Ted's Narration, 2030
"Summer was moving forward, and with it, our strategies to pull Marshall out of the pit became more creative or desperate, depending on how you look at it. Barney believed in shock therapy, seeking adventures.
Robin went for tough love, and Alyx, well, she continued with her strength and silent care, but this strength had its cracks if you looked closely.
Day 44
The afternoon sun bathed the baseball stadium bleachers. Ted, in his Yankees cap, cheerfully watched the field; beside him, Marshall sat hunched on the bleachers, wearing a hoodie despite the heat, not particularly animated.
"This is fun, right?" Ted said, nudging Marshall gently. "We're outside, it's a beautiful day. The Indians are winning, but... it's live baseball!"
Marshall blinked slowly, as if just realizing where he was. "I have to admit it," he murmured, his voice hoarse. "It is really nice to be outdoors."
Ted smiled, victorious for a second. He had managed to get him out of the apartment. It was a step.
On the Diamond Vision, a message appeared: "Yankees fans, please pay attention for a special surprise at the end of the seventh inning."
The crowd murmured expectantly. The screen showed a cascade of rose petals and a beating heart. And then, a couple—a man with a box proposing marriage to his girlfriend romantically in front of the entire stadium. The two looked happy and emotional as she accepted.
Ted paled. "Oh, no..."
Marshall stiffened. His expression, which had shown a hint of calm for a moment, disintegrated into pure horror and annoyance.
"It's all a big lie!" Marshall shouted at the couple, standing up and waving his arms. Then, taking momentum, he threw his hot dog at them. "He's going to break her heart!" he yelled, looking at the woman as two security guards approached to escort him out of the stadium. "You can take me out of here, but that woman has no soul!" They dragged him away, almost by the arms.
"Marshall!" Ted followed him.
The trip back to the apartment was silent. Marshall locked himself in his room. Ted found Alyx in the kitchen, furiously scrubbing the same spot on the counter for the tenth time.
"It didn't go well?" she asked without looking at him, her voice tense like a wire.
"How did you know?"
"Because I know him, and the way he was, it wasn't possible for it to go very well."
Day 46
MacLaren's Bar
Ted, Robin, and Barney were gathered at their table.
"We've tried everything: baseball, strippers," sighed Barney, playing with his beer.
"Marshall still barely eats. I think there's no cure."
"See, this is the problem with men," said Robin. "They don't know how to deal with heartbreak."
"Oh, and what's your recipe, Dr. Estrogen?" asked Barney sarcastically.
"Eat ice cream and watch Love Actually until their periods sync up," continued Barney, amused, as he and Ted began to laugh loudly.
Robin looked at them, slightly annoyed by their nonsense.
Hours later, Robin and Marshall were at a shooting range outside the city. The roar of gunfire was deafening.
Robin was seen cheerfully with a gun, shooting, teaching Marshall how to use it.
"Oh my God, since when do you do this?" asks Marshall, surprised.
"Since I was little. I do it whenever I feel lonely or sad. It always reminds me how fun it is," Robin finished cheerfully.
"You know Ted doesn't like guns," Marshall inquired.
Robin turned to look at him while aiming, accidentally pointing the gun at Marshall. "But he doesn't have to find out," she said threateningly.
"Hmm," Marshall hesitated, looking at the gun.
"Oh, sorry, it's not a threat," she quickly removed the gun and spoke in a friendly tone. "I meant, don't tell Ted as a favor."
"Do you want to try?" Robin asks Marshall.
"Sure," he says excitedly.
"Oh, yeah, yeah, this is what I needed!" shouted Marshall, aiming the gun at the center. "I felt so powerless all this time, but this... this is power. This is..."
BANG!
The gun's recoil, stronger than expected, hit Marshall in the face, and he fell backward.
"I should have mentioned the recoil," said Robin calmly.
At Night
Ted arrived at the apartment and stopped at the door. Marshall was on the sofa... and smiling. It wasn't a full smile, but a small hint at the corners of his lips while watching an absurd TV show.
Alyx, from her desk, gave Ted a meaningful look.
"What happened?" whispered Ted, approaching.
"Robin came by a few hours ago," whispered Alyx. "They went out. I don't know where. He came back like this."
"Robin? Robin got him out of this hole?" Ted was impressed. "Seriously, you didn't sleep with him? Because I was actually about three days away from suggesting that."
Alyx rolled her eyes. "Apparently, Robin is more effective at this."
Ted approached Marshall. "Hey, buddy. You look... better."
"Something like that," said Marshall, and the smile didn't disappear. "Robin... was different. She didn't try to cheer me up. She just... was there. And she showed me something."
"What?"
"That you can feel something other than just the emptiness in your chest, even if it's a blow to the face with a .45."
Ted didn't understand the reference, but he didn't care. He saw Alyx observing Marshall, and for the first time in weeks, her expression wasn't one of worry or control, but something like hope.
Day 55
"This is going to be great!" said Ted, filling a backpack. "Weekend at my aunt's beach house in Montauk. Finally, we'll have some time alone, without... well, without all this."
Robin watched from the bedroom door. "Are you sure Marshall won't have a problem with this?"
Ted went to the living room. Marshall was sitting, flipping through a law book without really reading it. "Hey, Marshall. We're leaving this weekend. Will you be okay?"
Marshall looked at him. "Yes, of course, I'm much better. In fact," he added, searching in his pocket, "take my car. The train to Montauk is hell."
"Really?" Ted was surprised.
"Yeah. Hey, and if you need anything, day or night, call me..." Ted interrupted himself. "You know what, please don't call me. I need... a weekend too."
Ted smiled, relieved. "Thanks, buddy. You're the best."
As Ted returned to his room, Marshall pulled out a brown envelope he had been hiding under the cushion. It was Lily's credit card bill. He had been staring at it since he found it.
Alyx, who had seen the conversation from the kitchen, approached just as Marshall pulled out the envelope. "Is it?" she asked.
"It's... Lily's bill," Marshall admitted. "She must have forgotten to change her address."
"And..."
"And I wonder what purchases she's making in San Francisco," says a hesitant Marshall.
Alyx sat across from him. "Marshall, no! Nothing good can come from looking at this."
"I know, but maybe..."
"No!" Alyx snatched the envelope from his hands.
Marshall looked at her, and for a second, the old Marshall emerged: tired, but lucid. "You're so strong with all this, Alyx."
Attention, team! 🎉
I want to thank you AGAIN from the bottom of my heart, Sunduz_Karacaoglan and Batata_SAMA. Your support yesterday with the Power Stones was literally the spark I needed. So much inspiration came from it that instead of one chapter… I FINISHED TWO! 🍍📖
So today is all about a double dose of the story, courtesy of the incredible energy you sent my way. A thousand thanks for being so special! 🙏💖