CW: The following episodes heavily surround themes of bipolar disorder, depression and PTSD. This includes but is not limited to; depression, mania, not eating, self harm and suicide.
If you feel uneasy around subjects surrounding depression I would advise that you skip the next couple of chapters . You will not miss too much in terms of plot. Check out my insta or Tumblr for a break down of those episodes.
Something seemed different about Marie though, her dark brown hair looked a bit greasy and was tied in a topknot as opposed to her usual fashion of wearing it down. Her clothes were more loose fitting and dare he say it casual, a jumper and jeans, and her clothes were darker. Marie wasn't wearing any of her usual jewellery but the biggest difference was this was the first time Percy had seen her without makeup. Marie didn't wear a lot of makeup, just her signature dark red lipstick, winged eyeliner and light eyeshadow that always complemented her outfit and Percy guessed concealer as well. Percy didn't really know a lot about makeup. Without it Marie looked different, softer, younger, more vulnerable but Percy still thought she looked beautiful. To Percy she would look beautiful in a potato sack with dirt over her face, and honestly she would be able to pull off that look. Percy couldn't be sure how much time had passed since she came to the doorway, but she hadn't spoken yet and hopefully he wasn't staring.
"Hey, sorry I must look like a total wreck." Marie said, her voice slower than usual as though it was missing something.
In reality Marie was trying to sound as casual as possible, she knew she was failing.
"No, you look fine. I'm just glad to see you to be honest." Percy replied and he honestly meant it.
"You're a liar Percy, and not even a good one." Marie replied, making an attempt at a laugh as she went over to the sofa.
"I'm just glad your alright. I've been so worried, when you didn't turn up I thought the worst had happened." Percy said.
"Oh Percy I'm far from alright." Marie said as she took a seat next to Percy.Percy noticed she was moving slower, without her usual effortless grace, as though every step was a battle. He knew the feeling. When she sat down next to him she didn't relax like she usually did and instead wrapped her arms around herself and found that she was unable to meet Percy's eye. All Percy wanted to do was reach out and hold her, but he knew that she didn't want that. As well as the huge basket still on his lap.
The basket!
In seeing Marie again he had completely forgotten the entire reason he was there in the first place.
"I brought this for you. I hope you like it, I'm not good at gifts and I don't really know what you like..." Percy trailed of as it looked to him like Marie noticed the basket for the last time.
"All this for me?" Marie asked in a soft voice, barely audible.
"Yeah, I was really worried, I really care about you." Percy replied, again finding he honestly meant it. He cared about Marie a lot.Percy handed Marie the basket and she looked inside, Percy was suddenly becoming more embarrassed about it, he was sure he had gotten all the wrong things. As Marie looked inside Percy was watching for her reaction, but she didn't really show anything. Whatever reaction Percy was expecting it was not this, it just confirmed his suspicions that he had done something wrong, overstepped the mark. Perhaps he should have asked Asha first.
Suddenly Percy was pulled out of his mind by a sound he hoped he would never hear, the sound of Marie crying. She was sat there crying over the basket and Percy didn't know what to do.
"Hey, hey its alright. Why are you crying?" Percy asked as he was trying to remember if he was carrying any tissues.
"You did this for me. And I've been a terrible friend. I haven't replied to your messages or told you I was alright. You were worried about me." Marie said in between tears.
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The Freedom That Paper Gives
RomanceContent Warning: Mental health (depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, PTSD) In their second year of university students Percy and Marie are brought together after an embarrassing incident. Percy finds himself drawn to Marie and her way of life as t...