TW!: SH mentions
Marjorie woke up and let out a huge sigh. She really didn't want to go to work after last night, but she had a ton of work so she knew she had to.
She was getting dressed and she looked down at her arm, wondering why this was her only way to cope. She made sure to wear a loose-fitting, long sleeved jumper. This was to make sure her clothes didn't rub, and so no one would see it.
She washed her face, did her hair & makeup and practiced her smile in the mirror, the one she was going to be faking all day.
On the drive to work her thoughts got the better of her, she decided to put on some music to make her feel better. Well she thought it would until "Stan" by Eminem came on. She didn't skip it though, she related somewhat to the lyrics.
She felt her heart sink when the parts she related to came on. The two in particular that really strung some chords: "Sometimes I even cut myself to see how much it bleeds, it's like adrenaline, the pain is such a sudden rush for me" "But she don't know you like I know you Slim, no one does. She don't know what it was like for people like us growing up."
After 10 minutes, which felt more like 10 hours, Marjorie arrived at work. After what was most likely her millionth sigh today, she got out the car and walked into the building, not stopping once heading straight to the office.
She walked into the office and her face dropped. She thought she was alone today. But no, Autumn was in.
"Hello, Marjorie" Autumn spoke in her usual flat, emotionless voice.
"Hi." Spoke Marjorie. This wasn't like her, Marjorie usually tried to start the day heads up, lively voice. Autumn assumed she was just tired, but she made a mental note of it anyway.
Marjorie went straight for her seat, and didn't look up at all. She just sat there staring at the screen, sometimes there wasn't even any work on the screen, she would just sit there, in her own world.
"Majorie?"
"Yea!" Marjorie tried to elevate her voice to make herself sound happier. Nothing goes through Autumn though, she realised what Marjorie was doing.
"Are you okay?"
"Yea i'm fine, why?"
"You just seem off, thats all."
"I guess i'm just tired?"
"Ok." Autumn knew she was lying, she wasn't sure what was wrong with Marjorie, but she knew it wasn't her just being tired.
Autumn had been analysing Marjories behaviour for the past few hours, making sure to make note on anything slightly different, hoping to piece together what exactly was wrong.
From the outside it never really seemed like Autumn cared about people, or their feelings. But deep down inside, she did. Especially for her close friends & her brother. And of course, her amazing husband.
Marjorie would continually scratch her arms for long periods, she probably didn't realise Autumn was watching or that she was even bothered.
Autumn had remembered Mia doing the same thing when they were teens, she knew exactly what Mia was itching, and wondered if Marjorie had done the same thing Mia used to do.
She decided to wait until she was 100% sure to confront her. She also noticed Marjorie was wearing a very baggy, loose jumper. This wasn't like Marjorie at all, in-fact most would say polar opposite. Marjorie usually wears quite tight, short clothes. Especially in the summer.
Every so often Autumn would look over, just to check on her. It would pretty much be the same sighting every time, Marjorie just sat there staring at the screen. Until one time, Marjorie lent forward to grab her drink and thats when here sleeve rode upwards revealing fresh cuts and the realisation hit. It was exactly what Autumn had been thinking all along.
Marjorie quickly pulled her sleeve back up, scanning the office making sure there wasn't anyone who had walked in looking, and to make sure Autumn hasn't seen anything.
She had.
Marjorie was quickly met with Autumns eyes. The eye contact they made suggested that they both were thinking the same thing.
"oh shit." thought Marjorie, realising Autumn had seen.
During this 10 seconds of eye contact, Autumn noticed Marjorie's eyes water up.
"Marjorie. Did you do that to yourself?"
Marjorie quickly looked down and nodded slightly. She was so upset she couldn't even form words. It was clear Marjorie was crying.
Autumn isn't one for emotion or physical touch, but in this moment she knew it was what Marjorie needed most.
She tapped Marjorie on the shoulder and signalled to the sofa, just adjacent to their office chairs. Marjorie lifelessly walked over to the sofa and flopped herself down, still sobbing her eyes out.
Much to her surprise, Autumn came and sat reasonably close to her. Autumn lifted her arm up and put it around Marjorie, gently stroking her arm in an attempt to calm her down.
Marjorie hesitantly rested her head on Autumn's chest. She was okay with it. She had never seen Marjorie like this and desperately wanted to make her feel better.
The two women sat there for a while in silence, just cuddling, Marjorie enjoying Autumn's company and comforting.
After about 20 minutes the silence was broken with a simple, "Why?" from Autumn.
"My mum." shakily replied Marjorie.
"What has she done now?"
"Do you remember that photo I posted in that dress yesterday?"
"Yes?"
"My mum replied to it saying I looked disgusting and fat and that I should go on a diet"
"Marjorie if i'm being honest I myself thought you looked absolutely lovely in that dress, and anyone who says different must be jealous."
"Growing up my mum would constantly tell me how horrible I am. Inside and out. She said i'm ugly appearance wise and personality wise. I just feel like such a terrible person."
"Marjorie every day I think to myself how I got so lucky to be able to work with someone like you, and how much I wish I was like you. You have such a kind heart, always optimistic and always ready to help, even if you're not feeling 100%. You are beautiful, Marjorie. Your face, your body, your personality. Everything about you is beautiful."
"Wow, Autumn I.. Thank you. For being so supportive."
"I do care, Marjorie. I'm just bad at showing it."
"I know."
"Would you like me to call reece?"
"Yes please."
Autumn called Reece, and he was on his way over now. The women sat there cuddling still, just until he got here.
*chapter 3 reece & marjorie*
