SHE LOVES ANYWAY - (TNN - MARJORIE)

CHAPTER FOUR

For the vast majority of her life Marjorie had been forced to help herself. So when she first became a manager she couldn't understand why others didn't do the same. She longed to be liked and it took her a long time to realise that it was ok to ask for help and to offer it to others. It wasn't anyone else's fault that she'd been left to fend for herself and it was her job now as an adult to break that cycle. Eventually she started to learn by observing others and the ways in which they showed love and care to those around them. Charlotte was someone she had learnt a lot from which is why her harsh words had hurt Marjorie so deeply.

Marjorie's past was littered with failed relationships, many of which went on for far too long. She thought back to the boyfriend who had grabbed her by the wrists and shaken her around like a rag doll during a fight. Even after he'd hurt her like that, she'd stayed because she couldn't bear the thought of being alone. All she had ever wanted was to be loved and to feel seen. She'd always been sensitive to criticism and she didn't always know how to stop herself from lashing out, but in relationships she'd found it impossible to stick up for herself. When another boyfriend had constantly called her ugly and fat, repeatedly telling her that nobody else would want her, she'd believed him.

The belief that people were always harbouring negative feelings towards her had never truly left her and Charlottes comments hadn't helped. Did all of her staff feel like that?

As she looked at her reflection in the mirror while getting ready for the day ahead, Marjorie decided to ask for help. She was going to speak to Reece and tell him about the argument. Her past couldn't keep defining her future and she was confident that Reece wouldn't hurt her. The only way to climb back up onto that ledge was to use everything she had learnt over the past few years. As she continued to stare into her own eyes, the memories that had always haunted her swirled around in her mind, taunting her.

"You need to figure it out yourself, I can't do everything for you."

"Stop crying and grow up, you're not a baby anymore!"

"Do you really think anyone else would want you? Look at the state of you, you're lucky to have me."

"If you just listened to me I wouldn't have to hurt you like that, you drove me to it."

"You can wear as much makeup as you want, it doesn't change anything."

"We've had some feedback regarding your management style. Some staff have advised us that they feel bullied and belittled by your treatment of them."

Marjorie couldn't bear feeling like this. Furthermore she couldn't bear the idea that Charlotte was potentially feeling down because of this as well. She was going to make the right choice and fix this mess - all she had to do was let down her defences.

She could do this.