Breaks My Heart
Chapter 2
Beth-
On Mondays my shift at the nursing home usually ends at 11 p.m. but tonight I had to stay until 12 a.m.
I wanted to go home as soon as my shift ended but it would take me about an hour and a half before I could actually get there and get some sleep.
I wanted to stop by the store to pick up a gift for Maggie's baby shower tomorrow, I know it's last minute but I've been workin' so much that I completely forgot about it and I needed to get somethin' to eat, not to mention that the drive to the farm would take me half an hour.
After I took care of everythin', I headed home.
On the way home, my phone kept ringin' but I ignored it.
When I finally got home, I pulled my phone out and saw sixteen missed call's from Merle's number and seven from Daryl's.
I didn't bother callin' them back. I knew Merle was probably drunk or high or both and was just callin' to beg me to come back to him.
That's somethin' he's been doin' almost everyday since I left him. It's become more frequent since I ran into him at the bar Saturday night.
I turned my phone onto silent, put it on the charger, changed clothes and climbed into bed. I was too tired to do anythin' else.
I was awoken by a loud noise. After a minute, I realized it was someone at the front door.
I looked at my clock to see it was 3 a.m. I'd only been asleep for a hour. I groaned and got up to see who it was. I was still half asleep when I got downstairs.
Daddy was standin' in the livin' room shakin' his head.
I looked past him and saw Daryl sittin' on the couch with his head in his hands.
"I'm sorry, son," daddy said.
"Daryl?"
When he looked up at me, his eyes were red and puffy. He'd been cryin'.
He quickly stood up and made his way over to me.
"Daryl, what's wrong?"
"Merle...he...he overdosed."
"Is he...?" I didn't want to say it but I knew it was comin'.
Daryl shook his head, "Naw, he ain't...he's in the hospital though. I tried callin' ya. You're our only family, Beth."
I nodded and hurried upstairs to change clothes.
The drive into town only took us 20 minutes.
When we got to the hospital, Daryl led me to Merle's room.
I immediately broke down when I saw him. No matter how much I hated him for what he did, I still love him.
Daryl put his arms around me and tried to calm me down as the nurse came in to check on Merle.
I stayed awake while Daryl fell asleep in one of the chairs.
It was now 7 a.m. so I called the nursing home to let them know I wouldn't be able to come in the rest of the week. Thankfully my boss is a family friend and after explaining what happened, she told me to take as much time as I needed.
When the doctor came in, I stepped out of the room and went to the cafeteria for some coffee.
The doctor was still in Merle's room when I got back and he was explaining everythin' to Daryl.
I handed Daryl his coffee when the doctor left and sat down. We both sat there in silence just watchin' the monitors Merle was hooked up to.
"What happened?" I finally asked Daryl.
"I ain't too sure," he replied.
I looked at him and then back to Merle, "well, tell me what you do know."
Daryl took a few sips of coffee before speaking.
"Well, after he saw ya at tha bar, he left 'fore we did an' went home. When I left tha bar, I went over there an' found 'im passed out. He hadn't overdosed but he took enough shit an' drank enough ta pass out," he sighed and took another sip of coffee, "ya know how Merle would get loaded an' then wait a day or two 'fore he took anythin' else?"
I nodded.
"He didn't stop this time," Daryl continued, "he's been goin' nonstop since Saturday night. Wen I got off work today, I wet by y'all's place an' found 'im doin' more shit. I stayed an' all of a sudden he started actin' like he did when he overdosed 'fore. I tried callin' ya but ya didn't answer."
"I'm sorry I didn't answer. I thought maybe Merle was usin' your phone."
"Doc says he's gon' be in 'ere a week. Why don't ya go home. I'll call ya it anythin' happens," Daryl said.
I shook my head, "I've already called and got time off from work. I'm not leavin' him this time."