Sharing the Pain
"I didn't want to be here, I didn't ask to do this," Rachel said, looking away from Will.
"I know," he soothed her, wrapping his arm around her shoulder. "I know you didn't. I didn't either, but I didn't have a choice. We were brought here for a reason."
She leaned her head on his shoulder. "I know, Will, but..."
"There aren't any buts about it, Rachel. We don't have a choice."
She looked away from him, tears clouding her eyes as she thought of everything she'd left behind--the friends, the family, the security, the love, the carelessness...
Will hugged her tighter, trying to comfort her, but for once, it didn't work. She was just as worried and sad as ever.
"Rachel, what I can I say to make you feel better?" he muttered.
"I've been told you bear your sorrows alone," she said softly. "That's what I've done."
Will brushed the hair out of her eyes and then gently took her chin and moved her face so she had to look him in the eyes. "Remember a few months after we were married, and my father died?"
Rachel nodded, mutely.
"I couldn't have made it through that without you. I talked to you about how I felt, and you sympathized. If I hadn't of shared my feelings, I don't know what would have happened to me. It made all the difference in the world to know that someone felt the same way I did," he finished.
He searched her eyes.
"Do you understand?" he asked.
She nodded, and looked away.
The sun sunk below the horizon, but neither of them moved for a long time after that. Finally, once the moon was full and overhead, they got quietly to their feet and walked away.