Suffer by E.E. Borton

Caleb,” said Grey. “He knew it would be the first thing out of her mouth and felt like he failed to protect his family; he felt it was his fault.”
    Also understanding their ability to say the wrong things to each other, Abby paused before she replied. It was her attempt at being more sensitive to Grey’s position. “I guess he thought she’d never wake up,” said Abby.
    “I truly believe that,” said Grey. “Either way, I understand what he did. It was a no-win situation for him. Losing Caleb must have been unbearable, but the thought of losing Kate was just too much. He knew nothing was ever going to be the same, and nothing he could do or say would change that. I think it would’ve been too much for anyone.”
    “This may sound selfish, but it seems to me like he took the easy way out,” said Abby. “He didn’t know how to tell her they lost their son, but now I’m going to have to tell her she lost her son and her husband.”
    “I am sorry, Abby,” said Grey. “It wasn’t fair of him to do that to us, but I can’t even begin to imagine what was going through his head. None of us can.”
    “I know what he meant to you,” said Abby. “I loved him like a brother, and I’m sorry, too.”
    Abby paused for a moment before speaking again. “Do you know what I can’t seem to get out of my head? And don’t give me a funny look when I tell you.”
    “I don’t think I have the strength to give you a funny look.”
    “Good,” said Abby. “I can’t help but think about Romeo and Juliet.”
    Even in a weakened state, Grey couldn’t help but give her a funny look. “Romeo and Juliet?”
    “Are you familiar with the story?”
    “I can’t recite any passages, but I know it was a tragedy,” said Grey, trying to recover.
    “‘For never was a story of more woe, than this of Juliet and her Romeo,’” said Abby. “That’s how the play ends. But what I keep thinking about is the final act when Juliet drinks a potion to mimic death. Romeo was supposed to get a message that she was faking it. She did it to avoid a pre-arranged marriage to man she didn’t love. Her true love, Romeo, never received the message and thought she was truly gone. He drank poison at her crypt, committing suicide.”
    “Okay, I can see the similarity,” conceded Grey. “But didn’t she kill herself as well?” As soon as the words left his mouth, he knew he had made a mistake.
    “You’re right,” said Abby, looking at Kate. “She did. She stabbed herself in the heart when she discovered her Romeo was dead.”
    “Abby, sometimes I even impress myself with how insensitive I can be,” said Grey, noticing her trying to hide tears.
    “No, you’re not being insensitive at all,” said Abby. “And, yes, I’m very worried she’s going to give up fighting because she lost her Romeo. It’s not enough that she’s battling to stay alive. When she wins that battle, finding out her family is gone may end up being the thing that kills her. How do I tell her, Grey? What do I say?”
    When Abby asked him those questions, he thought about how far the tables had turned since their previous conversations. He didn’t remind her she was asking for help from the same guy she said had no backbone. He didn’t tell her, but he was thinking it. “The best thing, the only thing, you can do is tell her the truth.”
    “That’s your jewel of wisdom?” asked Abby, returning to the personality he recognized. “Tell her the truth?”
    “I’m afraid so,” said Grey, trying to remain on the high ground. “I can’t think of another moment in anyone’s life where hearing the truth is so important. If you don’t, she may never trust you again. I’ve seen it happen, Abby.”
    “When have you ever seen anything like this, Grey?” asked Abby in a condescending tone. “You know what, forget it. I should’ve known you’d try to be more stoic than helpful.”
    As he had done since he first met Abby years ago, he was going to avoid