, there was only silence—broken by the faintest sound of whimpering.

Her body tensed. Fully awake now, Ruby pushed herself up and moved across the bed, dropping to her knees on the other side. Taylor's face was pale, twisted in discomfort, strands of blonde hair sticking slightly to her temples.

"Are you alright?" Ruby's voice was gentle but laced with concern, her brows furrowed as she reached to brush some hair away from Taylor's cheek.

"Period cramps," Taylor sighed, her voice strained as she curled further into herself, her knees drawn up tight to her stomach.

Ruby exhaled slowly, feeling a pang in her chest at the sight. "Does it hurt?" she asked, softer this time, her hand resting lightly against Taylor's cheek.

"Badly," Taylor whispered, eyes fluttering open just a little.

Ruby leaned in, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead. "I'll get you something warm," she said, standing up with quiet determination before heading to the kitchen.

She filled the kettle, placing it on the stove and waiting as it slowly came to a boil. The moment the water was hot enough, she reached for the heat pad and began to pour it in—but before she could finish, a sudden movement from the stairs caught her eye. Taylor.

Ruby's heart skipped a beat. She rushed forward, water splashing onto her hand in her haste, the sting immediate, but she barely noticed. "Taylor!" she called, hurrying to catch her just as the singer stumbled, her knees giving slightly under her weight.

"You should've stayed upstairs," Ruby scolded, her voice low and firm as she wrapped her arms around Taylor's waist, steadying her and guiding her gently to the couch.

"I missed you," Taylor mumbled with a soft chuckle, even in her state of discomfort. It made Ruby roll her eyes as she helped her down onto the cushions, but the corners of her lips twitched upward all the same.

Ruby went back to the kitchen, finishing the heat pad and returning quickly. She knelt beside the couch, lifting Taylor's shirt slightly, her touch careful, almost reverent. But as Taylor looked down, she noticed something.

"Did you burn yourself?" she asked, her voice suddenly sharp with concern as she took in the redness across Ruby's hand.

"I'm fine," Ruby replied quickly, brushing it off as she placed the warm pad against Taylor's stomach. Taylor's breath hitched slightly, then let out a long sigh at the comforting sensation.

Ruby's other hand moved to Taylor's hair, threading through it slowly in a soothing rhythm. "I'll go to the supermarket," she murmured, lifting Taylor's hand and guiding it to rest on the pad to keep it in place. Taylor only hummed in response, too exhausted to argue.

Ruby grabbed her keys, pausing briefly when she noticed the flowers she had given Taylor still sitting fresh in a vase nearby. She smiled softly, heart swelling, before heading out.

-

The trip to the store was quick but intentional. Ruby walked the aisles with a purpose, grabbing chocolates, gummy bears, and Taylor's favorite lavender bath salts, then adding pads and a few other things into the cart. She paid quickly and made her way back, her thoughts drifting to Taylor the entire drive home.