"Moby," I hear someone calling my name, but they're so far away I don't recognize it."Moby." Their insistence is beginning to irritate me. There's more than one voice, but I'm unable to distinguish who they belong to over the hum of the television. The fingers on my face smell like the lavender soap in the bathroom. When they pry my eyes open, there stands a blurry Dax, with Brooks and Landis in the background. Unable to focus on them, they allow my lids to close, or maybe it was my inability to communicate with them. Inability or unwillingness, I'm unsure which.Floating in and out of awareness, I fight like hell to regain my bearings when I hear Piper breaking down. I see her between the slits sobbing into her hands; my brother's arms are wrapped around her to keep her from sinking. Reaching toward her in an effort to comfort her, I start to fall. "Whoa, Moby. Just stay still. The paramedics are on the way." My oldest brother. Always taking care of everyone else. "Piper's
The lights are bright, so fucking white they're blinding. My head is pounding but for the first time in months, I don't feel pain-my hips, my knees, my arms, none of them hurt. Turning my head to the side, I attempt to peek through my lids. Next to me sits my wife balled up in a plastic chair, her head resting on her folded arm. She looks miserably uncomfortable, and she's not wearing the clothes she had on this morning. I don't wake her or call for the nurse. Sleep lures me back into the veil of darkness where I'm comfortably numb. "He's moved around some, but I don't think he's woken up." Piper's voice is still that of an angel no matter how many times I hear it."We're keeping him pretty heavily dosed on morphine to ward off the pain until we can figure out what's causing it. It will be difficult for him to come out of it as long as he continues to receive it. If he does, it will be fleeting, maybe a minute or two. His vitals are strong, so rest is the best thing we can give
I pull the chair close to Moby's bed, prepared to have the most difficult conversation of my life. I've talked at length with my Fish and Dax and feel I have no other alternatives.Taking his hand in mine, I watch him search my face. I wish I thought he had no idea what's coming, but I know he knows I can't continue when he's not doing his part. "Moby, I've spent the last few days thinking about what the doctors have said. How different things could've been if you had only followed their instructions. I think about the amount of money we've wasted on specialists and the pain you've unknowingly inflicted on yourself by your simple refusal to do what you're told by licensed professionals."You promised me when you came clean about not doing the rehabilitation work your lies and misrepresentation were over. You committed to doing things the right way, exactly as prescribed. Whether that was exercising or taking medication, you promised me you would do it.""I have done it. You've
I don't hear from him for a couple days, which surprises me. If I'm being totally honest; it cuts me to my core. I depend on Moby for direction in my life. No matter how dark things get, he's the light on my path. Once I found him, I knew I'd never be alone. But here I sit, my heart shattered, by myself, in a never-ending darkness that's cataclysmic.I took the week off work, needing time to process and rejuvenate. The last year has beaten me up pretty badly. I've lost sight of who I am. Every part of me changed. I miss my husband and had hoped me leaving would spark a fire in him to get in gear; to fight for me. Hell, to fight for himself. Instead, it's radio silence. Not just from Moby but I haven't heard from any of my Fish either.I haven't left the house, and for two days, I didn't even bother to shower. My own funk took care of that issue, the stench was more than I could stand. I wander aimlessly in the painful silence, listening for things I apparently missed, but no answer
Finally dragging myself back to work after a weeklong hiatus, the vibe in the office is off. I get the obligatory hello but no one asks where I've been or what I've been doing. Nobody inquires how I am after leaving my husband. They're oddly cold and distant, even Cam. Dax is nowhere to be found. I find strange, too. He rarely lets Cam out of arm's reach, much less his sight.With a week of work sitting on my desk, I don't dwell on the environment around me once I settle in and turn on my computer. I don't stop for lunch and work long past everyone else's quitting time. It's not lost on me no one says goodbye. I get up to check the doors around the office to make sure they're all locked before going back to the grind.I continue well into the late hours of the night. With nothing at home to beg for my attention other than depression, I might as well stay. Around two, I finally decide to go home to grab a couple hours of sleep before replicating today, tomorrow.The days go on lik
The dress is better than anything I could've ever dreamed and so much prettier than the original. I haven't bothered mentioning it to Cam and doubt she'll notice when the time comes. I figure it's best not to acknowledge it, stressing her out even more than I assume she already is. She took yesterday and today off work and all of next week for their honeymoon, but I'll see her, and everyone else, tonight at the rehearsal dinner. I'm dreading the entire thing, which pains me. I've been looking forward to Cam's wedding for years, even though we didn't have a groom. Not just hers but all the Fish. I've wanted to watch my friends take the next step, open the next chapter in their lives, each of them. Somehow, the last year seems to have taken all that joy away, sucked it right out from under me. Not only is the joy no longer there but it's been replaced with apprehension and fear. My friends haven't talked to me since I left Moby, even though they all agreed it was what I needed to d
Waking to the sun shining through the windows, the haze-filled rays warm my skin, the illusion of a beautiful day beaming in. I lie in bed, having stared out into the same creation day after day, I force myself to get up and brave the world. Showering, shaving, and donning the most comfortable clothes I believe I can get away with in the spa we're scheduled to meet Cam at, I put on a fake smile, grab my dress, and get in the car. Mentally trying to prepare myself to pretend I'm enjoying my time with my friends, I blast the radio, singing along to the hottest music I can find, but it does little to lighten my mood. The ride is over too quickly, and before I know it, I'm staring at the entrance, my Fish staring back at me. They're waiting for me to get out of the car to go in together. Deep breath in. Deep breath out. Repeat.Grabbing the handle, I swing the car door open, plastering my face with a smile that swears I'm happy to be here. They greet me warmly. My girls seem to
Helping grab all the bride's accouterments, we traipse inside, bogged down with more crap than any one person should have. Her hair and makeup are already done, I can't imagine what the hell is in her arsenal, but leave it to Cam to be prepared for any situation. "How do you want to do this, Cam?" Rachel asks after hanging the bags around the room."My mom's bringing in the flowers just before we walk, so really all we need to do is get dressed, right?"I'm just along for the ride. I'll do whatever I'm told."So you guys go ahead and change. I'll do what I can on my own but once I put the gown on you'll have to button it and lace it up."None of us, to my knowledge, have even seen Cam's dress. She's kept it a highly guarded secret, so unless it's made a debut in the last couple weeks, we're all in for a treat.Each of us busies ourselves with lingerie, pantyhose, dresses, and high heels. Every head in the room turns to the door when a knock comes.Sutton gasps when her s