A Little Sane

Chapter 26

The tension in the apartment was high. Abbe was too terrified to do anything. She hardly moved from the couch. Mercedes and Jerome moved about the apartment as normal. Mercedes slowly handed Abbe a movie and tried to give her a reassuring smile. Abbe stared at Mercedes and then the movie. Mercedes sighed and walked into the kitchen. Jerome was drinking orange juice from the fridge. He sighed and wiped the drop off his chin. 

"What can we do to put her back at ease?" 

Mercedes shook her head. 

"I have no idea.." 

Jerome nudged her and nodded towards Abbe.

"Why don't you take her in the back and how some girl time?"

Mercedes gave him an offended look. Jerome stepped back confused.

"You can't fix everything with sex Jerome. Abbe is frightened of us. She definitely feels like we are going to kill her again."

Jerome shrugged. 

"It was just an idea.. I mean apologize and then make her feel good. I know you can't fix everything with sex, but make up sex is okay every once in a while. Right..?"

Mercedes stared at Jerome disappointed. She couldn't believe what he was suggesting.

"I'm not doing that. It doesn't solve anything. It only makes things more complicated."

Mercedes let out a heavy sigh and marched into the livingroom. She plopped on the couch next to Abbe. Abbe froze.

"Abbe look at me... please..."

Abbe slowly turned to Mercedes nervous. Mercedes gave an apologetic look.

"I.. I'm sorry.. I shouldn't have snapped at you like that.. I really didn't mean to scare you... can you ever forgive me..?"

Abbe bite her lip. She sighed and slowly nodded.

"Can we start over...?"

Abbe smiled slightly and leaned forward. Mercedes gently pushed her back. Abbe frowned. She let out a small sigh and spoke.

"All the way over...?"

Mercedes looked slightly sad,but nodded. Abbe knew that this meant that anything that was going on between the three was over. Somehow, Abbe was okay with that. Mercedes gave Abbe a small smile.

"I'm going to go help finish dinner. Why don't you put that movie in."

Abbe nodded in aproval. Mercedes walked back into the kitchen.

"We're fine. We are starting over, but all the way over."

She looked at Jerome with a serious look.

"So don't kiss or touch her ever again. It's just better this way. It was getting complicated.."

Jerome nodded. He was also fine with the decision. Mercedes didn't understand why she had instantly lost all interest in their realtions with Abbe, but she did. She could feel something dark in the pit of her stomach and it scared her. She really wanted to kill Abbe when she questioned about the safety of the twins. A part of her didn't want Abbe around anymore, but she didn't want to give in to that. Abbe was really sweet and kind person. Her only fault was going to grocery store that day. Mercedes had been feeling unnecessarily angry the past week, but she didn't show it to her husband. She was just so annoyed and angry at everything. She could understand when Jerome would get the random urge to stab someone to death. She had been wanting to all week. She walked into the bathroom and splashed water on her face. She couldn't help but get so angry at the fact the mirror was still broken. Before she knew it she was punching the mirror repeadidly and screaming. A few moments later two muscular arms pulled her away from the mirror. Blood was dripping from her knuckles on to the floor. Abbe stood in the doorway in shock and confusion. Mercedes looked at Jerome angry. She could remember exactly why she broke the mirror in the first place.

"Why haven't you gotten rid of this goddamn broken mirror and stolen a new one?!"

Jerome stepped back. Mercedes's behavior was starting to worry him.

"I didn't know it bothered you that much..."

Mercedes raised her busted right hand. 

"Well clearly it does!"

Jerome gently grabbed her hand and ran it under the cold water. He stared at his wife wondering how to reach her.

"Why on Earth did you do that..?"

Mercedes didn't speak for a few moments. 

"I... I don't know.. I was just so angry.."

Jerome put medichine on her hand and wrapped it.

"At what doll face..?"

Mercedes shook her head.

"I don't even know. I don't fucking know okay?!"

Jerome gently cupped her cheek.

"Hey.. hey! You don't have to yell... I'm just trying to help.."

Mercedes calmed her tone. She stared at her husband who was clearly worried.

"I'm sorry.. I know you are.."

Abbe stayed silent by the door, just observing. Jerome's behavior towards Mercedes was firm, but also gentle. Mercedes could hear the twins crying and she knew it was time to feed them. She looked at Jerome completely not in the mood.

"Jerome could you please help Abbe feed the babies? I just need some time alone. I'm going to the roof."

Jerome gently grabbed her arm.

"Mercedes.."

Mercedes pulled her arm away.

"I just want the outside air Jerome okay? Don't worry. I'll come back in a little bit. Just save me a dinner plate.."

Mercedes leaned comfortable against the ledge and stared at the city before her. 

What is happening to me..? I've felt this darkness before, but not as much as I do now..

Mercedes laid on the roof ground and stared at the sky that was changing colors. Night time fell and she was still staring upward. She was lost in a trance. Suddenly she was brought back to reality by a man lying next to her. Mercedes turned her head to the side to see Jerome smiling weakly at her. He carefully reached out and placed her hair behind her ear. He kept his smile. Mercedes rolled until she was buried in Jerome's form and cried. It was the first time she had really cried in almost a year. Her tears were heavy and full of nothing but pain. Jerome held her tightly. For a moment it seemed as if it was just the two of them in the world and nothing else mattered. Jerome could feel that her breathing had slowed. When he pushed her back slightly he could see her eyes shut tightly. She was fast asleep. Jerome couldn't bring himself to move her so he pulled her back into his form. They laid there in the night air on the apartment building roof.