User blog:Echostar/Mary & Teresa

(Short story time!)

Mary took a deep breath and knocked on her sister’s office door.

“Come in!”

She opened the door and walked inside the office. Teresa was sitting at her desk, looking up from a large book. “Hi, Mary.”

“Hi.”

She closed the book and offered a smile. “What’s up?”

Mary walked up to Teresa’s desk and stood over her. “That’s not nearly as important as what’s up with you.”

Her sister frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“You cut out early the other night.” Hurt registered on Mary’s face. “I could understand that it might have been awkward for you, since you aren’t single, but you should’ve just told me. You don’t just leave without saying goodbye.”

“I went out for some fresh air and found Echo just waiting for me,” Teresa explained. “She’s pregnant and shouldn’t have been out there. I brought her home.”

It sounded like an odd story, but Mary trusted the honest look on Teresa’s face. “Then why didn’t you return after that? Or say where you were going?”

Teresa stared down at her hands, not responding.

Mary frowned. “Teresa… what’s going on with you? We went out together before and you ended up close to being drunk in a Muggle park. This time you just up and left. That’s not like you. I know it’s not.”

Teresa continued to stare downwards. She wasn’t willing to lie again, and there was nothing more she could think of to do.

Her sister sighed. “I’m here for you, Teresa. You know I am. And I know something’s wrong. But I can’t help you unless you tell me what that is.”

“I don’t need your help.”

Mary narrowed her eyes. “You’ve made that perfectly clear.”

Silence filled the room. “I’m sorry,” Teresa finally replied in a whisper.

Mary paused. She was one to forgive easily, and Teresa genuinely seemed sorry… “But you can’t promise you won’t pull a stunt like that again, can you?”

Teresa slowly shook her head.

Mary’s eyes filled with tears and she turned away. “Well, when you need me, I’ll be waiting. I’m not going to make myself an obligation.”

“You’re not an obligation. You’re my sister, and I care about you. I’m happy you and Benjamin seemed to hit it off.”

She whipped around. “But you make me feel like I’m an obligation. You hang out with me and tolerate my friends because you feel like you have to, not because you want to. If you had wanted to, we would have danced the night away.”

Teresa turned her chair around so her back was to Mary. Her heart was breaking as she replied. “I can’t expect you to understand how I feel.”

“Then help me to understand!”

She shook her head vigorously, holding back tears.

Mary’s own tears began to fall. “Whatever’s holding you back, I hope it’s worth it.” She took a few deep breaths to compose herself, then slowly turned and walked out of the office.

Teresa refused to let herself cry this time. The closer she remained to the people she loved, the more likely they would discover her secret. She was already taking a huge risk with Ferlen; she couldn’t bear to take that risk with her sister. She stayed away purposely. She hung her head, praying that her work wouldn’t serve as permanent damage to her relationship with Mary. It wouldn’t be long now. She had to have a breakthrough soon. She had to.