𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭-𝐈𝐭 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬 ━ 𝐉𝐢𝐦 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭

- 9 | a different kind of morning -

A Different Kind of Morning

Marceline woke slowly, the warmth of a thick blanket cocooning her in comfort. For a moment, she forgot where she was, her mind still foggy from sleep. The faint sound of birds chirping outside, combined with the soft hum of a distant heater, made her think she was back in Boston, in her old apartment, before everything had gone wrong. But then she opened her eyes, and reality settled in.

She wasn't in Boston. She was in Jim Halpert's living room, on his couch, with the morning light filtering through the blinds. The room was simple but cozy—soft, earthy tones, a few framed photos on the walls, and a stack of magazines on the coffee table. It was the kind of place that felt lived-in, warm, and inviting.

Stretching under the blanket, Marceline took a deep breath, the scent of fresh coffee drifting in from the kitchen. It was a chilly morning, and she was grateful for the blanket Jim had given her the night before. The couch, though not her bed, had been surprisingly comfortable, and she'd slept better than she had in days.

The events of the previous day came rushing back to her—Jim finding her in the parking lot, offering her a place to stay, his kindness in the face of her situation. It still felt surreal, the idea that someone had gone out of their way to help her, expecting nothing in return. She hadn't realized how much she'd needed that.

Just as she was starting to wonder if she should get up, she heard footsteps approaching. Jim appeared in the doorway, a mug of coffee in each hand. He was dressed in a simple t-shirt and jeans, his hair slightly tousled from sleep, and his expression softened when he saw her awake.

"Morning," he said with a smile, walking over and handing her one of the mugs. "I figured you could use this."

Marceline sat up, wrapping the blanket around her shoulders as she took the mug gratefully. "Morning," she replied, her voice still a little groggy. "Thanks. This is exactly what I need."

Jim sat down on the armchair across from her, taking a sip from his own mug. "You sleep okay? I know the couch isn't exactly five-star accommodations, but..."

"It was great, honestly," Marceline assured him, blowing on her coffee before taking a careful sip. "Better than sleeping in my car, that's for sure."

Jim smiled, but there was a hint of concern in his eyes. "I'm glad to hear that. I was worried you might not be comfortable."

Marceline shook her head, leaning back against the couch cushions. "It was more than comfortable. I slept better than I have in a while. Thanks again, Jim. I really appreciate this."

Jim waved off her thanks, but the sincerity in his eyes remained. "You don't have to keep thanking me, Marceline. I'm just glad I could help."

They fell into a comfortable silence for a moment, each sipping their coffee and enjoying the quiet of the morning. Marceline let herself relax, the warmth of the coffee seeping into her bones and easing some of the tension she'd been carrying for so long.

"So, any plans for the day?" Jim asked after a while, his tone casual.

Marceline shrugged, setting her mug on the coffee table. "Honestly? Not really. I'm still trying to figure out... everything, I guess." She chuckled lightly, though there was an edge of nervousness to it. "I should probably start looking for a more permanent place to stay, but..."

"But that can wait a day," Jim finished for her, a reassuring smile on his face. "You've been through a lot this week. It's okay to take a day to just... breathe."

Marceline looked at him, surprised by how well he understood. "I'm not used to that," she admitted softly. "Taking a break, I mean. I've been in survival mode for so long that I don't really know how to just... stop."