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Jack..?“
The voice called out to him in the void of darkness, and it sounded scared. But somehow, and for some reason, Jack didn’t feel afraid anymore.
„Jack..! Oh, honey...“
Finally he regnorized her, the memories of everythig rushing back in a headache that made him wince. He could barely bring his eyes to open, the pain of the calcification almost amplified in wherever he was now. But Jack didn’t care about that, he only wanted to see her again. „Daisy?“ He could barely open his eyes, yet he blearily blinked against the strain that permeated through his every bone, the blurry figure of his partner in crime of the last thirty years. Before he coud brace, Marguerite already had him in a tight embrace that knocked the breath out of him, yet he still brought up his arms to reciprocate.
„Oh god, Jack, I missed you..-„
Her voice broke on a weep, the tears coming faster than both of them could stop them, and Jack felt his own throat get tight with emotions.
„I missed ya too, sugar“
~----~
„Do you think that this is hell? The kind them pastors always preached about?“
He didn’t answer. He didn’t know, but a part of himself had been wondering the same. Was this really damnation, after everything they’ve been through? Did they deserve it?
„No clue, Daisy.“
Jack didn’t look at her when he answered, knowing that she could smell out his doubt like a bloodhound could find an injured rabbit.
„But,“
He spoke as if he could bring any clarity, even if he couldn’t.
„even if it is, you’ve got me. Hell ain’t gonna rid ya of me.“
Marguerite could only shakily smile at her husbands gruff reassurance. They both knew that this place, whatever it was, wouldn’t be the worst they’ve faced together. Eveline had put them through things she rather never think of again, and purgatory in this moldy abyss of memory and confusion almost didn’t seem so bad in comparison.
„We did say till death us part, did we not?“
She humored, the fondness of their wedding vows being even now upheld being one of the last things she had to hold onto.
„Yeah“
He snorted, a bitter-sweet grimace of a smile sprouting across his bearded face, the same face that had been at her side for so long.
„But atleast we’ve got entertainment, don’t we?“
Jack stood up from his spot on the couch, walking across the room to access the storage that connected to the drawing room. Marguerite watched him disappear, a soft smile spreading over her lined face. Even in trying times, her husband never failed to make her feel lighter, even with the heavy weight of loss and pain resting on her weary shoulders.
„Now, ain’t that something,“
He bellowed from the storage, coming back to the little lounge with a record player she had forgotten they even owned anymore.
„Whadd’ya wanna hear, sugar?“
Jack asked, setting down the player onto the coffee table, looking through the several records he had stashed under his armpit, reading the titles aloud with full confidence.
„We’ve got some Hank Williams, he’s a real master of country,“
He contemplated out loud, sorting the record further down and continuing to present his collection of good ol‘ country songs.
„or Mel McDaniel for the fine lady perhaps? I got Jambalaya on the bayou right here, but Impacto from Enjambre does sound real good too. Your pick, Daisy.“
Jack looked up from the records, a hint of relief making his grin soften into a smile when he saw Marguerite chuckle at his ridiculousness. It was good to hear her laugh despite the horrors they had to endure.
„Come on now, you gotta find atleast one that’s to your likin‘. Music is always the key to lift a womans mood.“
She had to bite back the urge to laugh at Jacks determination to make her laugh, and she was sure that she had done right to marry him all those years ago.
„Some Hank Williams does sounnd good right about now, real good indeed, honey.“