Mary’s Dream On Sleeping Pills

Mary opened her eyes to two strange things. Two strange, familiar things One, an apron, and two, a warm-light kitchen. Both strange, for she had not put an apron in years, since Ben only bought the couple fast-food leftovers for dinner, and for the fact that this very kitchen was one she had not seen in the longest time. This kitchen was home, the home with John. 

Though Mary was surprised, her focus quickly ran to the array of vegetables, spices, and raw meat in front of her, piled next to a stove with a large pot of cooking stew. So, naturally, Mary decided to do something she had long to do for ages; make dinner. 

Mary set the food on a wooden cutting board, slicing the vegetables and meat into rows, letting them simmer in the broth, then pinching in spices to the pot as well. The smell began to fill the room, and a small radio hummed oldies as Mary contently set the table. She laid out plates and utensils for two, though she realized she was the only one home. For a second, the music began to dim, and her happiness slowly went from her, knowing a dinner alone is what she should have expected from the start. 

That is until Mary heard a distant turn of a doorknob, then footsteps, then the closing of a door, and then finally, a voice that made her heart sank. A voice that she knew well. A voice she knew very, very well.

“Mary, my love, are you home?”

Before she could even process of what she had heard, what she could not even believe was happening, John peaked from the kitchen door, and John smiled. Mary cannot remember the last time she had ever seen John smile, smiling at her.

John walked over to Mary, who was completely still in surprise. He grabbed her waist, pulling her closer so that he could hug her, laying his head onto the top of her hair.  The music was still playing, and John slowly moved the both of them, swaying back and forth as he softly giggled.

“Did you mean to play this song for me? You know it’s my favorite, if you wanted to dance with me sweetheart, you could have just asked me.” John muttered. Mary kept still, yet sank into the warmth that John’s chest gave. Though she wanted to protest, and break down into tears in that very moment, all she could do was take in the feeling of him, the feeling of her John holding her just as he would years ago. She began to sway, too.

John let go of their embrace, kissing her lips for a moment before his eyes glanced at the pot on the stove. His eyes, already so bright, then got brighter as he turned once again to Mary. “Jesus Mary, I’ve been starving since my lunch break, and you make me my favorite for dinner?”. John began to laugh, kissing her cheek for a quick second before pulling out a chair from the table. “What other wife could I ask for, what other wife?”.

Mary felt a small sting in her heart, knowing a wife that he could ask for, a wife he would trade every part of  Mary for, his now wife Anne-Marie. Mary’s eyes glanced to his hands, noticing only one gold ring on his finger, and then Mary smiled. That was her and John’s ring. Not John’s and Anne-Marie’s ring. 

“Why don’t you tell me about work today while I finish up here Johnny? I’m almost done, don’t worry.” Mary finally spoke, turning to the stove and adding some finishing-touches to the stew. She tied her apron a bit tighter, with an ear perked for John’s response.

John laid his back on the seat, taking off his suit while playfully sighing. “You would not even believe it Mary. I mean get this, I’m in the break room grabbing a cup of coffee, right? Joe storms in, goes looking for his keys or something, and then I see him turn around-I kid you not, this man had like 3 papers stuck onto his ass!”, John  wheezed with a hand over his mouth, Mary following with just as much laughter. 

Mary turned her head back to John as she continued to stir. “You know, he deserves that, didn’t Joe jam the printer before you on purpose last week? That jerk, I’m telling you he has some problem with you, and for absolutely no reason!”

“If he has a problem with me then he could shove it up his paper-pile fucking ass, and he definitely does, it’s because I got a bigger sale than he did from some company we were working with last month. Can you believe holding some stupid grudge over that for this long? Unbelievable, I’ll tell you.”, John beckoned.

Mary turned down the flame from the stove and loosened her apron. “Well,” she said lightly, “he won’t be the one eating a stew like this tonight, his loss. Arms off the table my dear, your bowl is hot!”

She placed the bowl infront of him, fixing up the spoons and napkins. Mary then put a hand to his neck, kissing his forehead and whispering to enjoy. She hurried back to the pot, trying to find a bowl for herself. Though, she turned around, watching John take his first sip. As he put the spoon down, a smile flashed onto his face, and he began to hurriedly est more. Mary had never seen John do that, not even once in their marriage. 

John spun his head to Mary, cheeks full of stew and spots of broth dotting his smiling lips. He took a big swallow, then blurted, “This is delicious sweetheart! Did you put something new into this? I love it-I love it more than I did before!”

At first, Mary took a minute to speak, as her eyebrows showed that she was a bit concerned. However, her concern quickly turned to happiness. Carefully, she asked him, “Do you want me to make you more?”

John nodded his quickly, smiling even bigger.

After the two both finished dinner, Mary began to wash the dishes as John threw out the dirty napkins and crumbs. 

Mary felt John’s arms come behind her, as he laid his head on her shoulder. “Thank you for the dinner my darling,” he whispered into her ear, “I’ll finish the rest of the dishes, you get ready for bed.”

Mary’s face got pink, and she twisted around to face John, throwing her arms around his shoulders. John’s hands traced down her body, holding her just as close as he always did.

Mary missed sweet moments like this with John, where time seemed to had stopped, and the only thing that mattered was the presence of one another. Mary tipped up her toes, kissing John softly, her hands raising up to feel his hair. The two shared a long, long kiss, holding each other.

Mary walked into their bedroom, throwing on a silk nightgown and dusting off the blankets. She dimmed the lights, and tucked herself into bed, waiting for John.

John returned the room about 20 minutes later, and Mary set down a book on her nightstand. He laid himself into bed as well. John looked so beautiful. John looked perfect. His smile, his eyes, all full with love. He was warm.

Just as he went to hold Mary, she awoke.

Mary woke up next to Ben, on a beat up mattress, wearing yesterday’s clothes.