Keep Me Safe

Chapter 96

For awhile it had seemed as if things were back to normal. Spencer would get up, go to school, come home, make dinner, and go to sleep. But Toby quickly realized that her obsessive, organized, perfectionist senses were set into overdrive. She was worse than usual.

But even more quickly Toby discovered that this was her way of coping. She had to convince everyone, and even herself, that she was okay.

Yet another thing that became apparent in the time after the tragedy was that her mood changed by the week. One week she would be completely closed off from the world. The next she would be studying hard in hopes of graduating soon. Not long after, the cycle would repeat.

It was emotionally draining for Toby, to say the least. He never quite knew exactly how to react or when Spencer would snap at anything he said. His worry only increasing, he decided to seek help.

And his amazing, perfect, brilliant wife was diagnosed and medicated for severe depression.

She had been through hell and back in her short lifetime, but she had always done her best to appear okay. But this is what had set her over the edge.
-
It started out as any normal morning. Well, normal wasn't what is used to be.

Spencer got out of bed to see Toby fixing breakfast in the kitchen. She flashed him her signature sad smile and accepted her plate. She ate quietly at the table and went back to the bedroom to get dressed.

Toby followed her inside not long after, cautiously seeking her out.

"Did you take your meds?" He asked gently, not knowing what kind of mood she was in at the moment.

She nodded her head in reply while fumbling to unbutton a shirt to free it from the hanger. Toby appeared by her side to ease her trouble, earning a soft "thank you" from his wife.

Accepting that she was in a quiet but good mood, Toby decided to pose his question now.

"After school, do you want to come with me to Jacob's engagement party? We don't have to, he just wanted me to be there."

"I'll think about it," Spencer said automatically, sauntering out of the bedroom. She grabbed her purse from the island and began out the door. Toby lightly grabbed her arm, turning her arm.

Pressing a soft kiss to her lips, he proclaimed, "I love you."

She gave him another smile and was out the door.
-
He want exactly sure what had triggered her bout of sadness and outrage that night. She had insisted that she was fine to go to the party, but turned sour midway through, demanding to go home.

Toby, of course, had obliged. But not fast enough apparently. He had been stopped on the way out by one of his friends, and Spencer quickly grew impatient.

"I'm gonna go wait in the car," she mumbled, and excused herself from the restaurant.

Toby joined her shortly after, not anticipating her sudden mood change.

"Thanks," she snorted sarcastically. Her eyes were trained straight ahead, a sure sign that she was angry.

Toby began growing irritated. "What was I supposed to do? Totally blow him off? He is my one connection to the job in Kenosha, which is promising big pay. Which is something we need."

"Fine, sorry I'm not in the mood to socialize. I don't know if you remember, but a little over a month ago, I lost my baby."

Toby turned the key in the ignition and shook his head. "Spence, you don't have to feel this way. I'm here. You know it's not your fault and-"

She raised her voice slightly. "It doesn't work that way, Toby! Do you not get it? I'm not going to be a mother like I thought. I had the potential to raise a new human being, and now I can't!"

"Do you think this isn't affecting me, too? Because it is! It's hard hearing you sobbing your eyes out in the bathroom, and trudging around the house like the life has been sucked out of you. And I loved Abby almost as much as I love you. I was going to be a father. Just because I wasn't the one who had to go through the labor and deal with it physically doesn't mean it doesn't hurt!" He rarely raised his voice at her like this, but he was dumbfounded at how she didn't understand his pain.

"Just drive," she rasped out.

They slept on opposite sides of the bed that night, as opposed to their regular position in the center. The tension between the two of them were thick, and Toby made a note to resolve things in the morning.

Not that he had a chance. He woke up later than usual and found a note on the counter.

I don't think I can do this anymore. I'm going to live with my mom for awhile. I'll be coming back after I have time to think. I love you. -S
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Sir his was more like three different ideas I had rolled into one so I hope you enjoyed it. Just remember what I said earlier- things get worse before they get better. Your reviews inspire me 😉❤️