𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐞 || A Mafia Love Story

iii

Marlee awoke to the soft symphony of chirping birds and the jarring blare of her alarm clock, cutting through the tranquility of the morning. She reluctantly slid out of her cozy bed, the fabric of her flowy white sundress brushing against her skin as she made her way to the bathroom. It had been a week since the mysterious stranger had visited her grandfather's restaurant, and the encounter replayed in her mind like a haunting melody she couldn't shake.

As she ran her fingers through her wavy blonde hair, Marlee smoothed the delicate fabric of her dress, dotted with tiny blue flowers that danced in the light. She bounded down the stairs two at a time, her excitement bubbling as she reached the kitchen. There, she found her mother bustling about, preparing breakfast, while her grandfather sat in the living room, engrossed in the morning newspaper, the pages crinkling softly.

Marlee swung around the stair railing and skipped down the hall toward her grandparents' bedroom. As she pushed open the door, her gaze fell upon a small, frail woman nestled in the bed at the center of the room, her gentle breaths filling the air. Marlee waddled to the window, drawing the curtains wide to let in the golden sunlight. "Good morning, Nana! Time to wake up!" she chimed, her voice bright and cheerful.

She hurried over to her grandmother, pulling back the covers and planting a soft kiss on her forehead. "What do you want to wear today, Nana?" Marlee asked, her eyes sparkling with eagerness.

"That lovely blouse with the frilly sleeves, dear. Oh! And the new jeans I got the other day!" her grandmother replied, her voice a blend of warmth and excitement.

Marlee retrieved the neatly folded clothes from the dresser and laid them out on the bed, then helped her grandmother sit up. Carefully, she slipped the nightgown off her grandmother's shoulders and pulled the blouse over her head. Marlee guided her grandmother to swing her legs over the side of the bed, pulling the jeans up her frail legs with gentle hands. "Thank you, dear," her grandmother cooed, a smile brightening her face.

With care, Marlee wrapped the gait belt around her grandmother's waist and hoisted her into the waiting wheelchair by the bed. She wheeled her grandmother to the kitchen table, where a colorful array of medications awaited, each one a testament to her grandmother's daily battles. Though her grandmother smiled and laughed, Marlee could see the hidden fatigue and pain behind her cheerful facade.

"Just in time, Mar-bar!" her mother exclaimed, placing a plate of steaming eggs and crispy bacon in front of her. The rich aroma enveloped Marlee, making her stomach grumble. "Thank you, Mama! It looks delicious," she replied, her sweet southern drawl flowing effortlessly.

Sitting down, Marlee pushed her eggs around her plate, eating only half of the meal her mother had lovingly prepared. "Sorry, Mama, I'm not very hungry this morning." Guilt gnawed at her for the lie, but she thought that if she ate less, maybe the kids at school would like her more.

"It's okay, baby. Just make sure you eat a little extra during lunch," her mother reassured her.

Marlee nodded, a lump forming in her throat as she prepared to leave. She planted quick kisses on her family members' cheeks, grabbed her backpack, and began her trek to school, unaware of the black SUV trailing closely behind her.

As she entered the school building, Marlee rushed to her first period, arriving fifteen minutes early to find Mr. Barnes absent from the classroom. A wave of dread washed over her as thoughts of the cruel comments from the girls in her class flooded her mind. Even knowing they were often in bad moods from their morning sleepiness, she still tried to greet them kindly as they approached.

"Good morning, Ava! I hope you had a good weekend!" Marlee chirped cheerfully.

"God, you're so fucking annoying. Do you ever shut up?" the brunette girl shot back, barely glancing at Marlee as she entered the classroom that Mr. Barnes had just unlocked.

Marlee swallowed her hurt, crafting excuses in her mind for Ava's behavior as she hurried to her desk two rows in from the back corner. Halfway through the lesson, she felt a light kick against the back of her desk. Turning around, she met the gaze of a boy behind her. "Hey, do you have a pencil I could borrow?" he whispered.

"Yeah, here! Just make sure you give it back; that's my favorite pencil," she replied, a sweet smile spreading across her face.

"Thank you so much, you're a lifesaver!" he said, grinning. 'Maybe we can be friends,' Marlee thought hopefully.

At the end of the lesson, Marlee turned to retrieve her pencil, only to see the boy rushing out of class to join his friends in the hall. She caught a glimpse of him spinning her favorite pink pencil in his hands, determination fueling her to chase after him. "Wait!" she called, her heart racing as she hurried forward to catch up with the group of boys.

"Didn't the weird chick give you that?" one of the boys chuckled, laughter ringing in the air. "Yeah, she's so fucking annoying."

Marlee's heart sank as she watched the boy snap her pencil in two, tossing the broken pieces carelessly to the ground. It felt as though not just her pencil had been shattered, but her spirit as well. Countless times, her kindness had been met with unprovoked hostility, leaving her to wonder if something was inherently wrong with her. Why else would her peers treat her this way?