Read 90 Miles to Freedom for Free Online Page B

he barely talks to me. And when he does talk, it’s like he’s not really there.
    “ Yeah, he ignores the calls from the fishing tourists, too. He doesn’t want to talk to anyone or do anything,” Joey said.
    “ I haven’t seen Collin laugh or smile in almost a year. I’ve slowly watched his depression progress into something deeper than I could ever have imagined. It’s not healthy,” Morgan said, twisting the napkin between her fingers. “He started drinking to help ease the pain. That’s what he said, anyway. It’s one of the worst excuses I’ve ever heard. But I know better. I’m a nurse. I’ve seen a lot of things. He needs some counseling to overcome this grief, but he refuses to talk about doing that.”
    “ I could try to talk to him,” Joey said. “Maybe if I make him mad enough, he’d see one.” Joey tried to laugh to ease the seriousness of the conversation, but it fell flat.
    It bothered Joey seeing his brother this way. Collin looked awful lately with his hair uncombed and his face unshaven. Joey had actually boarded his boat that morning and it stunk. He wasn’t sure if the smell came from all the garbage strewn around the deck, or if it came from Collin. Crushed beer cans lay scattered around and the trash that overflowed with molding food. Joey thought about throwing his brother overboard, since Collin obviously wasn’t showering.
    “ Collin’s depression is getting to me,” Morgan admitted, her words almost a whisper. “I need to make a decision or I’ll be the one needing to seek counseling.”
    “ What do you mean?”
    “ I worry about Collin so much that it’s affecting my job. My supervisor suggested that I should take some time off work, but I refused because if I did, I know I’d just be here, looking after Collin. And all he does is drink and sleep, so what’s the point?”
    “ What decision are you talking about?” Joey asked.
    “ I don’t think Collin wants me to come around anymore. When he does notice me, it’s like he doesn’t care if I stay or go. I feel like I’m in the way,” Morgan said softly.
    Joey sat quietly, waiting. He knew what she was about to say, and it hurt, thinking of what Collin had done to her. She’d been taking care of him and Collin for nearly a year, and Joey had wondered why she’d stuck around so long. Collin had destroyed his relationship with Morgan, and Joey wondered if Collin even cared. Or if he even knew.
    Morgan dropped her head into her hands and rubbed her fingers against her head, as if trying to ease the tension. “He shrugs away when I try to touch his arm or brush the hair out of his eyes. He doesn’t even want me to touch him! I thought I was strong enough to handle all of this. I thought I could help Collin through this and get us back to the way things were. But I was wrong.”
    “ It’s not your fault, Morgan,” Joey said.
    “ I don’t think Collin would even know if I broke off our engagement, you know? Deep down I want to believe he still loves me, but his depression has taken over his life. I don’t know him anymore,” Morgan said, then gave up and started to cry.
    Joey had never been good with crying women, and it upset him to see Morgan do it. He felt useless. He handed her a napkin and didn’t say a word.
    Morgan wiped her tears and tried to speak calmly. “I love Collin with all my heart, but I have no other choice. I have to end our relationship. The Collin I once knew no longer exists. Maybe one day he’ll find his way back to me, maybe not. I’m going to miss him, and it’ll be hard. That’s for sure. But he can’t … he can’t ever say I didn’t try.”
    “ No, he can’t,” Joey said quietly.
    Morgan helped Joey clean up the dinner dishes, then gave Joey a hug.
    “ Joey, I hate to leave you like this. You’ve become like a brother to me. But I can’t stay, and I think you know that.”
    “ I do. But I’ll miss you, Morgan. He’ll never know how good he had it or how badly he