Please, Don't Leave Me

Chapter 7

The next day at school no one saw Marc since he stayed home. Alya had spread the word of the tragedy to everyone in their friend group. Everyone knew what happened except Chloe and Sabrina. Even Kim knew so he went over to Marinette when he saw her and gave her a small teddy bear to give to Marc. Chloe noticed all the gifts and got jealous so she stormed over. "What's all this about, Dupain-Chang???" Marinette jumped, not expecting her to be there since Adrien told her he told Chloe to stay away. "Oh, all these gifts are sympathy gifts for Marc... His mom died in a car wreck last night." Chloe raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?" Chloe asked skeptically. Marinette sighed and pulled up the Obituary explaining everything. "Oh.." That's when Adrien walked in and his eyes narrowed. "I thought I made it clear you're not welcome around my friends. "It's alright, Adrien... For once Chloe was just curious about what was going on," Alya said. That seemed to put Adrien at ease, much to everyone's relief.

The entire day at school Marinette was too eager to go home to check on Marc. He refused to eat anything before she left so by the time the dismissal bell rang, Marinette bolted to the locker room then ran home with all the gifts for Marc in her backpack. When she got home she saw her parents look worried. "Thank heavens you're home... We tried to convince him to eat but whatever he would eat would just come right back up... His father is scheduled to released to come home in a few days, and I don't want to return his son to him malnourished..." her mother said. Marinette nodded and went to his bedroom to find him curled up on the bed. The curtains were closed and the lights were off, but he was wide awake. She quietly walked over to the bed and sat down next to Marc.

"Everyone missed you at school.... they even gave you gifts..." He hummed in response but sat up so he can see everything. Marinette can see he didn't even have the energy to take his makeup off. Her eyes softened as she presented a fake flower arrangement from Rose, a new jacket from Juleka, a teddy bear from Kim, Chocolates from Nino, a new necklace from Alya, who put pictures of his mother in the locket, an abstract graffiti art piece from Alex, new clothes from Adrien, and finally, a bigger tye dye teddy bear than what Kim got him. Marc seemed to take interest in that one bear in particular so she handed it to him and he squeezed then squeaked when it started playing something. After calming his heart he squeezed the bear only to realize it's a recording of Nathaniel singing something to him. While he was depressed beyond measure, he couldn't help but smile at the tender gesture.

Marinette smiled softly and put everything else on Marc's night stand. Marc laid back down clinging to his new favorite teddy bear. "I think I'll be able to go to school tomorrow... I want to thank everyone in person..." Marinette smiled softly, "They would love that.." Marc smiled shyly, trying to be himself again. Marinette turned on the light, helpedhim get his makeup off and they talked until Alya showed up. Upon arriving she went to the duo. "There he is... How ya holding up...?" she asked. Marc smiled softly, wearing the locket she got him. "I'm doing the best I can.... Thank you for the locket... I'll always have it on me...," he said. She hugged him gently. He hugged her back and they went down to the bakery, where Marinette's parents immediately gave him a few macaroons. He smiled sweetly and ate them. This time, thanks to his mood being a little better thanks to the girls, he was able to keep them all down.

Before long the sun went down and the trio were playing a game, but Marc's mood went to depression again. Before the girls could do anything to help, he broke down into tears again. The girls didn't even hesitate to hug him. They tried to shower him with as much love as they possibly could. They knew this was hard on him, and they knew he was trying to stay strong. They also knew, however, that during times like this he shouldn't be alone; no one should suffer alone during times like this. Marinette sent Alya to get his tye dye bear so she did while Marinette held him close. "I got it... now what...?"Alya asked. "squeeze it when you hand it to him..." Alya did as told and Marc immediately clung to the bear as he listened to Nathaniel singing as best he could through his sobs. For some reason no other music he listened to earlier had helped, yet hearing Nathaniel sing a cover to "In the Name of Love", originally by Bebe Rexha, helped the most. Marc closed his eyes and listened to the recording over and over again until he was calmed down a bit. "S-sorry, Girls...," he said, embarrassed that he broke down in front of them. They just reassured him that it was perfectly fine and that they understood completely.

The trio decided that since it was already 9:00 pm, it was too late to continue the game so they set Marc up in Marinette's bed, Alya on the chaise, while Marinette made a pallet for herself on the floor out out pillows and blankets. "Goodnight everyone..," Marc said quietly, cuddling his bear. The girls each repeated him before Marinette turned the lights off and they went to sleep. However, while the girls slept, Marc couldn't so he sneaked up to the balcony and looked up at the stars. "Mother... I pray that you are up there watching over me... I miss you and wish I could've at least said goodbye.... I have school tomorrow... Please, give the strength to make it through the day... I love you....," Marc said, hoping, wishing, praying with everything in his heart that she could hear him. He stayed out there for probably several hours before he felt a familiar warmth and a soft voice saying, "My sweet little rainbow... I will never leave you... So long as you remember me, I will never truly die..." Marc felt tears sting his eyes, but he was smiling happily knowing she heard him. Comforted, he went back to bed and finally succumbed to his body's need for sleep.