Walking Fragile Lines

What About Us?

"I thought we'd gotten past this years ago", she said quietly, her eyes glossy as she refused to look at him. Brian sat back down in his seat, unsure of what to say or do as he watched her nervously.

"Liv", he said, placing his hand on top of hers before she snatched it away.

"I'm going to bed", she said shortly before getting up and quickly heading upstairs. Brian sighed as he ran his fingers through his hair before getting up and pouring himself a glass of Jameson. He could be a real ass sometimes.

Brian gave Liv some time as he gathered his own thoughts, hoping she would come back downstairs to talk. But when a half hour passed by, he realised she wasn't. Downing one final shot of Jameson, Brian made his way to their bedroom, where he found Liv curled up in bed, her back facing him as he quietly closed the door behind him. As he inched closer, he noticed that her back and shoulders were heaving as she silently sobbed. Brian felt even guiltier as he did the only thing he could think of to do. He crawled in bed beside her, lacing his arm around her waist gently, kissing her shoulder as she sniffed under his touch.

"I'm so sorry baby. I didn't mean it. I don't know what came over me", he told her sincerely. Liv sniffed as she turned to face him.

"I - I know", she said shakily. "I just - I feel like I failed as a mom today", she told him.

"What?", Brian furrowed his brow sadly at her as he rubbed her shoulder.

"She's been acting so - so different lately. And I know you can't help it and you know her just as well as I do but - but I'm here with her almost all the time. I was bullied! I should've noticed sooner Brian", she admitted as she began to sob harder. Brian pulled her into his chest, holding her firmly in his arms as her body shuddered with grief.

"You are not a failure as a mom, you hear me?", he told her confidently. "We kept asking Maci if everything was okay and she kept telling us it was - we're only human Liv", he sighed sadly. Brian just held her for a moment as he allowed her to let out all of her emotions, waiting until she had calmed down enough so he could talk to her some more. "What are the school doing about it?", he asked.

"Maci has the day off tomorrow so the Principle can talk to the girls and their parents. They're gonna be given a formal warning and if they continue it'll be a written warning and then expulsion", she explained.

"That's great", he sighed. "And that also proves that you haven't failed as a mom", he told her. Liv lifted her head up to look at him, her eyes bloodshot and sunken.

"What do you mean?", she asked.

"Well, if you hadn't gone to the school then nothing would've be done!", he told her enthusiastically. "And I'd put cash on you being the one who convinced Maci to talk to the Principle", he said confidently. Brian was happy so see a small smile growing on his wife's face as he ran his fingers through her hair. "Maci and Zac are so lucky that you're their mom", he spoke softly before placing his lips gently against hers.

"I love you", she said in almost a whisper.

"I love you too", he told her before settling down, falling soundly asleep with Liv held snugly in his arms.

The next day, Liv had left to take Zac to preschool which left Brian alone with his thoughts as he waited for Maci to wake up. He was glad he didn't have to wait too long when she slumped down the stairs, still half asleep as she smiled weakly at him, greeting him with a hug before sitting down at the breakfast bar and helping herself to some cereal.