The other side

17

"You are loved, darling. You can count on me. If I can, let me help you!" - he said. A tear rolled down her cheek, and after, she sobbed. Don stood up and held her in his arms. "Let it out, darling. Please, don't hurt yourself again." - he said softly. "If you want, we can stay here. Take a break from everything. We can sit by the lake, reading books, eating, loving each other. What do you think?" - she just nodded. "As soon as possible, I'll go to New York and bring us more clothes and everything." 

Don was desperate to help her; he has never seen her like that. Ok, everybody hurts and has ups and downs, but she crossed a line she had never before. He would do whatever it takes to make her feel better, then if it meant he need to stay there, so would he. It hurt him to see her so vulnerable.

"Darling, I love you so much. You are my life, my everything. Please, don't put all this on yourself. I wanna know how you feel and how I can help you." - Don reached for her hand and kissed it gently.

"Don..." - she took a deep breath. "I don't know what is wrong, I don't know how to verbalize my emotions. I hate myself at the moment and I don't know why" - she was almost whispering, without doing any eye contact with her husband. 

"I'm here for you, that's what I want you to know. When you wanna talk about it, I'll be here, darling." - she curled up in his arms. 

"Don, Am I not enough? That's why you did it?" - Meryl asked without looking at him. 

"huh?" - Don pulled her away a little bit to look into her eyes. 

"I'm not enough and that's why you and Sandy..." - Before she could finish, he talked. 

"No, darling. Not at all. I was drunk and things happen to your body when you're drunk. I know it is not excusable, but I stopped as soon as I realized what was about to happen. I'm so sorry, so sorry. I'd never do such a thing if I was sober. Believe me, I love you so much. " - Don promised her. 

"I know, Don,  but I also know I'm old, fat and ugly" - She got off his arms and sat away from him. 

Don turned to see her. "Darling, you know that is all bullshit. I love your body and your soul. You are beautiful" 

"I'm not, but ok. Don't wanna talk about it." - she shrugged her shoulders. 

"I'm not lying, Meryl." he came close to her. 

"I love you" - she faced him with watery eyes. 

>> 

Don spent the day with Meryl, cherishing and hovering her. They watched TV together, he massaged her back, they laughed at the news... They had fun together; her pain vanished in the haze. She was another person, she was happy and relaxed.  

They were on the bed, watching TV. It was late at night. Meryl turned to him and asked:

"Babe, I am sorry for asking you again, but what if I'm not enough?"

Don faced her. "you are more than enough. Being enough is not about being what people want you to be..."

"I'm sorry, you have enough on your plate. I'm just feeling like a failure. I don't know" - Meryl looked away, and Don got closer.

"Look at me. You are the strongest person I know. You are enough and you're so far from being a failure!"

"I love you, Don. I love you."

"Love you too, my love" - Don gave her a smooch

In the middle of the night, Don heard a loud crash and woke up with a start. He looked around and Meryl was no longer in bed, but before he could do anything, he noticed that she was on the floor.