Heartstrings on Fire (Agnes and Jared)
Chapter 808

Sometimes Sharon felt like she didn't even have the strength to eat or walk.

Everyone knew she was grappling with depression. They all thought it was a mental thing, so they set her up with a therapist.

But Agnes said, "It's not just in your head, it's like your brain is sick."

It was an indescribable feeling, like an arrow piercing straight through her heart.

Agnes continued, "Look, I'm no doctor, and I don't have a cure for you, but I can tell you this much. Back when I was in Manhattan, I interviewed hundreds of people battling depression. So many of them had tried to end it all, living through unbearable pain. But after getting help, ninety percent saw improvements, fifty percent began to live like they never had depression, and twenty percent were completely free of it, now living happily and hopeful. If you see depression as the enemy, isn't there at least a twenty percent chance for hope? The ones who recovered, they told me they can't even understand their old mindset, why they ever thought about giving up, why they contemplated suicide."

Sharon didn't respond, but Agnes was patient, and she continued, "I'm telling you this because right now, you're in a dark tunnel. You can't see where it leads, and it feels like the darkness will never end. But you can get out. There's sunshine waiting outside. When you look back after making it through, everything will make sense."

Sharon looked at Agnes, her eyes full of confusion. "Is that true?"

"Yes, I promise."

Agnes was right. Sharon felt like she was walking through that dark tunnel. She'd been in it for years, and the little courage and confidence she had left had been burned to ash by despair.

She couldn't go on, because she couldn't see any hope. But suddenly someone was telling her there was a way out. There had to be. She desperately needed that assurance.

She never thought Agnes would be the one to give her that message.

Sharon looked up, "Why are you telling me all this? Why are you encouraging me? Don't you dislike me?"

"Why would I dislike you?"

"Because everyone thinks I'm Jared's girl."

"But you are, you're his sister," Agnes said plainly.

"Jared is so amazing, aren't you afraid I'll fall for him and take him away from you?"

Agnes shook her head, "Everyone has the right to love who they want, and I know no one can take him away."

Sharon gave a bitter smile, "Yeah, no one can take him away because his heart only has room for you, no one else."

"Jared said you wanted to see me," Agnes changed the subject.

"The truth is, I wanted to clear the air with you. I've been by Jared's side all these years, but there nothing between us. I hoped you wouldn't get the wrong idea. But now, I feel like there's no point in explaining. Just then, Jared was standing at the doorway.

"Jared," Sharon called out.

Agnes turned her head, and Jared stepped inside.

"How are you feeling?" Jared's voice was gentle.

A soft smile spread across Sharon's face, "I'm good, Jared. You don't have to worry about me. I won't think about suicide anymore. I want to try, I want to fight my way out of that tunnel."

Jared nodded, "We'll be right here with you, every step of the way. You're not alone."