METHOD OF MADNESS ━ 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐛𝐲 ¹ (Under editing)

𝒾𝒾𝒾. 𝒻𝒾𝒻𝓉𝑒𝑒𝓃: men should talk

ᴺᴼᵂ ᴾᴸᴬᵞᴵᴺᴳ : cold cold cold - cage the elephant

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iii. fifteen: ❝men should talk❞

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Small Heath, Birmingham

Stepping back, John withdrew his hand from Mar's grasp, his heart heavy with the weight of her unspoken words. He watched in silence as she spoke, her voice trembling with emotion as she confessed her inability to accept his proposal.

"I just can't do it, John. I'm still lost, just like you. Hey Johnny..." she explained, her hand reaching for his chin to lift his gaze to meet hers. Tears shimmered in her eyes, reflecting the pain of her decision. "I can only offer you and the kids a piece of me. But that's not enough. You deserve so much more than I can give. Remember who you are, alright?"

Despite the ache in his chest, John couldn't help but emit a bitter laugh at her words. Mar continued, her voice breaking as tears welled in her hazel eyes. "Your name is John Shelby. You're not just a wave in the ocean, or a puff in the sky. You're the whole damn ocean, the entire sky, the blazing sun itself. Don't settle for someone like me, with all my unresolved mess."

Seeing the pain etched on his friend's face, John felt a pang of regret for his impulsive question. Mar was a woman with dreams and aspirations, and it was unfair of him to offer her a life she couldn't fully embrace.

Reaching out, John gently brushed a stray lock of hair from Mar's face, his voice soft with remorse, he murmured. "Please don't cry. I'm sorry. It was my mistake."

With a sad smile, Mar rushed into his arms, enveloping him in a comforting embrace. "Don't worry, John, Your sweetheart is out there, waiting for you. Just be patient."

In that moment, Mar's warmth filled the void left by John's impulsive actions, and he found solace in her embrace. To see her, to feel her presence beside him—it was a balm for his wounded soul. And as he held her close, John couldn't help but recognize the role fate had carved out for him. He may not be her lover, but he was content to be her companion, her confidant—the side character in her story, content to have a place in her world.

Marianna James had watched as the bonds she had forged with each member of her household seemed to slip through her fingers, the prospect of losing John due to their inability to marry weighing heavily on her heart. It wasn't what she wanted—not for herself, and certainly not for him.

John Shelby had become her sanctuary, her refuge from the chaos of the world outside. But deep down, she knew that what she could offer him was not what he truly desired. As much as it pained her to admit it, her heart belonged to another. It was a love she couldn't deny, a truth she couldn't ignore.