The next few days ahead we're going to be painful for the both of them. They reminisced in the past and relished on the small moments they had with their partners, but no matter the circumstances, they still loved them. Both Kathryn and Toby were very pleasant people to be around, they both knew, but they needed each other.
Mary Margaret couldn't stop thinking about the events of tonight. They both chose to do it Thursday night, then meet up at the diner to have dinner.
She could barely focus when teaching the kids about plants. She thought of Toby and how it broke her heart just thinking about breaking his. He was such a nice guy, he adored her, and showered her with love. Then she did the thing she always does and doubts her decision.
Was this the right decision? She really liked him, and he doesn't deserve to be lead on by her. But she also liked David, but their relationship seems to destroy everything in it's wake. It destroyed their relationships, and even their sanity, as they both sent themselves into an abyss of doubt and fear and pain. She stopped herself before she broke down in front of 16 ten year olds who would just like to learn photosynthesis and go home.
She dismissed the kids after the sweet, heavenly bell rang through the school. She layed her head on her desk, and on cue, Toby walks in and kneels down beside her.
"Are you okay? What happened? You can tell me."
"It's nothing." She said through a waterfall of tears in her eyes. He held her tight and comforted her through her ups and downs. This is why she she questioned leaving him. He not only understood her, but he welcomed her broken self with open arms.
Toby had a regular childhood, until his brother was hit by a car. After that happened, his mom developed schizophrenia and his dad left, so he was sent to a foster home. On their first date, she commented how huge and lovely his smile was. He replied with, "The biggest smiles have faced bigger traumas." She held his hand the rest of the night. When he complimented how big and lustful her eyes were, she replied, "the prettiest eyes have cried the most." Since then, they mostly ignored the past and became optimistic. Until yesterday when she sat on the floor weeping. The strategy worked, for the most part.
Mary Margaret opened her mouth to say something, but no sound came out. This was not a good time. She wiped her tears away.
"How was your day," she asked, once cracking many times.
"That isn't important right now, what's wrong?"
"No, this is important, distract me." He told her about the tiny little patients he cared for. He was a nurse, but he took shifts in the pediatric wing or the NICU with the newborn babies. Her heart warmed at how he talked about the sick little angels who would talk with him, play hide and seek in the hospital room, and would look up at him with a glimmer of magic in their eyes.
She couldn't leave him. He was so kind, and intelligent, and amazing with the little ones who he would visit in the sad wreckage of a hospital. She loved him. She loved them before. She needed to think this through once more.
————————————————
David sat at the kitchen table, twiddling his thumbs and glancing up at the clock repeatedly, yet showing the same time as before. Finally, Kathryn trudged into the kitchen, throwing down her coat and purse down on the marble counter. She sighed and plopped down next to him.
"Hard day," He asked. She looked at him and nodded. He slid a plate of takeout to her. They always got takeout on Thursdays. They fell silent and ate. She was never one to talk or get super close, but in public, she was all over him, marking her territory. He'd had enough.
"Listen, these couple of months have been nice, but I'm afraid I don't love you anymore," he stated. She spit out her mouthful of noodles and wiped her mouth calmly. She looked into his deep blue eyes.
"I hate to say this, but I feel the same. I haven't been happy for the past couple of weeks, and not because of work." Her eyes mirrored his look of empathy and understanding.
"We have to promise something to each other. George isn't going to like this. I'm sure your father won't either, but we will keep this as calm as possible, and hopefully, they will work together." She nodded her head, and weights had been lifted off both their shoulders. He felt pained to end this, he had a lot of memories with her, good ones. He felt happy with her, but Mary Margaret completes him. He grabbed her hands and held them.
————————————————
Mary Margaret sat at the counter. She knew she would break down, but this had to be done. David walked in with the biggest grin on his face she'd ever seen. His eyes sparkled under the fluorescent lights, and his hair was ruffled from wind. This was way too hard for her. She simply shook her head and he forever changed. His smile turned into his classic poker face he showed when retreating from emotion. His once shimmering, gleeful eyes had gone dark and cold. He ran back to his truck and left hurriedly. He didn't want to get back with Kathryn, but he was alone.
Mary Margaret watched him run away to his truck, and was contemplating whether she should go after him, when Toby came from the bathroom and rubbed her back. She looked at him innocently and turned back to her grilled cheese.