I lean against the closed door after Angelo walks out, allowing myself to take a deep breathe, and exhale slowly.

I walk back to the living room, take my phone out from my purse and curl up on the sofa. I open the text Jaden sent and read it again and feel my heart hurt all over again.

It's been such a long time, when will they finally let things go? it was an accident, and even though it was my fault, i regret and think about it everyday. I want what is left of my family back so bad.

My phone rings in my hand and it's Luke.

"Hey, are you home, i made dinner" he offers cheerfully, but i just sniffle in return, feeling my chest swell with pain.

"Hey, Mary, are you ok? he asks, his tone of voice now that of concern.

"No"

"What's wrong, are you home?"

"Yes" i sniffle again and he cuts the call right away.

Less than five minutes later, he shows up, letting himself in.

"What wrong babes" he asks when he finds me on the sofa, he sits down next to me and cuddles me.

I show him my phone without saying anything. I don't need to, i shared my whole story with him over a year ago and he is the only one who would understand how i am feeling right now.

"That entitled little piece of shit" he scowlers, when he is done reading the text, and i end up errupting in laughter inspite of my tears.

"Ohh, come here you" he hugs me again, rubbing my back casually as i lean on him with my head on his shoulder.

We stay like this for a while.

*

I walk up to Marianne's door and raise my hand to knock, but i notice the door is slightly open and i can partly see inside of the apartment through the space left in the door. I clearly remember her shutting the door before i walked away earlier.

What if someone just broke in and she is in danger?

Feeling a rush of panick, almost bang the door to the wall when i go in. Walking into the living room, i find her there, safe but craddled in the arms of another man, but clearly just from crying again.

My mind goes batshit crazy for a second, not sure what to make of this situation.

She said she was fine, and didn't want me to stay. So what is this? who is this?

Why is she still crying?

"Angelo" she utters, surprise on her face when she sees me.

"Your door was open" i say, my eyes on the intruder as he looks back at me and we size each other up.

Marianne breaks our trance.

"This is Luke, Luke Evans, he is my friend and neighbour, uuhhmm, he lives in the flat before mine." she says softly, still not moving out of his embrace as he continues to keep his arm around her shoulders firmly.

"Luke....." she shimmies, trying to break the hold, which she persists until she does.

"Luke this is......."

"Angelo Morreli....i know" he finishes for her and stands up.

"Pleasure to finally meet you" he adds, extending a friendly hand.

I take it, and look at Marianne.

Finally meet me? Has she been talking about me to him?

"You left your stuff in my car" i say after the brief hand shake to justify the reason for my return, and put her stuff on the table

"Ohh, thank you" She says softly, biting her lip, her lashes still wet from the tears.

She looks up at me.

"Are you ok?" I ask again. She lied to me.

She bites her lip, contemplating what to say, then shakes her head at last.

"But i don't want to bother you" she adds.

"You are not bothering me" i reply truthfully.

"It's just that, it's a long story and i don't know if i want to share it all right now" she murmurs.

"Ok" i say, not pushing her, i want her to tell me what she feels comfortable with for now.

She looks at Luke for a second, as if asking for permission, then picks up her phone and gives it to me.

I read the text displayed, twice then hand the phone back to her, sort of understanding the situation, but a million other questions now swirling in my head.

"Jaden is my younger brother" she clarifies.

"i gathered that much" i reply, hoping for a little more information.

"I wanted to go home to attend a memorial and i have sort of been speaking to my mom about it, we hadn't been talking much in the past, but that has changed recently and she seemed.....earger to have me come... But then i got that message from Jaden and i guess maybe i was wrong and that.......well....." she stops, cutting herself off.

Why wouldn't her family not want her to attend a memorial?

I have so many questions right now, but i am actually just glad she is trusting me with this information anyway.

Luke is still here, not looking surprised at all, so i imagine he already knows the whole story, far more than what she is willing to tell me right now and i must admit it's making me a little jealous, even if we haven't known each other that long.

"Call your mom and find out if that is really her position as well" i suggest.

"What?"She mutters, she actually looks scared at the suggestion.

"Call her, maybe your brother is acting out of his own accord."

"But...but what if he is not?..i don't think i will be able to handle that" she responds softly, showing off her more vulnerable side again.

"Then you will know for sure and start healing from that, you are obviously not ok now anyway, so you might as well go for it" i continue.

She looks hesitant and looks at Luke questioningly again.

"I think he is right, you have nothing to lose." he smiles back at her.

"Ok" she replies and grabs her phone, dialing a number.

"Hey Mom...." She says quietly, walking to the kitchen.

We both watch her dissapear through the door and then turn to each other when she goes out of sight.

"So, i am a big fan of your father, Associate Justice Ivan Morreli, his appointment was historic, We talked about it at the office for a long time" he mutters proudly, folding his arms on his chest.

"Thanks" i respond, like i usually do.

It's the story of my life basically. I am very proud of my father's achievements, but he has cast a huge shadow over my own career and left a pair of shoes i can never hope to fufill in this lifetime.

Try as i may, nothing i can do in my field will ever top what he has achieved, not that i have any intention of replicating his every career path. So I try to disassociate myself from him all the time, so that we are not compared and i am judged on my own merit, but the effort is usually futile.

Mary walks back into the room, her face evidently brighter.

'Ok, i guess i will see you then.' She says, smiling a little.

'Ok, bye' Her smile widens as she turns to fully face us.

"Well" Luke asks.

"She said i should go and just to ignore Jaden, apparently its 'teenage hormones' acting up" she chuckles shyly, trying to make light of the situation.

I smile back, glad my idea actually worked.

I want to know the whole story, but i will wait for her to feel comfortable enough to share it with me. Or until my patience runs out, whichever one comes first.

"Alright, i will go now then" I announce.

"Oh, Ok... Thanks. Thank you very much. I guess i will sleep better now" She says, this time seemingly hesitant to walk me to the door, as she just looks up at me, not moving at all.

I nod and start walking, then she follows behind.

"Goodnight" Luke shouts from the living room and i hate that i have to leave him here alone with her, but glad that she has some company after all.

I stop at the door.

"Make sure you lock up everytime you or anyone walks passed this door" i advise her.

She nods "I know."

"It was literally wide open when i walked in here, i could have been anyone." i discredit her confidence, maybe with little exageration, but enough to drive the point through.

"Ok" she mutters, holding the side of the door with both hands, then looks up at me.

We share one of those looks that we have come to be so good at, its never awkward, almost as if our eyes say to each other, what we are not willing to admit or say with our mouths.

Then i lean forward and kiss her, lightly, just a little peck on the mouth. Our lips brushing briefly.

I pull back slowly and watch her eye lids open.

"I want very much to kiss you, properly. But it's been quite an eventful day for you right.." i chuckle and continue.

"It's not the right time, not today, so i won't. But next time, i won't ask you first" i say, brushing her cheek where her tears had fallen.

"Goodnight Mary, Sleep better." i whisper, before walking away.

A/N. Please Vote and Comment...cheers