TNN ONESHOTS

The old me - MK & AMR

Mia pushed open the office door, the familiar creak of the hinges echoing in the quiet space. As she stepped inside, a muffled sound caught her attention—soft sobbing that seemed to resonate from the far corner of the room. Curiosity and concern tugged at her heart, and she followed the sound, her footsteps light and cautious. She made sure to shut the door behind her to give whoever they were some privacy from people passing.

When she reached the source, she found Marjorie sitting on the floor, her back against the wall, tears streaming down her cheeks. It was a sight that made Mia's heart ache. Marjorie was usually so composed, always ready to lend a helping hand to others. Seeing her in such distress stirred something deep within Mia.

“Marjorie?” Mia said almost to softly, kneeling beside her friend. “What’s wrong?” She looked up, her eyes red and puffy. “I just… I can’t handle everything right now,” she confessed, her voice shaky. “life has been so overwhelming, and I feel like I’m drowning.”

Without hesitation, Mia reached out and wrapped her arms around Marjorie, pulling her into a comforting embrace. “You’re not alone in this,” she whispered gently. “I’m here for you. You can talk to me, or i can find Char or Auts”

As Marjorie leaned into Mia, the sobs began to flow easier as she allowed herself to be held by mia. "Im so sorry. Mia, im sorry." Mia listened and gently rubbed her friends back to calm her the best she could. Soon, the sobs started to subside, replaced by the warmth of friendship. Mia held her tightly, offering a safe space where she could let her emotions flow freely. They stayed like that for a while, the world outside fading away as they found solace in each other’s presence.

Once she calmed down slightly,  concerned, Mia questioned her again, "What's wrong?" Marjorie took a shaky breath, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I miss the old me but not how she looked," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Mia felt a pang in her heart at Marjorie's vulnerability. "What do you mean?" she asked softly, sitting down beside her.

"I just feel like I've changed so much," Marjorie replied, her voice trembling. "I used to be so carefree and full of life, and I didn't have to fake every smile and, well and now... I don’t even recognize myself anymore. School and my mother changed me so muc,  and I thought i lost myself the,  but now I feel I have really lost myself. At school. In my English class, I had to sit next to the rugby lads, and one of them used to always lift my chair up, so when I stood up instead of falling, my teacher shouted at me. But when I explained, she looked at me and said that I was lying and that I was too big and heavy for him to lift. She said it in front of the whole class. I think about that incident so often. It wasn't the worst thing, but it stuck the most. Im still too big now. Look at me. I hate it. " Marjorie got out in one breath as tears rolled down her cheeks once again as she moved and started grabbing her stomach harshly.

Mia pulled her into a tighter embrace as to try and protect her from the world and herself. She made sure that she nodded along to Marjories' every word, understanding the weight of those words. "It's okay to feel that way," she reassured her friend softly. "We all go through tough times, and it’s normal to miss who we used to be. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find your way back or create a new version of yourself that you love. But you need to be kinder to yourself. How you look doesn't define you, but i wish you could see yourself as we all see you because you are beautiful."

Marjorie looked at Mia, her expression softening. "Do you really think so?" She questioned quietly while wiping tears from her eyes. "Absolutely," Mia said with a warm smile. "You’re still you, just evolving. And I’ll be here to support you every step of the way." Marjorie clung to Mia tightly as she tried to move away.

“Hey, do you need a tissue?” Mia asked, noticing Marjorie’s struggle to hold back her emotions. Marjorie shook her head, forcing a smile. “I’m okay, really,” she said, but Mia could sense the sadness lurking in her voice.

Mia felt a swell of concern. “I’ll get you one,” she insisted, standing up and moving towards the other desk in the room.

Reaching the desk, Mia grabbed a tissue, but as she turned back to Marjorie, her heart sank. The sight of her friend, looking so small and vulnerable, made the tears almost spill from her own eyes. She had always been the strong one, the one who provided support, but now, she felt like she was about to lose that part of herself.

“Mia?” Marjorie’s voice broke through the haze of Mia’s thoughts. She looked up, and in that instant, the floodgates opened. “Don’t go,” Marjorie said, her voice trembling. “I can’t fight this without you. Don't leave after i said all that, please. Please dont leave.”

Mia rushed back to Marjorie’s side, tissue in hand, but it felt inadequate. “Im not about to leave you,” she admitted, her voice choked with emotion

Marjorie reached out, taking the tissue from Mia’s hand. “I’m scared,” she whispered, her tears spilling over. “hey hey i only went to get you a tissue, so you didn't get snot on me. You make it sound like i was leaving.”

They embraced tightly, Marjorie crying, the weight of their friendship hanging in the air as she slowly began to settle.