Page 3 of Rescuing Mary

Mary shut the door as quietly as possible as she entered the trailer. Turning, she went to go to her room, but stopped dead in her tracks.

Mama was standing there. Her eyes were bloodshot and she swayed on her feet.

She was drunk. Again.

Not that it was any big surprise, but Mary had hoped she’d be passed out by the time she got home.

“You sleep with him?” Mama asked belligerently.

“No.”

“Could’a fooled me. You look like a slut. Got a pile of makeup on your face. Your dress is short. What, he told you he loves you and you gave it up, right? After everything I’ve taught you.”

“No, Mama. We went to the dance, hung out with friends, and he brought me straight home.”

Mary took a step back as her mama came toward her.

Her arm flew up and she slapped Mary right across the face.

Mary brought a hand to her cheek and stared at her mama in shock.

“Don’t lie to me! You’re sleepin’ around, I know it. Men suck. Why won’t you get that through your stupid brain? You can’t believe ’em when they tell you they care about you. You can’t believe ’em when they say they want to help. They don’t. All they want is to stick their dick inside you and get off.”

“Brian’s not like that,” Mary said softly. “He likes me. He’s nice.”

“The hell he is,” Mama sneered. “They’re all like that. Mark my words. In the end, he’ll hurt you, and I’ll not give you an ounce of sympathy. I’ve warned you time and time again that you can’t trust men. That they’ll screw you over every single time. If you want to fuck him, fine, but don’t pretend that you’ll get anything out of it other than some mediocre sex. He’ll leave you. They always do. Now, get out of my face.”

Mary hurried around her mama to her room. She’d had a good time at the school dance and her mom had ruined it.

Brian was a junior, and two years older than her, but he’d done nothing more than kiss her. He’d said he liked her and enjoyed spending time with her. He made Mary laugh and, more than that, she felt safe around him. She didn’t need to worry about other boys trying to cop a feel or bullying her. Brian hadn’t groped her when he’d kissed her and hadn’t pressured for more. Her mom was wrong about him. She knew it.

* * *

14 Years Ago, Age 16

* * *

“I’m sorry, Mary, but it’s over,” Brian said in a cold tone she’d never heard him use with her before.

They were standing in the middle of the hallway at school. Mary had met him in their usual spot before lunch. She’d gone up on her tiptoes to kiss him hello, but he’d stepped away and said the last thing she’d expected to hear.

Especially since the night before, she’d given him her virginity.

She’d told Mama they were going to the basketball game and instead he’d rented a room at the rundown motel across town. He’d apologized and said he wanted their first time to be more romantic, but he didn’t want anyone to recognize them and get her in trouble.

The actual act of having sex hurt, but Mary had pretended to enjoy what they’d done. Brian had seemed distracted, but Mary hadn’t thought anything about it. He’d held her close afterward and eventually they’d left to go back to the high school. He’d said that he wanted to make sure people saw them at the game together so she wouldn’t get in trouble.

Mary had loved that he was looking out for her. That he’d wanted to make sure her reputation didn’t suffer. That was why his words now didn’t make any sense.

Her brows came down in confusion. “What?”

“Me and you. It’s not working out.”

“But…you told me last month you loved me,” she said.

He scoffed. “I thought I did, but I was wrong.”

“I don’t understand,” Mary said, wanting to beg for him to take it back, but she had more dignity than that.