I found this through a rec--this is some seriously gorgeous writing.

Ennis doesn't require much of anything three hundred and some odd days of the year. He only needs a week at a time, honestly.
Guh. Doesn't that just say it all about him? Moving, breathing, working all those other days... but not really living until Jack was with him again.

Of course, without Jack, Ennis is just as regular as everyone else.
That's the really tragic thing about this character. He is pretty much normal except for 'this thing' that has taken hold of him with Jack. Or at least he felt normal before he met Jack and wishes he could go back to that the rest of the year when he's not with him.

...and that makes being married to her an all right deal. She's given him two daughters too, and that's -– that's real good.
*sad sigh* This really gives such a glimpse of what it must have been like between them, wonderfully done. I can so clearly see Ennis thinking this.

...she says she gave him two daughters 'the right way'...
Wow--even though you just passingly mention this, I can picture a whole scene accompanying it because this is so in character. Your prose truly hits the mark.

If Ennis were perfect, he never would've met Jack at all.
Ennis will remember the story of the guys with the tire irons, and he'll think he's glad that he chose this average life.
Gah. :'(

You've captured Ennis so excruciatingly well here. Just amazingly done. Thanks for sharing this :)