limerence ☂ a sequel ☂ mary poppins returns

l ' a p p e l d u v i d e

The minute Vivian and Mary had gotten home, Vivian had disappeared upstairs. Mary had kept an eye on Vivian since they'd been walking home, even when she'd returned from the bathroom. She usually never pushed Mary away- she was beginning to grow a little worried about her, so she walked upstairs to check on Vivian.

The bathroom door was closed, which it usually wasn't, and locked.

"Vivian, are you in there?" She asked, knocking lightly.

"Y-Y-Yes. I'll be out in a minute."

Mary inched away from the door and sat on the bed, cuddling Gwendolyn as she circled around her.

When Vivian came out, she had bloodshot eyes and looked very frail.

"I'm going out- I'll be back late though." Vivian said to Mary, who stood up and smiled at her.

"Be careful, Vivian." She kissed her forehead, then sat back down. "See you then."

Vivian smiled, then walked down the stairs. Through the corner of her eye, Mary could see a moist patch on Vivian's stomach, and she furrowed her brows in confusion.

She then quickly walked to the bottom of the stairs, leaning against the wall.

"I love you, Vivian." Mary suddenly said. Vivian turned around.

"I love you too." She then walked out, still in her red dress. Mary turned to Gwendolyn with a light smile and said, "I do hope she's okay, Gwendolyn."

Gwendolyn meowed in response.

Up high, Vivian could see everything. Here, it was nice being so high because the air was so much colder than below. But Vivian's reason for being here was rather not nice.

Jump, her mind beckoned, You've done enough wrong. You're hurting everyone around you and you're far too broken to be fixed by anyone at this point. And your family? They abandoned you for the right reason. You're a terrible person, Vivian Ruby. What on Earth have you done?  Vivian tried to fight her thoughts, but she couldn't anymore. So she took her last breath and jumped.

☂

It was very early in the morning, and Vivian was still not home.

Mary Poppins put on a coat and a hat, wondering where on Earth Vivian could be.

She quickly locked the door behind her, hurried down the stairs, and set off for the clearing.

Vivian was not in the clearing in the woods.

Neither was she by the Banks' home.

Neither was she by the park.

Nor at the bookstore.

Nor at Alice's.

That was when Alice was given a call.

Mary Poppins stood in the hallway, worry visible on her face.

Alice walked up to her, looking incredibly tired.

"I'm so sorry..."

Mary looked at her with equally tired and worried eyes.

"What? What's happened?"

Alice looked up at Mary, her fists clenched. "She's at the hospital, Mary. She- She jumped off of St. Paul's Cathedral... Goodness knows how she got up there, but...."

Mary couldn't hear Alice's voice, explaining every detail and hypothesis.

She couldn't think.

Alice saw how stunned Mary was, standing still in the hallway. She then walked over slowly to Mary Poppins, her brows still furrowed, fists still clenched.

"You can go visit her in the morning."

Alice muttered sadly, hoping to reassure her.

Mary didn't say a word, she just hugged Alice.

They stood in silence for a while.

And for the first time in a while, Mary Poppins began to cry.