8

Just as you're wondering whether you should just stand up and go right now before you can change your mind, you hear a distant knock on the front door. Surprised, you grab your laptop and the remains of your breakfast and head inside to answer it.

When you pull open the door, you find Marlowe standing on the other side.

Seeing you, they give you a tired but genuine smile.

"Hey—sorry, I hope this isn't a bad time or anything. I was just thinking I might come over and—ask if you wanted to hang out sometime? Maybe tonight, after the voting has finished?"

Even though it seems impossibly far away, you make plans to hang out this afternoon once the vote is over. You can't quite imagine doing anything that normal just yet, but you have a feeling you might need it, whatever happens today.

"So—thanks again for coming over last night," they say after a while, letting out a small sigh. "It really helped a lot. And it was just nice having you there. You know. Obviously."

They grin, seeming unable to help themself. It's clear that they feel a little better—but everything that was hanging over them yesterday is still weighing on them. It couldn't not be.

Taking a deep breath, Marlowe clench their jaw and goes on:

"I still have no idea what to do about—you know, the stuff I'm supposed to inherit. Or anything else, to be honest. But I was talking to my roommate last night, and…well, I think it really helped me just to be honest about how messed up I was feeling. He just said I shouldn't rush into anything; and whatever I decide, I shouldn't feel guilty. Which is definitely hard, but—I know he's right."

They do smile slightly to themself then, and you think you can see some of the weight lifted off them.

"He really is like my family, to be honest," Marlowe tells you quietly. "He's been looking out for me for so long, since I was a kid. Since my parents died. I only started living with him when I was a teenager, but he's always cared about me. He's kind of keeping me together right now, too."

They blink and wipe at their face before any tears can fall.

"So yeah, I don't know what the hell I'm doing, but…I'll be okay. At least I'm not on my own."