The Adventure Continues

[abrightboy]

For thatsfascinating.



The villa Malcolm rented was in the Languedoc, not far from Marseilles, south of Avignon. It was a very historic region, though Malcolm was particularly not interested in visiting Marseilles again. There was a charming village nearby the villa and if they were going to go to an historic city for a day, he'd rather make the trip over to Montpellier, where he'd never been at all, much less with Dr Whitly.

The villa had six bedrooms. As the driver brought their luggage inside the bright and spacious main room, Malcolm handed him some folded Euros and thanked him and shut the door behind him.

"First choice of a room is yours," he told Edrisa with a smile. "But you might want to explore first."

Comments

[thatsfascinating]

She looked up from her dessert at that, her expression still full of worry but with a tiny bit of hope.

"Promise?" she said quietly, studying his face.

[abrightboy]

He canted his head slightly, studying her back.

"Do you really think I want to?"

[thatsfascinating]

Edrisa shook her head slowly.

"I don't know," she answered, a little despairing. "With everything you've been through? I can't imagine it's never crossed your mind. And this is twice now that it's come up and you've...expressed understanding of why someone would kill themselves in those particular situations that have really close parallels to your own situation. I don't know if you want to, but I don't know if anyone really ever wants to. I could see you trying..."

She stopped, having to swallow the lump in her throat and take a deep breath to keep tears at bay.

"...trying to save me from yourself by sacrificing yourself. I don't want to believe that could ever happen, but I just...I just don't know."

[abrightboy]

"I wouldn't put you through the death of a loved one." He leaned forward. "That's what my father did to people."

He sat back and ate a spoonful of dessert, contemplating.

"I don't want to die," he told her. "People have thought that I must for a long time. But I don't."

[thatsfascinating]

"Because you race into dangerous situations," she said with an understanding nod. "I know you don't do that because you want to die."

She pressed her lips, then reached her hand across the table, wanting to hold his.

"Thank you," she said softly.

[abrightboy]

He took her hand, squeezing her fingers lightly.

"Sometimes it's because of that. But more often it's because I'm mentally ill and people assume someone would rather die than live with my particular litany of mental complaints," he admitted. "And I can see why they think I would feel that way, but I don't feel that way. Going down that road feels like letting him win."

[thatsfascinating]

"Oh. Well, isn't that ableist. Of course you don't want to die because of that." She squeezed his hand back. "You have an amazing life, and you touch the lives of so many people. I don't know what I would do without you. I don't know what the world would do without you."

[abrightboy]

"I don't know how much of the world would feel about that. Ambivalent at best, I expect. But my life is better than it's ever been. I'm in an amazing relationship. I have great friends. I love my job. What's not to live for?" he pointed out.

[thatsfascinating]

A smile spread across her face, so happy that he was happy, so happy to be a part of his happiness.

"Things are pretty good right now," she agreed.

[abrightboy]

"Things have never been better in my entire life," he assured her. "I've never considered suicide, but if I were going to, it wouldn't be now."

His concerns about ruining her life still nibbled at the edges of his mind, in the voices of nurses and strangers and their passing sympathy for the plight Edrisa was putting herself through by choosing to be with someone so... overrun by his troubles. But he believed her reassurances. He believed her when she said she wanted this and that it made her happy and that she would never abandon him. She was so earnest. So honest. He had trouble trusting people, but he'd come to allow himself that vulnerability with her. He'd set his heart right in her hands.

If she decided, like the few before her, that she couldn't deal with this anymore, it would break him.

He took one more bite of his dessert, then picked up his bowl and reached across to set it in front of her. "That's all I can manage."

[thatsfascinating]

"I'm so glad," she breathed.

She knew that she held his heart, and that losing her would destroy him. Some people might feel intimidated by that knowledge, but not Edrisa. Because she knew, with complete conviction, that she would never leave him. That his heart was safe in her hands. And her heart was safe in his.

She finished her own bowl quickly, then picked up his bowl and walked around to the other side of the table to sit next to him. She set the bowl down and took his hand, threading her fingers through his.

[abrightboy]

He was on the verge of confusion when she got up, but when she sat next to him he smiled.

"Hi," he said softly as she settled in next to him.

[thatsfascinating]

She smiled back.

"Hi," she answered softly.

She leaned in and gently kissed him.

[abrightboy]

He smiled, even as he returned the kiss, leaning in a bit more, reaching up to slide his fingers along her jaw and curl them around the back of her neck. His cast made it awkward, but he was careful not to scrape or bump her with it.

[thatsfascinating]

She followed his lead and leaned in a little more, lifting a hand to touch his cheek. When the kiss broke she sighed happily and rested her forehead against his.

[abrightboy]

Without pulling away from her, Malcolm lifted his hand from her neck to point at the creme brulee.

"Did you bring this over here so we can pretend I'm eating it if he comes in here to judge me again?" he asked.

[thatsfascinating]

She giggled a little, figuring he was joking.

"That's clever! I should have thought of that."

[abrightboy]

While he did intend it to sound like he was joking -just in case - he wasn't really.

"You didn't have to think of it," he pointed out. "You did it anyway."

[thatsfascinating]

"Ah!" She tapped his chest. "Good point! If you want we can pull my empty bowl over here. Complete the illusion."

[abrightboy]

"Or," he suggested, holding up a finger, "you could kiss me again instead."

[thatsfascinating]

Her smile widened.

"Or we can do that," she agreed.

She pressed her lips to his in a gentle and lingering kiss, taking her time.

[abrightboy]

"My favourite dessert," he told her as it broke. He tilted his head towards the creme brulee. "Finish up; let's go for that walk."

[thatsfascinating]

"Gladly!" She gave him one more quick peck, then turned toward the table, picked up a spoon, and finished the creme brulee in a couple bites. Then she set down the spoon and sprang up, eagerly holding out her hands to him.

[abrightboy]

He took them, letting her pull him to his feet, then he interlaced the fingers of his good hand with hers as they headed out through the french doors.

It was a lovely night. He glanced around as they walked into the fragrant country air.

"You really can see the stars," he said.

[thatsfascinating]

She drew in a breath as they walked out into the darkness, gazing up at the stars in frank wonder.

"It's beautiful!" She breathed. She leaned into Malcolm, squeezing his hand. "God, it's been forever since I saw the Milky Way. Isn't it amazing?!"