Mary 5

The side of the road is never an inviting place, but it was the only place where there was no one. I didn't want anyone to see my Mascara running down my face. I didn't want anyone to see my shoulders heaving with every sob.

I was a mess…

And I couldn't let anyone see that.

I caught my reflection in the rear view mirror and couldn't help but gasp. That wasn't me.

The makeup that I had so carefully applied…just for Max…It was smeared and messy and it, for some reason, terrified me to see myself in such a state of disarray.

I reached into the backseat and pulled my large makeup bag to the front. My shaking hands searched frantically for a wipe to clean myself up with when I heard a car pull up behind me.

Keeping my head down, my hair in my face, I stuck my arm out the window and motioned for them to keep going. I didn't need any help…

Well none that they could give me anyway.

When I didn't hear the car drive away I began to get worried someone would walk to up the window and began searching more frantically for some bottle of beauty that I could hide myself in. I finally grabbed up a mirror and a wipe and began cleaning the excess Mascara and eyeliner from underneath my eyes.

I was engrossed in my reflection as I freed myself from the ugliness that was clouding me. I guess I was so absorbed in my transformation and that's why I didn't see him walk up to the car.

"Mary." He said, with no emotion in his voice. I looked up startled, the wipe still touching my face.

"Have you been crying??" He asked, taking the wipe from my hand.

"Calypso…" I choked, trying to swallow the tears that were welling up once again, "Just leave it alone. I'm going home. Just leave me alone."

"What do you mean, Mary??"

"I mean I'm a fool, Calypso. I trusted you and I trusted Max and both of you hurt me…I'm going back home and back on my medication."

"No, no, no…" He said, wiping my face, his own face overcome with sympathy…

Probably lust too.

"Mary…" He started, "What do you want most in the world??"

"Love." I replied without even thinking.

"And who do you want most in the world??" He questioned with a sly grin, finished with cleaning my eyes and now gazing into them.

"Max Payne…" I said and I felt my nose start to burn slightly with the sobs I was holding back.

"I can make it happen." He said, caressing my face softly with his fingers.

"You've said that before."

"I mean it now. Why do you think I went to the jail??"

"You talked to him??"

He grinned even wider.

"Of course, I did."

"What did he say??"

"Well, Mary, I can't get into that right now. I just need to know how much you love him."

"You have no idea." I said, finding it harder and harder to fight back the tears.

"Would you do anything for him??"

"Anything."

"Would you do anything to be with him…for good??"

"Absolutely."

He smiled and a short giggle escaped him, surprising me.

"Go on home, Mary. I'll see you there in a bit. I've got a quick meeting to attend to."

Calypso got back in his car, made a U-Turn and went right back the way he came.

I started my car and went home, my mind clouded with Max Payne's perfection the entire way.