The Look Of Love

Chapter 49: Share My Burdens

On the drive to Mary's house, Bobby remembered their interaction Thursday. After he carried her to the nurse, and laid her on the nurse's bed, she wouldn't look at him. She kept staring at the cream colored wall instead. He even asked, "Don't you think I'm a little better to look at than the wall?" She turned and gave him a smile, one that didn't quite go to her eyes. 

He had wanted to drive her home. However the school wouldn't let him, as he's technically not family... yet. Lori was called, from her class, to get her and took her home. Mary barely waved goodbye to him and hardly squeezed his hand. He hasn't seen her since then, and now it's Sunday afternoon. 

Ashley told him to give her two days to sleep it off. He asked Ashley what triggers Mary's migraines. Ash explained, stress and barometric pressure patterns in the air. She said it's usually caused from stress. He can see that, as Mary has perfectionistic tendencies.

Hopeful is his current mood. He's a believer in great hope. Hope is stronger than fear. He hopes she'll talk to him and open up about her troubles. She's so private sometimes with her feelings. Keeping that part of herself closed off, occasionally drives him nuts.

Stopping in the driveway, at the main house, Bobby became trepidatious. He's only been inside this house three times before. Once to meet her aunts, then at Christmas, and another time to discuss their engagement. Each time has set his teeth on edge and his muscles to tense. It's quite an intimidating place. 

He pulled himself together and exited his car. Upon knocking on the door, Verbena opened it. She drew him in for a kindly hug. "Mary's upstairs in her room lying around. She's much better today. She's been pestering us all about going outside. But she still needs to take it easy, so's not to trigger another migraine."

 Verbena saw his face form a concerned look. "Don't worry Bobby. She's tough and like I said, she's much better today. You can go on up. Just take those stairs, there on the right. They wrap around, and will carry you to the girl's wing of the house. Once there, look for the door that has a pink glass doorknob. That's Mary's room." Verbena gave him a nudge to get to moving.

He's never been to her wing of the house before, so with caution, he walked up the stairs. Pausing and he clutched the bouquet of flowers in his hand, the ones he brought for her. He's also a believer in great faith. Sometimes the best thing you can do is not think, not wander, not imagine scenarios, not obsess over "if's" or "maybes". But just breathe and let go. Have faith everything will work out. Which is why Bobby took a deep breath and continued his ascent, up.

Coming into a large wing of the house, he steadied himself and began looking this way and that. It's decorated much like the rest of the house, elaborate and wreaking of wealth. His family, and the family of his friends, are wealthy but not like this. He's never seen so many rooms in all his life. How do they not get lost? 

Across from a large set of windows, he saw what he supposed is the lounge area. That's the space the girl's talk about the most. A little further down, a door with a pink doorknob is spotted by a pair of apprehensive eyes. After ambling over to it, he raised an unsure hand and knocked. He heard her voice say "come in".

Entering Mary's room is like entering a private retreat. It's massive in size, and filled corner to corner with her precious treasures. Her room is also like entering Disneyland— the happiest place on Earth. The area is bright and cheerful like her personality. It's full of color and good taste. This space is normal, unlike the rest of the house. Feelings of lightheartedness and joy tried to burst through, along with his hope and faith.