the talk
Do you have a moment you keep replaying over an over again to feel comfortable?
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She watches him as he sleeps, his body subconsciously taking breaths in and out, keeping him alive. She can't help but wonder what happened to him. Why he's this way. Why now.
She grabs her phone and dials an old number that she hasn't in a while. The device up to her ear reminds her of the dark night that she had been trying to contact her friend, but instead called a wrong number. Time passes slowly as she listens to the dial tone.
Then there's a click, "(Y/n)? Do you realize how late it is? Is everything okay?"
"Yeah," she quietly exits the room and closes the door behind her to block out the light. "I'm sorry for calling so late... but you're the only person that I can rely on right now... there's... something wrong with my boyfriend..."
"What do you mean something wrong?" concern laces the person's voice, she can hear paper shift as they re-situate themselves. "Is he physically okay? Do you need an ambulance?"
"No, no, it's nothing like that," she leans over the island in the kitchen and bites the inside of her cheeks. "He's acting different. I need your help..."
"First, how is he acting different?" more paper can be heard being shuffled in the background. "Since when has he been changing?"
"Well, he's... irritable and he didn't use to drink all the time... and he's gotten slightly violent," she continues to bite the inside of her lip while she looks around the room. "I don't really know how long... but I'm scared... for him. It's like he's loosing himself in this pit of despair or something..."
"Bring him into my office and I'll see what I can do," she hears air around the phone as the person on the other line stands up. "I'd hate for either of you to get hurt."
"Oh, but I don't have money for that," she stands up straight, thinking about her neighbor downstairs all of a sudden. "Ryker... and I just don't get paid well enough... I mean... we do... but we just don't have en-"
"You're family, (Y/n)," their voice comes out soft, but firm. "I couldn't ask for something you don't have. But if he needs help... I'm going to everything in my power to make sure that you two are happy. Together. I'll pay for it all, just bring him in when you can. Just give me a call an hour before you come in. I'm here. Rely on me."
"Alright," she closes her eyes and lets out a sigh. "Despite everything that my sister put you through... you're a great brother-in-law. Speaking of... how's Chichi?"
"She's... doing well," the man lets out a sigh, probably smiling regardless. "It was her first day of kindergarten..."
"That's so cute... you need to send me a picture sometime," she swallows a lump in her throat. "We should talk more often..."
"You don't need to feel guilty for not talking to me often... it's hard to cope what happened to... my wife. I understand if you feel the need to blame me," she can hear some keys jangling. "I made decisions that day... and they resulted-"
"I don't blame you at all!" her voice echoes and she lowers it, remembering Ryker and how he had cried himself to sleep. She's afraid if he'll wake up and be scared that she's not there for him. "Listen, my sister did what she did on her own. It's exactly like you said. You didn't do anything... intentionally wrong. If you blame yourself, then we all should. We all should've seen the signs."
"But I lived with her," she hears him leaf through some papers. That's what those keys were, he was unlocking his file cabinet. "I'm literally a psychologist... I should've been the first to no-"
"Stop," she plays with her hair, trying to distract herself from crying. "You can't do this to yourself. How can you take care of your patients if you can't even help yourself move on?"
A light chuckle comes out from his mouth, "You're right, (Y/n). Thanks. You've always known what to say to make me feel better. Have you thought of becoming a therapist?"
"No," she lets out a deep breath, focusing on the feeling of the air leaving her chest. "I don't think I could handle it..."
"I think you could," he says before she hears a voice in the background. "Listen... I have to go. They're closing up the office... and-"
"Don't worry about it," she smiles and lets out about her breath. "I'll talk to Ryker and call you to make an appointment, Ryu."
"Of course," is the last word she hears before she hangs up. Maybe it's finally time for her to make amends to her past. To help resolve her problems.
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