Poor Mary

Poor Mary

   ‘I wonder where she is.’ John wondered, worried that something might have happened to his girlfriend, Mary. ‘She usually calls or texts me if she’s not going to come to school... I hope she’s okay.’ He checked his cell phone once again, hoping to see a text message from Mary, only to no new notifications. John decided to go to his last class of the day, before heading over to Mary’s apartment.

   Halfway through the class, John had a feeling that something was wrong, very, very wrong. He decided that he needed to go check on Mary at that moment. He stood up and ran from the room, running to his car he quickly dialed Mary’s phone number. *ring ring- Hi, I’m not able to answer the phone at the moment, but if you leave your name and a message, I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. Byeee! Beep* “Hey Mary, it’s John, I’m heading over to your place, I’m really worried about you, I’ll be there soon honey.” ‘Damn it, I hope she’s home’ he thought to himself as he drove down the road towards Mary’s apartment.

   Once he drove into the parking lot, he quickly shut his car off and made his way to the complex’s main door. He entered the lobby and decided that the stairs would be the quickest way up to her floor. He pushed open the door to the stairwell, and ran up to the 4th floor. He ran to apartment 413, and knocked on the door. There was no response, he knocked again, and once again, no response. He took out his key and opened the door. He wasn’t prepared for what he saw...

   He saw a trail of wadded up tissues leading from the kitchen to her bedroom. He followed her, and found a lump of blankets on the bed, the blankets seemed to be...breathing? “Mary?” John cautiously walked towards the bed, and saw Mary’s sleeping face...and her phone was on the nightstand, one new notification on the screen...his missed phone call. ‘Is she okay?’ he wondered, as he gently pulled the blanket down. Mary shifted on the bed and a tiny moan could be heard. “Mary? Are you awake?” he asked, gently shaking her sleeping form.

“Mmm? What are you doing here...?” Mary softly asked

“Honey, why didn’t you call me?” John, gently placed his hand on Mary’s forehead...it was overly hot. ‘She has a fever...I’ll go get her an ice pack.’

“I guess I slept through the alarm...what time is it?” she tried sitting up, but John held her down, and placed the washcloth covered ice pack on her forehead.

“Mmmmm, that feels good...what are you doing here baby? Don’t you have school today?” she asked, rubbing her eyes.

“It’s pretty late in the afternoon. I was so worried when you didn’t show up at school, I was even more worried when you didn’t answer the phone...I’m so glad that you’re okay.” He kissed her cheek and sat down on the edge of the bed

“I’m sorry, I should’ve called...” she started to drift off to dreamland

“Shhh it’s okay, I’ll take care of you. Rest easy dear.” He lay down on the other side of her bed, and pulled her into his arms.

“okay...” and just like that, she was asleep.

   He lay next to her for hours, stroking her hair and placing gentle kisses on her head. His eyes got heavy, and slowly they closed. The two of them slept for a few more hours until John awoke and decided that they would have soup for dinner. ‘Hmm...only soup we have is chicken noodle...that’s okay, she likes it. I hope she doesn’t mind it came from a can...’ He got out a pot, and turned the stove on, he poured the soup into the pot and walked back into the bedroom to wake Mary.

“Honey? Wake up, I made dinner...okay Campbell’s made it but it’s on the stove and waiting for us to eat.” John pulled the blankets down and went over to the closet. ‘Hmm...where is it...a ha! There it is!’ John pulled out the green sweatshirt that he gave Mary the first few months that they started dating...it was his high school sweatshirt, and it was way too big for her but she loved it. He gently helped Mary sit up and slipped the sweatshirt over her

“I’m not crippled, I can put my own shirt on” Mary whined

“I know, just let me take care of you today Mary.” He spoke softly.

“Meh, what’s for dinner?”

“Soup”

“....” Mary looked at him skeptically...she had a preference for soup and wouldn’t eat anything that she didn’t like

“It’s Campbell’s”

“Oh, okay.” Mary got out of bed and started walking towards the kitchen, John followed behind her, and hugged her. She relaxed in his embrace and leaned against him.

They sat down next to each other and slurped their soup and drank their sodas. Mary got tired, and leaned her head on John’s arm.

“You tired honey?” he asked, wrapping an arm around her

“Mhmm, can I go sit on the couch?”

“You want to watch tv?”

“Mhmm...what are you doing...? Put me down this instaaaant!”

John picked Mary up and carried her to the couch and covered her with a blanket.

“I’m going to clean up dinner, okay babe?”

“Mhmm...” Mary fell asleep, once again.

John smiled, and kissed her cheek. After dinner was cleaned up, he went back to the couch, picked Mary up, and brought her back to her bed and tucked her in. ‘Sleep well darling’ he thought as he too fell asleep next to her.

~The Next Day~

   The morning sun shone through the curtains, lighting the bedroom with a soft glow, two sleeping figures could be seen on the bed. The larger of the two, shifted and move to curl around the smaller form. He, woke up first and checked Mary’s temperature, it seemed to be back to normal. Mary woke up next and smiled at her boyfriend.

“Thanks baby”

“For what sweetie?”

“Taking care of me, and loving me”

“Anytime sweetie, I love you.’

“I love you too.”