𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 | RAFE CAMERON

Thirty nine | M E N T A L H O S P I T A L

Today was a hard day, today was the day that we would give Ward a proper goodbye. I stood in the station, my heart heavy with grief, as Sheriff Shoup handed me a small box. "This is Ward's cremation," he said.

I took the box. It was a beautiful box, with a delicate latch and a soft, velvet interior. But it was what was inside that mattered.

I walked out to the car, where Rafe and Tommy were waiting for me. "I got it," I said, holding up the box.

Rafe looked up at me, his eyes red-rimmed from crying. "Are you sure you want to do this?" I asked.

Rafe nodded, his jaw clenched. "Yeah, I'm sure."

We drove to the marina, and Rafe helped Tommy into the boat. I sat down beside them, the box clutched tightly in my hand.

As we reached the middle of the water, Rafe stood up, his eyes welling up with tears. He opened the box, and a gust of wind blew in, carrying the ashes of Ward Cameron out into the ocean.

Rafe began to cry, his body shaking with sobs as he poured the ashes out into the ocean, "They just found him at the bottom of the mountain like a piece of trash," he choked out. "How pathetic... He was a good man."

I frowned, crying with him. Tommy began to cry too, sensing our sorrows. I held Rafe close to me as he finished scattering the rest of the ashes in the water.

As we watched the ashes disappear into the ocean, It was a beautiful, fitting goodbye for Ward just as I expected.

We sat there for a moment, lost in our thoughts. Then Rafe wiped his nose on his sleeve, and I smiled through my tears. "Let's go get some food," I said.

Rafe nodded, and we headed back to shore, the three of us holding hands. And we set out to the country club.

I gazed at Rafe as we sat across from each other enjoying this rare family outing with Tommy. It was a beautiful day, the sun shining brightly overhead, but Rafe grief was like a dark cloud. I knew he'd been struggling for the past few days because of his dad's passing, but now it's affecting his health. I could see it in his eyes, the way he'd been withdrawing into himself.

"Rafe, can I talk to you about something?" I asked.

He looked up from his plate that's been untouched since the waiter brought it out, "What is it?"

"You've been isolating yourself a lot lately, staying in bed for days on end. Youre not eating...I know losing your dad was tough, but...I think we need some type of intervention."

Rafe's gaze dropped, his shoulders slumping, "You're right. I've been down, Scarlett. Really down."

I reached out, taking his hand in mine. "What's going on, Rafe?"

He sighed, his eyes welling up with tears. "I regret so many things, Scarlett. All the stupid choices I made, the times I pushed you away...and these thoughts, they just won't leave me alone. They're back, Scarlett. The intrusive thoughts, the ones that make me feel like I'm losing my mind."

I squeezed his hand gently. "I'm so sorry."

He nodded, "I think I need to do something that will help everyone. I need to check myself into a mental hospital."

"Rafe, are you sure that's what you need?"

He looked at me, his eyes pleading for understanding. "I'm sure it's what I need, Scarlett. I need help, real help. I need to figure this out for our family. I don't want to burden you or Tommy with this anymore. I want to be better."

I took a deep breath, trying to process what he was telling me. "Okay, Rafe. If that's what you think you need, then I'll support it."

Rafe's eyes welled up again, and he nodded, a small, grateful smile played on his lips. "Just knowing you're here for me...it means everything. Because Ive put you through hell and it's killing me inside. Like... sometimes I think of killing myself so none of it ever happens again."