Days later, Marjorie arrived home from the bar, she spent most Saturday nights down at the bar, drinking to the point where she'd be unable to string a sentence together.
She walked through the front door, Reece approached her. "Hey you, where have you been?" He asked.
Marjorie shrugged. "I don't know.." she slurred.
Reece worried about her, he noticed that she'd been drinking a lot more lately, but he didn't really know what to do.
"Marjorie you're drunk." Reece spoke. He held a hand out. "Let's get you to bed,"
She took a step back. "Don't come near me," she slurred.
"Marjorie.." Reece sighed. "Listen, you've been out all night, I don't know where you've been, I don't know who you were with, and I don't know what you were drinking. You're slurring all your words and you're not making any sense, please just trust me, for once." He begged.
"Trust?" Marjorie raised an eyebrow.
Reece nodded. "Yes."
She hesitated before taking his hand, he led her upstairs. She sat on the edge of the bed while he opened a drawer and grabbed her some clean pyjamas.
She got changed and then snuggled up beside him. "What have I done?" She questioned, her voice was trembling.
"Marjorie, you've had too much to drink, can you just go to sleep please?" Reece asked.
Marjorie nodded, Reece held her as she drifted off into a deep sleep in his arms.
*
The next morning, Marjorie woke up slightly hungover, she rubbed her eyes and sat up. A look of confusion appeared on her face when she noticed Reece beside her.
"What happened last night?" Marjorie questioned.
"You got home really late, and you were very drunk.." Reece giggled.
"Oh.." Marjorie looked a little embarrassed. "Did you not sleep on the sofa last night?"
Reece shook his head. "I didn't want to leave you."
"I don't deserve you," Marjorie shook her head. "You still care so much- even after our arguments, why...? Why do you care so much?" She asked.
"Because I don't want to lose you.. I don't know what I'd do without you." Reece reasoned.
"You'd be so much better off without me Reece- I'm a mess," Marjorie spoke. "Our whole relationship is a mess."
"We can make it work," Reece said.
Marjorie stood up and shrugged. "After everything that has happened.. I don't think we can." She spoke as she made their bed.
"Don't give up on us." Reece said, his voice was breaking.
"I'm not giving up on us, I just think you'd be happier without me, and I care about your happiness." Marjorie reasoned. "Do you even love me after all I've done?"
"I will always love you. Even from a distance. Even in the arms of someone else." Reece said.
"Well I wish I felt the same way." Marjorie spoke bluntly.
"Marj- stop it.." Reece shook his head. "Things were getting better between us.. why are you doing this?"
Marjorie stayed silent for a moment. "You should find somebody who loves you too." She responded.
Reece took a step closer toward her. "I have, she's standing right in front of me."
Marjorie's eyes widened, she didn't know what to say. "Reece- I want to love you, but I can't."
"Tell me you love me." Reece spoke with tears in his eyes.
Marjorie stuttered. "I-i can't.."
He grabbed her left hand, and stared at her wedding ring.
Marjorie perched on the edge of the bed and looked up at Reece. "Just give me a moment, please."
"Fine," Reece sighed. "I'll be downstairs if you need me."
Marjorie watched Reece leave the room, she sat at her vanity and straightened her hair, she then went in with her usual makeup. She got dressed and wore her classic black trousers with a low- black top.
Once she was ready, she made her way downstairs, Reece was sat in the kitchen, waiting for her. He admired her for a moment while she wasn't looking.
"Hey." He smiled slightly. "You okay?"
Marjorie shrugged. "Do you really want to give this marriage a second chance?"
"More than anything." Reece spoke.
"But I'm nothing compared to you- i mean, you could do so much better.. everyone knows your name- you're Reece Knight." She said with her head down.
He lifted her chin. "I'm not Reece knight without you."
Marjorie stayed silent, she just stared at his lips.
"I know we've lied to each other, i am so sorry for the pain I've caused you, and i know I can't take it back, but I wanna try and make it up to you, even if it takes me the rest of my life." Reece spoke.
"I'm sorry too. I'm sorry that I gave up on us when you never did." Marjorie apologised. "Forgive me," she begged.
"Of course I forgive you," he smiled as he wrapped an arm around her waist.
"I'm just scared- I don't know if this is a good idea Reece," Marjorie sighed.
"Marjorie- ever since I met you.. you've always taught me one thing.. you don't give up on the people you love." Reece reasoned.
"I know- but sometimes you have to do what's best for the people you love, and personally, I think your world would be better off without me." Marjorie replied.
"It wouldn't be my world without you in it." Reece spoke. "Don't you understand? I love you."
Marjorie stayed silent and avoided eye contact with him. "Can we just talk later, please?"
Reece nodded. "Of course, meet at the bar at six?"
Marjorie nodded. "See you later." She smiled slightly.
*
Hours passed, Marjorie went out to clear her head before making her way to the bar at ten to six, she ordered herself a drink and waited for Reece to arrive.
She took a sip of her drink until she felt a tap on her shoulder, she turned around and smiled.
"Hey gorgeous," Reece spoke. He hadn't used that nickname in a long while.
"Hello," she responded. She then handed him a glass of house red. "I ordered you a drink."
"You know me so well." He laughed as he took a seat opposite her.
"To be honest, I didn't even think you'd turn up tonight.." Marjorie spoke.
"Well.. I'm here now." He responded. "And I'm not going anywhere without you."
She blushed slightly. "I don't know what to do.."
"We're inevitable, Marjorie. We've apologised to each other, why can't we just move on from this?" Reece asked.
"I just don't know what you see in me.. I don't even recognise myself anymore, I've completely lost myself." Marjorie reasoned.
He reached for her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "I would choose you in every lifetime, no matter what."
"Really?" Her eyes widened.
Reece nodded. "I'll wait as long as it takes, I want you and only you." He said. "I don't care how complicated this gets."
Marjorie shrugged. "You don't have to wait anymore, Reece, I'm all yours."
"Tell me you love me," he replied.
"I-i.." she stuttered.
"Three words, eight letters.. say it and I'm yours." He smiled.
"I love you." She spoke in a flirtatious tone.
"I love you too." He responded, he pulled her in for a bruising kiss.
"Well.. what now?" Marjorie asked.
"We move on from this, no more secrets." Reece spoke. "I trust you with my life."
Marjorie nodded in agreement, she looked at him with her eyes full of love. "I wouldn't dare keep anything from you, ever again." She smiled.
"Good," Reece smiled. He raised his glass. "Here's to a fresh start."
"Cheers, my love." Marjorie smiled.
It's almost as if they were destined to fall apart.. only to fall back togetherð¤
The end.