𝐿𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑎 𝑆𝑢𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑜𝑛-𝒯𝒽ℯ 𝒜𝓇𝓉𝒻𝓊𝓁 𝒟ℴ𝒹𝑔ℯ𝓇//ʲᵃᶜᵏ ᵈᵃʷᵏⁱⁿˢ

𝙴𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚢 𝙵𝚒𝚟𝚎

𝑀𝑦 𝑚𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑎𝑢𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑚𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑓𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑚𝑦 𝑜𝑤𝑛 𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡， 𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑙𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑑 𝐼 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝐼 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑓𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑎𝑢𝑑𝑒 𝑜𝑓ℎ𝑒𝑟 －ℳ．𝒥．𝒯．

𝑱𝑨𝑪𝑲

WE'D BEEN STANDING WITHIN the comfortable silence of the kitchen since the kids went to bed, I was still dressed in just my usual white blouse and black pants, the dark blue haze of midnight had long left a distinct glow to the air.

The stress of the day had finally settled, meaning Mary and I could finally find some bliss in the evening, something I personally looked forward to.

My favorite time of the day, the blissful will of silence and serenity from the sun just simply going down. Maria had another rough day, as would be expected.

It was easy to see by the way her half lidded blue gaze struggled to stay focused and her tousled blonde hair that began to fall down from the bun by her shoulders,l. She still had yet to get changed out from her hospital uniform, leaving her still in the crinkled, cream, attire of her work day.

I often worry about her working as much as she does, sometimes it felt as if she never got her own time to herself during the hectic twenty four hours of between working three jobs, and looking after her siblings, then she was to come home and do it all over again. Not that I tell her that, after-all, she claims she doesn't do it alone, but I knew it took a strain on her body, the lack of sleep and lack of time, she was running herself bare, I simply didn't know how to help her except to assure to take care of as much as possible around the house, even the little chores like the dishes or the laundry was better than nothing, one less thing for her to worry about.

So, when I came clean to the twenty nine pound debt over my head, I felt beyond guilty that I'd dragged her into my mess. I love the woman, but she definitely took her mother's stubbornness. Somehow I got her to step down when she offered or rather declared to pay the debt. I couldn't let her do that, she's been serving since she was old enough to count, I knew she would use her savings and that's something I'm going to go against her with.

She runs herself down enough, this is something o need to do on my own.

The fact she surrenders her own time constantly for her brothers and sister to live a better life is something I've always admired of Mary, as strong as she may be, you couldn't find another because she may just be the most selfless person I've laid eyes on.

I call myself grand lucky to be able to set my gaze upon her natural beauty, not just her porcelain appearance nor just her priceless golden smile, but merely just to gaze within those lovely eyes of hers, to merely be able to say that I know her, that I can call her my fiancé. For her she never cared about the money nor the ring, although I do wish I could afford her that silver band of diamonds and every other ruby she deserved, sometimes I wished I could buy the stars and sky for her, but that's not what she cared for.

She looks forward to coming home and spending time with her siblings, she looks forward to simply waking up in the mornings, having the simplest things in her life.

That's what I love about her.

Feeling arms wrap around my torso, I couldn't help but smile at the small gesture, small, yet sweet. Retracting my hands from the sink, I twisted around and leant my back against the bench, looping my hands around her and interlocking them at the base of her hips. "Long day?" I whisper, tracing small circles upon her lower back. Due to the height difference, her head fell to just below the centre of my chest, her eyelashes simultaneously fluttering to rest against her cheeks.

Reaching down, I leave a gentle kiss upon her pouty pinky lips, one of my hands going to rest onto her cheek.

She reaches up and gently traces a hand over my forearm, my eyes moving from her sapphire gaze and darting to the skin upon her wrist. Small indentations line her skin. A frown falls upon my face when I see she notices my worrisome gaze.

"What's this, love?" I gently lifted her forearm, placing the back of her wrist in my hand and examine the ligature marks around her delicate skin.

"Just a run in with Darius, I'm alright," I turn her arm over, unsatisfied by the answer she offered. 

"Doesn't look like nothing."

I gently trace my fingers over the dark bruises, wincing as she flinches. Meeting her eyes, I remove myself from in front of her and swiftly lift her onto the bench and venture to find the bandages she'd gotten out a few hours previous.

"Jack, I'm fine. It's barely a mark," Ignoring her wishes, I continue my venture through the kitchen to wherever Mary-Rose had placed the medical supplies. I would've guessed in the cabinet, but turns out it wasn't going to be as simple as that.

Opening another set of drawers, I scan the shelves in hopes for the black leather bag. I nearly give up hope before Maria's small voice breaks the silence.

"Bottom shelf, second cabinet to the left."

Aside from hitting my head on the open cupboard above me, I eventually found the med bag and made my way over to Mary-Rose. "I wish you would tell me these things."

"You mean where the medical bag was?"

Halting my motions, I meet her gaze. "You know what I mean."

She retracts her vision back down to her lap where she fiddles with the metal band around her ring that I truly wish I could afford to put a diamond on. One day.

"He's going to pay for this, Rose."

"With what, Jack? It's Darius, he could get us thrown out of town—or worse," She argues, moving her hand from my reach and flailing her arms. With a sigh, I gently reach to pull her arm back into my grasp and continue to gently wipe down the marks along her skin.

"I just wish I could do something, men like him shouldn't be allowed here, I bloody hate this town sometimes," Gently wrapping a gauze around her wrist, I couldn't help but continue to trace my fingertips along the white fabric, remorse and anger bubbling in my chest, not towards her, never towards her, but towards Darius, towards this shocking council.

I wish I could just get her out of her, sometime I hope we could escape, escape to a better world.

But then I'm brought back to reality, then I'm reminded that I have a penny to my name.