Emotionally exhausting is a good description. The fact that they feel this way is definitely coming through to the reader. But they are talking again, and that's a very good sign! When Lois finally confessed the issue that was most on her mind, that she'd ruined any chance of Clark ever trusting her again, it was a big break-through. It gave him a chance to set her straight on how he was feeling and to start assuring her the way she kept assuring him when he was the one who was in emotional turmoil.
Lois's point about them each being too messed up to be what the other needs is well taken, but it was great to see Clark be so clear-headed about it -- it's not sustainable long-term, but together, they will get through this and they will eventually be OK again, as long as they stick together. I'm confident, even if Lois isn't yet.
So were these difficult chapters for you to write? I remember you saying you'd gotten a bit bogged down in the middle of the story and ended up doing some big rewrites, but I can't remember which chapters they were. I know from personal experience how tough it can be to write your characters in such pain, so kudos to you for molding it into the great stuff we've been reading.
Kathy
