Shards of War: Eclipsian Secrets

Chapter 49

As the evening wore on and their friends began to depart, Calie and Marie found themselves alone once more. The house was quiet, the remnants of their gathering still lingering in the air, but their thoughts were already turning to Matsu. It was time for their nightly video call, something they all looked forward to, a way to stay connected despite the physical distance.

Calie picked up her phone and dialed Matsu's number, her thumb hovering over the call button for just a moment before pressing it. The screen flickered, and soon, Matsu's familiar face appeared, a warm smile greeting them both.

"Hey, you two," Matsu said, his voice filled with affection. "How was the rest of your day?"

"It was good," Calie replied, her tone bright and cheerful. "We hung out with everyone, played some games, and just had a nice time together."

Marie, sitting beside her, offered a small smile but remained quiet, her thoughts clearly elsewhere. Matsu noticed immediately, his expression softening as he looked at her.

"Marie," he said gently, "Calie mentioned you had some concerns. What's on your mind?"

Marie hesitated for a moment, gathering her thoughts before speaking. "I've been thinking a lot lately," she began, her voice steady but introspective. "About us, about our relationship with you, and how much we've come to depend on each other. I'm worried... what if we've become too dependent on you? What if one day you're not there, like before? How will we handle that?"

Matsu listened carefully, his expression serious but understanding. "I get it, Marie," he said after a moment, his tone calm and reassuring. "I've been having similar thoughts myself. It's something that's been on my mind for a while now."

He paused, looking down briefly before continuing. "The truth is, I've been getting help for this. I've been talking to Dr. Boskow, trying to understand my own feelings and dependencies. It's helped a lot, and I think it might help you too."

Marie looked at him, her eyes reflecting a mix of relief and concern. "You've been getting help?"

Matsu nodded. "Yeah, I've realized that as much as I love you both, I need to make sure I'm strong enough on my own, too. And I want the same for you. We're a team, but we also need to be okay on our own. It's about balance."

Calie, who had been quietly listening, chimed in. "He's right, Marie. We've been through so much together, and we've built a life that's intertwined in so many ways. But maybe it's time to make sure we're just as strong individually as we are together."

Marie took a deep breath, processing their words. "You're right," she finally said, her voice soft but resolute. "I don't want to lose myself in our relationship, and I don't want us to hold you back either."

"You're not holding me back," Matsu quickly assured her. "This isn't about that. It's about making sure we're all healthy, mentally and emotionally. We've been through a lot, and it's okay to need help. We can work through this together, just like we've always done."

Calie reached over and squeezed Marie's hand, offering her silent support. "We can see the psychiatrist tomorrow, like we talked about," she said gently. "We'll work on this, and we'll be stronger for it."

Marie nodded, a small smile returning to her face. "Thank you, both of you. I'm scared, but I'm glad we're talking about this. I don't want to lose what we have, but I also want to make sure we're all okay."

"We will be," Matsu said confidently. "We've faced worse, and we've always come out stronger. This is just another challenge, and I know we can handle it together."

The call continued, the conversation shifting to lighter topics as they shared the rest of their day with Matsu. But the sense of understanding and mutual support lingered, a reminder of the bond they shared and the strength they drew from each other. As the night wore on, they finally said their goodnights, each of them feeling a little more at peace, knowing they were facing their fears together.