That Would Be Enough

19

           

Weeks passed.  Months.  Each day that passed was a torture they couldn't stop or even lessen.  Kate had become a shell of her former self, sick with worry about her little daughter.

Madeline's birthday came around.  Today she was five.  Somewhere, she was five.  Kate wondered if Jason realized the significance of the date.  It would be the first time he was with her for her birthday, and the first time Kate wouldn't be with her.  Throughout the day, Kate seemed to get lost in her thoughts, staring off into oblivion.  Lin tried to keep her distracted, though there really wasn't a way to make a mother not think about her lost child on her birthday.

"Hey," Lin said softly as he sat next to Kate on the couch.  He gently ran his hand up and down her back, watching her closely.  It seemed much of their interactions these days were just trying to keep her together emotionally.  She leaned on him heavily, and she realized that.  To some, it may have been too much, but Lin was committed to Kate.  He was thankful they had Rio, who brought a lot of joy into their lives.  Without Rio, Kate would be way worse, if that was possible.

"Hey," she responded blankly.  Kate was a mess and she knew it.  She didn't bother washing her hair often or putting on makeup.  What was the point?  What was the point of even getting out of bed?

"Your parents are coming over around noon," he reminded her.  "I can go to the store and pick up some munchies.  Want me to get you anything?"

"No," she said simply, flatly.  Lin squeezed her shoulder and kissed her cheek.  He didn't know what to say to Kate.  There was nothing he could say to make it better.

When her parents came over, Kate spent almost the whole time in her bedroom, curled up.  Her mother joined her, just holding her daughter.  Lin tried to keep up conversation with her dad out on the couch.  Like any other time they had people over, which was rare, they didn't stay for long.

The next day, Kate called in sick to work.  That had been happening a lot lately.  It broke Lin's heart to see her spiral downhill.  She was at the point she was starting to give up, and Lin wasn't going to let that happen.  He'd been caring and understanding, but it seemed like she needed a push.  She couldn't go on like this.

Kate was curled up in their bed, greasy hair tied up in a messy bun.  Lin stopped in the door after he'd had a silent breakfast, leaning against it.

"Kate," he began, tucking his hands in his pockets.  She grunted slightly in response.  "How many sick days do you have left?"

"None," she told him.  In fact, she'd taken more than her allotted share, so the days she missed she wasn't getting paid for.

"Sweetheart, what are you gaining by staying in bed all day doing nothing?  You can't keep doing this."

"I don't care," she said honestly.

"Well I do," he said.  "I can't watch you go on like this."

She didn't respond.  Kate had been feeling incredibly guilty on top of her sorrow.  Lin was standing by her side, and what was he getting in return?  His girlfriend was a depressed, underweight drag just slowing him down.  He was full of life and she was sucking the life out of him.  Kate knew she wasn't the woman he fell in love with.

Lin sighed and walked over to the bed.  He pulled the covers off her and then moved her legs off the side of the bed.

"Come on," he urged her, gripping her forearms.  "Get up."

"I don't want to," she protested groggily.

"You need to," he insisted, pulling her up to standing.