I leaned back on the pillows of my hospital bed. I was waiting for Rosie. I hadn't seen Rosie in days. There were so many things I wanted to tell her and ask her.

At ten that morning, Rosie, Ashley, Violet, and Freddie came into the room. Rosie's eyes brightened as soon as she saw me, "Mommy!"

It took all of my strength to not cry. She hopped up on the bed and hugged me gently, making sure to watch out for my bruises. "Hi, sweetheart. How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine," Rosie shrugged and smiled.

Ashley came over beside me, "How are you feeling?" She leaned over and kissed my cheek.

"Oh, I'm feeling better," I smiled meekly.

Ashley patted my shoulder, "Good. I'm glad. Charlie wanted to come but he's getting ready for a trial."

"That's okay," I said, knowing myself that I didn't want to see Charlie for a very long time after the night before.

Rosie slipped off the bed to go to her friends. Taking my hand, Ashley sat down, "So, you're feeling good."

I nodded, smiling quizzically, "Yes. I'm alright."

"That's great," she patted my hand.

I looked at her hand to see a silver band with a diamond right in the center. My eyes widened. I gasped, "Ashley!"

"I know!" she laughed. "

"James proposed," I lowered my voice.

She nodded, "Last night. It was beautiful."

"Ashley it hasn't even been a year," I smiled, despite my feelings. "You've only been divorced five months!"

"I know, but we spend so much time together. I mean, we're in love, Marilyn. Isn't that all that matters?" she shrugged.

I replied, "Yes. Yes, of course. Well, do the kids know?"

"Yes, they do. They're very excited," she laughed.

I pursed my lips, "It seems they like him. You should be very happy."

She blushed, looking at her ring, "I am very happy. But I'd be happier if you weren't in the hospital."

"Oh, this stuff happens. I'm lucky compared to the others," I swallowed.

"I'm so glad you're alright. We were all very worried about you."

I shrugged, "I'm okay."

Ashley sighed, "Marilyn, you always pretend you're okay and a lot of the time you're not."

Flashback

Marilyn climbed up the stairs to her apartment, carrying some grocery bags. She was so tired from work, the play, and school work. Sometimes, she wondered if it would be easier to go back home. But Marilyn was too proud for that. She just wouldn't do it.

When she reached her apartment door, Marilyn found a note on her door. She read it quietly to herself.

Marilyn,

Rent money?

-Joey

Marilyn rolled her eyes and sighed. Joey was her anxious landlord who just couldn't stand for the rent to be a couple days late. She unlocked the door. The apartment was clean as usual. Everything was in it's place, accept for a couple pairs of shoes across the room.

She went into the kitchen and unpacked all her bags, after which she went into the living room and collapsed on the couch, promising to do her work in ten minutes.

There was a knock on the door.

Marilyn looked at the clock. It was already nine. She cursed under her breath and went to the door. She opened it quickly.

Ashley stood there, holding a binder. "Hey, Marilyn."

"Hi," Marilyn squeaked, surprised. "Why are you here?"

"You left this at rehearsal. Charlie found it and I said I'd get it to you…" Ashley tried to peak in the apartment. "Can I come in?"

Marilyn started nodding persistently, "Yeah, yeah, sure."

Ashley entered, but stepped back. She looked at the yellow walls and noted the lack of personalization. "Are your parents home?"

"Um…" Marilyn bit her lip. "No. No my parents are out."

"Oh," Ashley got the feeling Marilyn didn't want her here. "Well, here's the binder. I'll get out of your hair."

There was another knock at the door. Marilyn took the binder and then answered the door.

"Marilyn," Joey stood there before her, clad in ripped jeans and a flannel shirt. "Rent money?"

"Yes, I'm sorry," Marilyn looked back at Ashley. "I've got it right here. Just wait a second." She walked over to the counter and picked up an envelope in which she had been saving her pay checks. "Here," she walked back and handed to him.

Joey sighed, "Okay, have a good night Marilyn."

Marilyn closed the door and looked at Ashley. "Look, Ashley-"

"Marilyn… what's going on?" she sat down on the couch, showing she wasn't prepared to leave.

There was a long silence until Marilyn replied, "I can explain."

End Flashback

I held Rosie's hand as I opened the front door to our house. Everything was the same as I had left it three days earlier. I closed the door behind us and went into the kitchen. My back ached as well as my head.

While I went over to the phone to check her messages, I heard Rosie shut her door. A few from the store, one from her credit card company, and a few junk calls. The last call, however, was something to think about. An older man's voice began the call, "Good afternoon, Ms. Lawley. I'm Detective Burns. I'm calling on behalf of your parents, Donald and Katherine Marshall."

I gasped, feeling my heart beat faster.

"They have been looking for you for fourteen years. I've been on the case for six. You've had yourself pretty well hidden, but I think I've found you. I'd like to meet with you and discuss some details. Please, call me back at this number. Thank you."

I put down the phone, trying to catch my breath. They had found me. I didn't know how, but they had. It took a few minutes to sink in. But after those few minutes, I began to sob, cry my eyes out. I reached for the phone and dialed the number.

"Burns," the man's impersonal voice answered.

"Hello, this is Marilyn Lawley. Please don't ever call this number again, thank you," I said and then hung up quickly. Before I could cry anymore, I called Charlie.

"Charlie Woods," he answered.

I took a deep breath, "Charlie… Charlie can you come over?"

"Marilyn! Are you alright?" he asked.

"No, I need you now," I covered my eyes. Between Greg kissing me, Ashley getting married, and now my parents, I needed help and comfort.

Charlie sighed, "I-I can't get away now."

"Please, Charlie. Please, I need you," I bawled.

He swallowed, "I'm coming over right now."

I was lucky that Rosie stayed in her room all that time until Charlie got to our house. He unlocked the door himself and found me sitting on the kitchen floor with my head in my hands.

Charlie knelt down beside me, "Marilyn, I'm here." He wrapped his arms around me.

"Oh, Charlie, it's just awful. It's awful," I buried my head in his chest. "Charlie…"

"Talk to me," he whispered in my ear.

I told him about Ashley and my parents, leaving out Greg because I knew how Charlie would react. He listened intently until I was finished. Then, he spoke calmly, "Marilyn, you should find your parents. You should speak with them."

"I don't want to, Charlie. I got away from them for a reason."

"And Ashley, why should it matter as long as she's happy, huh? She wants you to be happy and you should want her to be happy," Charlie put his thumb on my chin and smiled meekly.

Though I appreciated his reasoning, his calm attitude was so vexing and hard to understand. "Okay," I nodded.

He leaned forward and kissed me on the lips, "Do you want me to stay?"

"Yes," I choked out, pushing the tears from my eyes.

"Charlie?" Rosie came into the doorway.

"Hi, Rosie," Charlie stood up.

Frowning, Rosie came closer, "Mommy? Why are you crying?"

"I'm not, sweetheart," I smiled.

Charlie walked over to her and bent down to her height, "Let's go watch a movie, okay?"

She tried to look around him toward me, "Okay."

They went into the living room to watch a movie while I sat in my silence.

Later that night, I was lying in my bed when Charlie climbed in beside me without his shirt. He stroked my arm, "How are you feeling?"

"Fine," I sniffled.

Charlie kissed the back of my neck, "I wish I could help more."

I turned over to look at him, "It's over."

"Come on, you can't just shrug it off," Charlie touched my shoulder.

"Charlie, please, I don't want to talk about it."

Charlie didn't reply. Instead, he kissed me deeply and put his arms around me. I didn't pay attention to what he was doing. If he thought this was a way of dealing with my feelings he was severely mistaken.