Need some time alone

He left the bed and started dressing throwing on some sweatpants and a shirt.

"What are you doing?"

"I have to go outside now," he said weakly.

"Outside? But it's cold out there. Ethan, stay here with me and talk about this. You have to talk to me!" I begged him.

He acted like he didn't even hear me, but I think he did because he came over to where I was sitting up in the bed and touched my head. Very gently and for just a moment, but I felt him shaking. His hand was shaking violently, and he looked so lost. I reached my hand up to take ahold of his but he pulled it away out of my reach. Then he walked out of the bedroom.

"Ethan!" I called after him. "Where are you going? Come back here and talk to me!"

I got silence.

I laid there for a moment and tried to decide what to do. Part of me wanted to confront him and force him to share with me, but another part of me was scared to death of doing that. What if I caused him more pain and suffering, or made things worse for him? Ethan needed