Chapter 236 – Monica's Gone
"I came alone. I'm here to say goodbye. We're heading back," Monica said.
"Going back?" Frank was taken aback.
After everything Monica and Roberta did to take Liam, Frank had always been on edge, wary that they'd stir up more trouble.
He never expected that after a few days of silence, Monica would return just to say she was leaving?
When Frank heard that Monica was leaving, a wave of inexplicable sadness surged in him. He had the sudden urge to stop her, to ask her to stay.
But he forced himself to suppress it—the emotional impulse that came from "Frank's" body.
"Is your illness acting up again?" Frank asked, noting Monica's worn-out appearance.
Monica had a severe mental illness—bipolar disorder.
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is a type of depressive illness. Its symptoms are unusual in that it comes with two extreme, opposing phases. In the manic phase, the person becomes overly energetic, excited, elated—like they're high. They disregard rules, chase thrills, act on impulse, and ignore consequences. This can include delusions, hallucinations, and erratic behavior—sometimes even descending into madness.
Once that phase ends, they swing into a deep depression, the total opposite of the manic episode—listless, lethargic, unwilling to move, lying in bed all day, silent, not eating, even having suicidal thoughts.
Though "Frank" had his share of issues in his younger years—growing up in the South Side, seeing what his mom was like—it's not like he was ever a great person. But even he had some lines he didn't cross. Sure, he was kind of scummy when it came to women, but still passable as a human being. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been friends with Walter. That was until he met Monica.
"Frank" eventually became the completely unhinged, shameless lowlife he was because of Monica—and her bipolar disorder.
When Monica had first returned to Chicago, she clung to the kids, even tried to get Ian to enlist. That had already been a sign her illness was flaring up—she was manic, reckless, not thinking about the consequences.
Now, though, there wasn't a trace of that manic energy. She looked empty, tired, drained. Her eyes were unfocused. The manic phase had ended, and the depressive phase had set in.
"We're not coming back. We won't go after Liam anymore. Frank, please apologize to the kids for me. I never meant for things to spiral like this. It got completely out of hand," Monica said, her voice laced with guilt.
"I'll let Fiona and the others know. But... have you gone to the hospital? You should really get treatment for your bipolar disorder," Frank replied.
Monica had been diagnosed in her twenties, but neither she nor "Frank" had ever seriously considered treatment.
"Frank" had loved Monica precisely because of the madness that came during her episodes. That chaos sucked him in, and he couldn't pull himself out. It changed him too.
"I'm fine. Thanks for your concern. Goodbye, Frank." Monica glanced toward the end of the street, said her farewell, and turned to leave.
Frank instinctively took a step forward, hand half-reaching out to stop her.
"Fuck!" He caught himself just in time, lowering his hand and cursing under his breath.
---
When Frank got home, Fiona saw him head straight for the fridge, grab a bottle of booze, plop down on the couch, and start drinking sullenly.
"What's up with Dad? Where'd you guys go today?" she asked, confused.
"Uh, cough, I'm not really sure either," Jesse Pinkman said with a dry cough.
He figured Frank was upset about the situation with his eldest daughter, Sammi. But he couldn't explain any of that to Fiona, so he just brushed it off.
"Anyway, I've got some stuff to take care of. I'll be out for a bit," Jesse said, making his escape.
"Hey—what's wrong with him?" Fiona turned to Frank.
"Monica's gone. She's not coming back for Liam," Frank said.
"Monica's gone?!" Fiona blinked, then smiled in relief.
She'd been on edge the whole time, worried Monica and Roberta were plotting something. Now that Monica was gone, Fiona felt like a weight had been lifted.
At the same time, she realized why Frank was acting the way he was.
The last time Monica ran off, "Frank" had been just like this—slumped into a depression, spending a week in the bar until he got kicked out.
"Love… what a mess." Fiona sat beside Frank and clinked her bottle against his.
She'd grown up watching Frank and Monica's twisted relationship—breaking up, getting back together, rinse and repeat. She knew how much Frank loved her, despite everything.
In that moment, Fiona suddenly thought of Jimmy. When it came to relationships, she and Frank shared a quiet, bitter understanding.
"I've got my precious daughter, and that's enough for me." Frank felt a bit better from Fiona's comfort, and the turmoil stirred up by "Frank" slowly began to settle. He put his arm around Fiona's shoulder.
"By the way, how would you feel about adding someone new to the family?" Frank asked.
"Someone new? You mean Pinkman?" Fiona replied.
"No, someone else. Someone who's… technically related to you," Frank said.
"You better not be telling me you knocked someone up again. Whether it's a half-brother or half-sister, I'm warning you—I'm not raising another one of your kids," Fiona said, clearly on alert.
"Ahem. It's not a sister—it's an older sister," Frank corrected.
"Older sister? Whose older sister?" Fiona was confused.
"Yours," Frank said.
"Huh?" Fiona looked completely lost.
"The truth is… you're not the oldest. You're actually the second. You have an older sister. Her name's Sammi," Frank explained simply.
"So, we have a half-sister… and a nephew?" Fiona tried to piece it together.
"Yeah." Frank nodded.
"You've never mentioned this before. Is this for real?" Fiona asked skeptically.
"I just found out myself. I'm not lying. You'll believe it when you see her. Today was the first time I met her too," Frank said.
"So… have you two officially reconnected?" Fiona asked.
"No. I just watched her from a distance and left her some money. I haven't figured out how to deal with it yet. Just wanted to give you all a heads-up, so you're prepared," Frank replied.
(End of Chapter)