(Complete) New Year's Day is a time for resolutions. Jack Harris, still mourning the tragic death of his wife, vows to start living again. Maddie Evans dumps her boyfriend and vows no more meaningless sex.
Jack moves to The Point to live in his pa...
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She enjoyed having Jack and Emma at her house. She was often lonely, and it was nice to have the company, especially this company. She knew Jack felt lonely too. They were quietly sharing a bottle of wine at the kitchen table after Emma was in bed and Jack was busy on his laptop.
He looked up and said, "Rory is asking you for her birthday. I wanted to prepare you in case you didn't want to come."
"Why wouldn't I want to celebrate Rory's birthday?" Maddie felt hurt.
"I know you do, but all we do... all she wants is Chinese food and cake and that isn't exactly on your... diet."
Maddie looked at him as he squirmed.
"Jack, I can take one day off. What good is all this effort if I can't figure out how to live in the real world?" Maddie wouldjust run extra to make up for it.
"The real world?"
"When I started in January, it was easy because it was winter. Everyone was hibernating. There was nothing to throw me off course, but life doesn't follow a course. I would gladly gain five pounds to make Rory happy."
They fell back into silence and then Jack asked, "Do you think that guy will bother you again?"
He was thinking about the one time she came out of hibernation. That wasn't true, because she wasn't hibernating through all the meals they had shared.
"No. I can't believe I thought I could date." Maddie felt foolish for putting herself in that situation.
"You don't want to be alone forever."
"Maybe I'll have no choice."
"I don't believe that," Jack said with a yawn.
"Am I boring you?" She giggled.
"No, the storm kept me up and then demons have a way of creeping in when I'm awake in the middle of the night."
"Demons?"
"Memories... I relived that day again. I can watch it like a movie. Everyone talks about moving on. It felt real like it was happening again. How can I move on when I can't forget?"
She had never seen his face look so pained.
"I don't know. The only things I know to say, I'm sure you've heard before."
"What's that?"
"Time... and talk. I've told you before you can talk to me about anything."
"You know I remember being so angry. I was alone in a room and they wouldn't tell me anything. It pissed me off. They left me there. Then they came, and I didn't believe them. They told me about Emma and that she was in the NICU, but I only wanted to know about my wife. Then they told me, and I didn't understand. I couldn't comprehend. Oh God, Maddie! I felt like I died in that room." He sobbed.
