The Mansion On Drachmian Border

Let's Try To Be Contented

„Maes, my friend, why did you do it?” Alex looked at his former commanding officer with gentle eyes.

Hughes lied on his side, facing away on Alex hugging the stuffed horse Edward gave him. He curled up slightly at Alex's words.

„We're all trying to help you, but it's hard if we don't know what's on your mind,” he squeezed his palms „I'm not blaming you, none of us are, you've been through so much. It's hard to imagine how you must be feeling right now. Everything you've been familiar with got flipped on its head, but you're strong, one of the strongest people I know and you will get through this because you have so much to live for.”

Maes pressed his hands to his ears.

„It's not going to be easy, but we're going to be with you every step of the way,” Alex paused not sure if Hughes was even listening to him. This new Maes was difficult to figure out, so fragile and scared, but at the same time strong in a way none of them were. He was a savior in more ways than one and Alex wished they could remind him of his own value.

Maes was a new person. They knew the old him, the smiling loving father and husband. The new him has been shaped by trauma so horrid, that it would be unfair to expect him to ever recover fully.

Alex never knew much of Hughes's childhood, but he was aware it wasn't an easy one. All he knew was where he grew up from an off-hand comment, that there was the apartment building he grew up in, while they were on stakeout in a district, his own parents told him to never go into when he was a child. Strangely enough, they were observing the exact same building, Hughes grew up in. Another clue, came in a form of Maes never ordering beer, sticking mostly with whisky, and never drinking more than two glasses. And how he put as much distance between drunks and himself as he could, with Roy being the only exception.

It was tragic, really. He already suffered enough as a child, but fate made his life even worse. That woman they held in Maria's basement... It was no wonder Hughes hurt himself.

Maybe that was it.

„You're not a burden to anyone. That's true, what you've done scared both Edward and I, but we don't blame you. What you're going through now has to be really difficult to deal with. It probably feels very lonely, but it's not the truth. We're here and we want to help you. You're our friend and we love you. Your children love you and are waiting for you.”

Alex heard a sob escaping the other man. Hughes brought both of his hands to his eyes and cried. After a moment he shifted his position to press his face onto the pillow.

„It's going to be alright. That woman won't hurt you anymore. You and your children are safe,” he did his best to sound reassuring.

„No.”

It was so quiet, that Alex had to wonder if he really heard Hughes speaking or he just imagined it „Sorry, but what do you mean?”

Hughes shifted to his side again and looked at the wall in front of him. He squeezed his plush horse and looked down. Finally, he spoke with a voice so broken Alex wanted to cry.

„Elicia's dead.”

There was power in that statement, that made the hospital room feel even colder and more unwelcoming. Hughes just stared ahead of himself with tears in his eyes. It was heartbreaking to watch.