Mario sat in his dark bedroom deeply depressed. He just finalized his divorce with Peach and he felt like ending his life. He really believed that his whole life would be married to Peach. Every second with her was more magical than anything.

Unfortunately, she felt different.

She was falling in love with another. Her own best friend, Daisy. Mario figured she would because she's taller, she's athletic, and she was what Peach wanted. He kept telling himself that she's better. She's better for her than him. It sucks.

Mario picked up another can of beer and downed it in ten seconds. He burped and threw the can across the room. He groans as he hears a knock at the door. He thinks it's Luigi again trying to cheer him up. He ignores it but the knocking got more persistent.

Sighing, Mario finally gets up and walks down the stairs to his door. He looks through the peephole and sees someone he thought he would never see again. He flings the door open and stares at the figure in disbelief.

It's Rosalina. A childhood friend.

"Hey Mario. I heard about you and Peach. Luigi told me half of it."

Mario groans but he can't believe what he's seeing, "Rosalina? Woah it's been a while. I wish you didn't have to hear it from my brother."

"Well he said you weren't answering your phone so I had to try Luigi. Can I come in?"

Mario hesitantly opens the door and lets Rosalina in. He didn't want anyone, even her, to see him like this. See him so vulnerable and broken to the point that he wants to just go somewhere else. Rosalina sits on the couch, waiting for Mario to sit too. Mario slowly walks towards her and sits on the other end of the couch.

"You can sit closer Mario, I'm not a stranger."

"Well it kind of feels like you are."

Rosalina raises her eyebrows, "what does that mean?"

"Well," Mario starts as he shifts a little to get comfortable, "it's been a few years. You haven't called or at least visited so we knew you were ok."

Rosalina giggles, "Mario I tried contacting you loads of times but you've been occupied. I still talk to Luigi, Waluigi, and Wario. I thought you were still upset about how we ended things that day."

Mario tilts his head in confusion then he suddenly remembered what 'that day' she was referring to. He almost forgot. Maybe he wanted to forget because it was super embarrassing.

"Well I totally forgot that day. I tried moving on that first year you were gone. Then Peach came into my life and helped me. I thought we had true love better than anyone's. Apparently, I was the only one that felt that way because she had eyes for another."

Rosalina gave him a sympathetic look and Mario wanted to yell at her for it. He didn't need sympathy or pity. He just wanted to be alone but of course no one listens to him. He'll have to give his brother a serious talk later.

"Mario I'm sorry you had to go through that and I wish I was with you but-"

"Rosalina, why are you here?"

Rosalina was thrown off from Mario cutting off her sentence. She wasn't planning on being blunt and straight to the point. She sighs as she realizes that she might as well answer his question.

"Mario I wanted us to start a life together. I've waited years to tell you that. When I heard about your engagement and wedding to Peach, I told Luigi not to invite me because it's too much. I know that it was selfish and I should have came for you but it wasn't right. I know this is bad timing but can you think about it? Please? For me?"

Mario sort of blacked out after her first sentence. She wanted to start a life with him? After all these years? It's so soon and out of the blue for her to even say this.

"Rosalina I think you should leave."

As Mario said that, he can see tears going down Rosalina's face. He wanted to be angry but he felt guilty now. He knows he shouldn't but this was his best friend since they were children.

"M-Mario please I know this all too sudden but I can't leave you like this. I blame myself. I blame myself for not telling you years ago. Please just give me a chance!"

Mario really hates seeing her so vulnerable. Rosalina isn't the type to let her guard down and yet here she is pouring out her bottled emotions to him. He just wanted her out at this point because it's too much for him.

"Rosalina just go. I can't deal with this right now. You can't just come back unexpectedly and demand that we give each other a try after I just signed divorce papers. I'm not in the right mindset to be in another relationship. Rosalina, I love you, but this isn't the right time. I'm sorry."

Rosalina sighs and raises her hand to wipe her tears away, "I'm sorry Mario. I know it was wrong to say that after all this time. I just wanted to let you know that my feelings don't change so easily. I made a promise to myself and I will see it through. I'm just hoping in the meantime, you'll wait for me."

With that said Rosalina grabbed her belongings and left Mario's house. Mario just sat there stunned not knowing what just happened but he knew that Rosalina is stubborn. That brung a smile to his face. After all these years, she's still the same girl he fell for as children. Mario grabs another beer, cracks it open, and takes a sip.

He accepts the challenge. Let's see who breaks first.