OK, not really. I'm almost never speechless.
I knew it tore my guts out, but I had no idea if it would translate to the reader. I'm very glad that it did--although that sounds somewhat perverse. Thank you for reading it and for your comments. And thank you very much for wishing for more. I don't know if I will be able to do more, but I'm immensely pleased and touched that you want more. That says something really deep to me. It says that I got it right. And that I've got a little more dark in me than maybe I thought I did.
wollstonecraft61, "the meat of despair" is just an amazing compliment under the circumstances--thank you.
wpgrace, I think you're right in that there's something in this story that anyone who's lost someone incredibly dear can relate to. (And yeah, that was a horrible sentence.)
This is a universal story of that dumbfounded sort of shock and anguish that follows the discovery that a person one loved is not who one thought he was. And by the way, you're right about Red and the whispering.francis, my apologies for breaking your heart--and I hope you'll forgive me for being just awestruck that I actually DID break your heart. I honestly didn't know if this was any good! I love your interpretation and I'm incredibly touched that you see this as a possibile ender to season 2. In a way, I guess it was--if you consider the Facebook thing to be season 2...
coco, I'll be here honey, whenever you have the time. And thank you so much. I know how much you love Beth. If she rings true to you, I am so happy.
librarian_7, dear Lucky, thank you for that. I don't know if I can do more. But if I do, it'll be in great part because of your encouragement.
helloeeze, I'm happy that this story rang true for you. I agree that there's no guarantee that Mick will ever come back at the end of this. It's an open end, though... so anything could happen. And despite the sad end of my own experience, I am a total Mick Beth optimist. I want, no, I need for them to have a happy ending, although that doesn't mean it's gonna be all roses. Just that they will be together and that they'll work on it together. Like a real relationship between strong-willed, independent people.
Lilly, you humble me--thank you so much. I think your description of what Beth goes through is very accurate. I hadn't thought of it as a loss of self, but yeah... it really is that. She has to build herself again now. Thank you for holding my hand through the hard days!
cassysj, thank you for coming along on the journey--and for your sweet comment. It means a lot.
darkstarrising, wow-- thank you! I hate to pass on pain, but if this made you feel what Beth was feeling, then it did its job. And I'm really happy you thought it was good.
redwinter101, I know exactly what you mean, and I completely understand your caveat. And I'm blown away that despite your initial inability to believe in the circumstances (and believe me, so was I!), you felt the truth of Beth's reaction to it. Thank you so much for that... and oh yeah, I understand that it's more than rare for you to read a story about Mick and yet not have him be the focus of the story. To me this story was completely about Beth, despite the fact that Mick imbued every sentence of it. It's Beth's pain, Beth's anger, Beth's loss and hopelessness and disbelief. And what Lilly said about loss of self--this story is about Beth finding herself again. Well, just beginning to find it, because that's a very long process. Thank you... just... thank you.
I'm sorry I made you cry! But I'm also thrilled that this feels like Beth to you. 
for coco and alle.
