"Yeah?"
"...Hey."
When she finally called him that night, things had maybe never been so bad. Depression had always seemed almost like another person inside of her, the very worst part of her, cruel and calloused and sick. The part of her that hated herself, and everything around her. Lately though, it was as if it was too tired for outright hatred. She was exhausted, but she couldn't sleep. Which was exactly why she was calling him.
"You a'ight?"
"Um. I... Do you... Are you busy?"
"T's 3am doll. Nah, 'm not busy."
She heard rustling in the background, and him cursing quietly. A muted sense of affection occurred to her, listening to the Oklahoma farm boy he became when he was relaxed.
"Okay. Well, see… I was wondering…"
She heard the door to his truck close, and the vaguely annoying ding it always made for a moment after he stuck the keys in the ignition.
"Be there in ten."
She released a breath she only now remembered taking some time ago.
"Thanks."
He had been lying awake most of the night, his phone on his chest, waiting. He knew she'd call eventually. He always seemed to know what she would do even before she did. He was surprised that she waited so long, though. Usually it was about one, she would call him and ask if he had any good movies. Things must be worse than they had been, he thought as he drove. She was always quiet, but didn't usually have trouble getting her words out. That as what was really worrying him. She never tripped over her words. She decided what she wanted to say and then said it. But he as all too familiar with what August had done to her, and he had been expecting this. Sort of.
She was still sitting at the breakfast bar, looking at her phone, when he let himself in. She didn't look up, but she cut to the chase either way.
"Do you love me?"
He groaned. "This again? Babe, it's after 3am, and I jus' drove across town because you called me. D'you have to ask?"
"Do. You. Love me."
He was pretty sure it was safe to approach her. He took a chance (he was an all-in, all-out kind of guy), spun her on her barstool, and wrapped his arms around her.
"God yes. So much."