Drabble 22: Mad.
She's gripping his hand much tighter than would be considered comfortable, but he doesn't blame her. She's white as a sheet, she hasn't eaten in days.
"Miss? We're ready for you."
He helps her up, kissing her forehead, "Don't listen to what a bunch of guys in white coats say about you, Nat. I love you no matter what they say, remember that, okay?" Natalie simply nods, and he's forced to sit in the waiting room while she walks limply through the doors.
He waits. He flips through out-dated magazines. He puffs out his cheeks. He realizes how long she's been gone. He knows something's wrong.
She's calm when she walks out the doors an hour and a half later. With an envelope in her hands, she stays silent as he gives their insurance at the counter and they leave.
"How'd it go?" He asks softly as they get into the car.
She closes her eyes.
"…Natalie, I still love you, you know th-"
"Depersonalization disorder."
"…what?"
"That's their fancy way of telling me I'm fucking crazy."
"Depersonal… can it be treated?"
"Yes."
"That's great!"
"No."
"Nat," Henry says slowly, "Don't you want to get better?"
"Don't you get it?" She smashes her hand down on the dashboard, "I'm crazy! I've always been fucking crazy! And you? You've known all along, which makes you fucking crazy for marrying me!" Natalie throws the envelope down, tears falling downing her cheeks, "Henry… I'm just like her." Her voice cracks, curling in on herself, knees pulled against her chest, "I… I'm just like my mom."
"Natalie." He rubs the back of her hand in circles with his thumb, "Calm down, okay? Everything's okay. Things are no different than yesterday, or the day before, or even that day I finally talked to you in the practice room, I promise. Now, let's go home. We can order from the Thai place down the street, your favorite, okay?" He pulls out of the parking lot and she stays quiet on the way home, knuckles white and teeth clenched. She's trying to focus, he knows, trying especially hard not to slip. Of course, she zones out while he's ordering their food, having to nudge her a few times when he comes back to the car before giving up and letting her space out. "Nat," He nudges her once again, "We're home."
She jolts as if woken up, looking quite terribly confused until she realizes what exactly has happened. Natalie kicks her way out of the car, leaving the stupid envelope inside. They'd deal with it, later. For now, they have 3 pounds of foreign take out and cheesy horror flicks waiting for them.
Maybe, just for tonight, they'll be okay.