A Little Sane

Chapter 102

Mercedes was sitting on the end corner of the bed while Jerome lazily flipped through the TV channels. He was leaned against the wall. Mercedes was staring off into space. Jerome finally stopped flipping channels. He picked up the monthly  magazine about what what was going on in the city. He finally smiled.

"Oh look! There's doing some really cool light show tonight at the zoo! They'll have strung up lights everywhere with the animals out. It looks like it'll be really prett-..."

Mercedes stood up frustrated. She turned to face him.

"How can you sit there and talk about stupid activities for us to do right now?!"

Jerome frowned.

"Doll face..."

Jerome stood up from the bed. He walked to his wife who had her face back in her hands sobbing. Jerome gently touch her arm. Mercedes pulled away from him. 

"Why is in the world would I be so calm and happy when my husband doesn't want to be with me anymore?!"

Jerome instantly cupped her face.

"Hold on! I did not say that.."

Jerome tried to wipe her tears, but more kept coming.

"You didn't have to.."

A tear rolled down Jerome's cheek. He continued to rub his thumbs over her cheeks.

"No no.. You took this all the wrong way... I didn't mean that I actually want a divorce.. Of course I don't."

He planted a gentle kiss on her forehead. He looked her straight in the eyes. 

"You have to know that I love you more than anything in this world.. Mercedes I am so in love with you.. I want you to be happy and have the chance at the best life possible.. I would do anything to see you smile.. I'm saying if you decided you didn't want this anymore, even after I fought to get you to stay.... then I would let you go just so you could be happy.. but I would always be here for you.. I would never leave... I'd be close by in case you ever needed me.."

Mercedes shook her head and walked away. Jerome sighed as he set on the edge of the bed.  

"The fact that you even mentioned the idea of their being someone else for me is the stupidest fucking idea you have ever had! You are the world's biggest Goddamn moron!"

Jerome looked up at his wife who was yelling at him through heavy tears.

"I would never agree to that! If you decided you wanted a divorce, tough shit buddy! You'd have to kill me to get rid of me! We don't know how long we have on this Earth!"

Jerome set up straighter. He shook his head.

"Mercedes don't talk about tha.."

"No! I'm serious! We don't know how long we will be here and I fucking refuse! Refuse!  To spend whatever amount of time I have left with anyone but you! We are not getting a divorce! You know why?!"

Jerome tilted his head with heart broken eyes. Mercedes wiped tears as more fell down her cheeks.

"Because everyone expected us to fail! From that very night that you kidnapped me and I was put out as a missing person! Everyone thought I was in danger! Then when they found out I was with you everyone was more than sure I was going to be in danger! You took care of me! When we were finally together everyone expected it to not last! When we got married, everyone talked behind our backs about how doomed they thought we were! Here we are almost five years later! We have fought, separated, and we have always pulled through! Despite what everyone has ever said about us!"

Mercedes stood with heart open and continued to sob. Jerome set on the edge of bed with his own sad eyes. 

"Our first kiss! I could feel it! My heart was already too far yours to back out! That day that I forgave you for killing my brother! I knew that very second that I was way more in love with you! Everyone told me what was wrong with you! Everyone tried to keep me from you! They told me I would end up dead within a month! They told me that you weren't capable of loving another person! That you were nothing! That you didn't even matter! That you didn't deserve love yourself! They were wrong!"

Mercedes set on Jerome's right leg and cupped his face. Two tears fell slowly down his cheeks. She wiped them away.

"I know you... You.. I have seen your heart.. I have seen how you act with our children.. I have felt your love.. You are capable of love beyond anything you ever give yourself credit for.. You my wonderful Jerome.. are such a beautiful man.."

Jerome leaned into her left hand as he vulnerably let more tears fall from his eyes.

"You are special.. You are important to this world.. You matter.. and you deserve love more than anyone else in this world... You are my husband and my best friend.. I never felt like I belonged in life anywhere.. I was never sure of anything.. but the one thing I have always been certain of.. is that I want to spend the rest of my life loving you.. You know that I love you more than I have ever loved anything... you are my person.. no matter what any other person says.. let them talk.."

Jerome's tears started to get slightly heavier. Mercedes wiped them away.

"Let them say whatever they want about you.. They do not  know you whatsoever.  I don't care that we aren't perfect. I don't care that people think we are nothing but toxic and abusive."

Mercedes continued to wipe his tears. Jerome could never hide his emotions from Mercedes. It was always so easy for him to cry in front of her. He didn't feel embarrassed or as if she was going to call weak or less of a man. He always felt completely safe to break down his walls and let her in. At first it was really hard to imagine her getting past his walls, but the first time he had no control over his emotions and just broke down crying in front of her, he knew she was different. 

"I love you. All of you. Including your dark side. We don't have to prove anything to anyone."

Mercedes moved closer to him on his leg. She smiled through her tears. 

"Please.. don't ever talk about putting me through this ever again.. Jerome I love you so much.."

Mercedes leaned in and pressed her lips to Jerome's. An act of affection they hadn't experienced in a while. Jerome instinctively placed a hand on her hip and the other on her cheek. Jerome buried his face in the her shoulder with both of his hands on her hips. Mercedes leaned her head against his. She wrapped her arms him as much as her pregnant belly would allow.  

"You've got to stop being so scared that I'm going to abandon you. Even if I died.. I will always be with you.. Always.."

They set there holding each other for a good ten minutes. Jerome finally set up and placed a strand of her hair behind her ear. He gave her a weak smile.

"So.. that light thing at the zoo..."

Mercedes gave him a warm and completely loving smile.

"I was actually really hoping you would bring that back up. It sounds like a wonderful idea."

She continued to smile as she stood up off his leg. She grabbed his hand and pulled him off of the bed. 

TaTyana's phone buzzed. She noticed she had gotten a video text from Mercedes. She clicked play and was instantly met with Jerome and Mercedes.

"Hey guys!"

Mercedes smiled. 

"Look at what we found! Isn't this so cool?!" 

TaTyana was shown colorful lights in the shape of animals. The camera turned back to Jerome.

"We'll have to bring you guys here sometime! Mommy and Daddy love you so much! We will see you soon!"

Mercedes waved behind Jerome and blew a kiss. The video ended. TaTyana sighed with a smile. She shook her head slowly. She knew that they were going to come home together and not getting a divorce. TaTyana would never admit it because she was trying to be a good voice of reason, but she didn't want them to get a divorce either. Despite all their problems, TaTyana really believed that they were made for each other.