"So what? I've been dealing with this on my own for years now!" Melissa snapped back, tears running down her face. "This is exactly why I didn't want to talk about this. Every time the topic arises, we always end up fighting. I don't feel like talking about this, okay? I have no right to talk about my feelings when you're clearly the most important thing. And I don't say that out of spite, I mean it. You're more important."
"Yeah! You've been dealing with it on your own, and see where it's gotten you? I am not more important than you are. Just because my problems are bad doesn't mean that yours are any less valid than mine. You deserve help. You have every right to talk about your feelings and your problems and you can't convince me otherwise."
"And yet, I feel beyond guilty whenever the topic is even brushed upon." Melissa insisted, pulling her hand back from his. "Give me one good reason why I have the right to talk about my feelings. None of the 'because I love and care for you' stuff. One legitimate reason." She had a tight jaw, tears still running down her face. "Because everyone does…" Mr. Brennahan piped in softly, the distance between him and her increasing. Even if she was his daughter, he definitely seemed uneasy at her sudden anger.
"Because you are a human being, Melissa, and you have value. Not just to me. I'm not going to sit idly by while you allow yourself to suffer just because you don't think your feelings are valid. Why wouldn't you? Everyone has the right to that regardless of what they've done, and you've done nothing wrong, okay? I have been where you are, and I currently am. What would you do if I told you that I refuse to talk to a therapist because I don't think I deserve to feel better? You'd convince me otherwise, wouldn't you? What kind of asshole would I be if I were to deny you help when you need and deserve it just as much or even more than anyone else?"
Melissa kept a tight jaw, the hot tears still running down her face. She balled her hands into fist, trying everything she could to stop her tears. But it clearly wasn't working. "But Lucas, you've gone through so much shit, I feel like a self-centered bitch when I talk about myself. There's other people who have gone through worse than I have, and I'm here worried about myself." She whispered weakly, her anger starting to fade.
"And there's people who have been through worse than I have, Mel! You're allowed to focus on your own problems. You're allowed to need help. It doesn't make you self centered to just… take care of yourself, Melissa. I couldn't take care of myself, and that's why I'm here. You have the opportunity to go to a therapist and get help before it's too late. I don't want you to have to end up in a place like this just because you refused to get help."
Melissa fell silent, letting tears stream down her face. She let his words sink in deeply, pulling her knees up to her chest to hold herself. Her face was hidden as she sat in silence, Mr. Brennahan reaching over and squeezing her shoulder gently. "Melissa, honey… Lucas is right. If something is really wrong, then we need to get you help." He whispered, starting to rub circles into her back.
Lucas sighed as he rubbed at his own teary eyes, holding Cody close to himself. The puppy gently licked his cheeks and rested his head on Lucas's chest to try and calm him down. "You feel like my problems overshadow yours, but they don't. Yours are equally as important, Melissa. You don't want to spiral down to where I am. Imagine if you never knew me and had the same problems. You'd want to get help, right?"
Melissa sniffled a bit, weakly lifting her head up to look at him. "I-I guess..? I dunno…" She trailed off, keeping the lower half of her face hidden. Just like she had said, she felt awfully self-centered right now. And she hated it. "P-probably… but I-I…" She finished off her sentence by shrugging, hiding her face once again. Mr. Brennahan kept quiet, still rubbing circles into her back.
"I want you to do what's best for you, Melissa. Pretend I'm not in the picture entirely. Don't worry about me. I'm already getting the help I need. You should get the help you need as well. You deserve it. Hell, you've earned it."
Melissa kept a tight hold on herself, hiccuping as she tried to breath normally. The silence remained for a couple minutes, Mr. Brennahan carefully running his fingers through her hair to try and calm her down. Eventually she picked up her gaze, still sniffling a bit. "Y-You really think so?" She asked weakly, starting to rub at her eyes.
"Of course I think so, Melissa. You're a wonderful person, and the fact that you've been able to put up with me for this long is honestly miraculous." Lucas laughed weakly. "Not to mention all the wonderful things you and your family have done for me. Don't worry about me. You deserve help too."
Melissa sighed weakly, slowly starting to unfold. She planted her feet back on the ground, folding her hands in her lap. "I-I'm still gonna worry about you…" She mumbled a little, hesitantly sliding her hand back across the table. "I-I guess you're probably right, huh? You'd know better than anyone."
Lucas took Melissa's hand in his own and smiled weakly. "Yeah, I would… I've been through hell and back, and you know who was with me the whole way?" He asked softly. "You, Mel. You never left me through all of that. You stuck by my side even when it was hard. Give yourself a break, yeah? I'm not the only one who needs help. Please don't neglect yourself for my sake. I'm gonna be okay."
“You promise?” Melissa asked softly, holding on a little tighter to his hand. When Mr. Brennahan wrapped an arm around her shoulders, she leaned in to his embrace, keeping her fingers intertwined with Lucas. “You promise you’re gonna be okay?”
Lucas hesitated before nodding. "Y-Yeah, I'm… I'm being the help I need and I'm on the right meds, so… I'm gonna be okay."
Melissa nodded as well, bringing his hand up to her lips. Gently she kissed his knuckles, giving a gentle squeeze before setting his hand down. “I love you. Thank you… for everything.”
"I love you too, Melissa, and I'm really the one who should be thanking you…" Lucas smiled weakly up at Melissa.
Melissa smiled in return, holding his hand a little tighter. She didn’t want to let go, and that was pretty obvious. “Well, now that that’s said and done with, how’s Cody been? Has he been a good boy?”
"Yeah, Cody's been great." Lucas scratched behind Cody's ears again. "He's been keeping me company… making sure I stay relaxed. He always sleeps in bed with me."
"Out of context, that sounds really weird." Melissa laughed weakly, smiling at the puppy. "I'm glad he's been a good boy… but I'm missing him at the house. It's so quiet, and lonely…"
Lucas flushed a bit and nodded. "Yeah… I… um… I'm sorry about that, Mel." He sighed softly. "I love you…"
"It's not big deal. If it helps you, I can handle a couple quiet nights." Melissa hummed, still smiling softly. "I love you, and want what's best for you."
Lucas nodded again and held Cody closer to himself. "Okay… if you're sure…" He sighed softly. "Are you sure you'll be okay?"
Melissa nodded gently, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. "Of course, Lu. Gabriel is coming home in a couple of weeks, for Thanksgiving. And then Christmas break." She hummed a little.
"Alright… tell him I said hi." Lucas smiled weakly, toying with Melissa's hand a bit. "I don't think I'll be out of here by then."
"Mhmm, I'll do that." Melissa hummed, smiling still. "It gives me a chance to get to spend time with him, without neglecting you. So that's a perk."
Lucas nodded again and looked down at Cody. "I'll miss seeing you guys… but I want you to go ahead and have lots of fun, okay?"
"I'll still come visit you, Lu. I'm not just going to disappear on you." Melissa told him softly, squeezing his hand once again. "I can't just leave you hanging. I'd miss you too much."
"Alright. I'm looking forward to it." Lucas smiled weakly. "I miss you guys, but we're all gonna get through this."