Story of Marie

there lived a girl, named Marie.

Marie grew up in a strict, traditional family. All that she knew in her childhood years were Listen, Understand, Obey. She was not allowed to go to her friends' house, neither were they allowed to come over. She was not allowed to stay in school for more than half an hour without at least a day's prior notice, and was not allowed to go out unless her parents had the names and phone numbers of all those she would be with. Marie's hair was kept short and boy-like, no watches were allowed to school, no mobile phone. The only way entertainment she had was watching television programs. No computer games.

Still, she thought she was in a great family. She thought that she would be taught self-discipline, filial piety, obedience. She had all of these. She was the model pupil of all her classes, her teachers' favorite student. No one dared to offend her, no one dared to come near her either. For a while, she was proud of her achievements and how everyone would ask her for help. After that, she came to realize how people were afraid of her and would not come near her.

As she grew older, she realized the difference between her life and others' lives. Her life revolved around Family, Studies, Work. Others' lives revolved around one more thing. Happiness. That was the difference, she realized. Her family never provided her with that. She started to look for it.

She started to talk back. She started to question decisions made by adults. She started to realize why. Why she was treated in this way. Because her father wanted a son. Not a daughter.

She accepted this fact without any question. It was all understood perfectly by such a bright girl. Her father was a traditional Chinese. He wanted a son to carry on his family name. Not a girl who will be married off to some guy in the future with another surname. No matter how bright she is. No matter how proud she could make him be of her. He was a firm believer of Confucianism. "A woman is beautiful on account of her gentleness." He was unpleased. Unpleased with the fact that she is such a bright student. A girl should not be so bright. A girl should not be born in the first place.

She kept to herself. She understood. She was hurt. Not that her father bothered anyway.

Then she met this guy. The one whom she believed in. The one who Marie believed that can be with her, help her. Help her run away from all these atrocities of traditional, backward mindset. But no. No dating allowed till graduation from Junior College. And how old was Marie? Barely through high school. Is she going to let herself continue obeying her parents' old-fashioned way of thinking? Is she going to let herself pass off this chance of being with someone she truly belong with, instead of this strict, traditional family?

Hell No.

She began to go out with him. He helped her through her darkest times. When her father was unreasonable, he was there to help her out. He gave advice on how to counter the cunt's words. When she was treated unfairly by her family, he was there to cheer her up. She became more and more detached from her family, not that they care. He made up for what her family could not provide her with. Happiness

She went for the Integrated Program. A program for students who excel academically. Her father was not supportive.

"Why study so much?" was his question.

"Why not?" was her smart reply. So bright, it got her a smart, tight slap across her face.

"How dare you talk back to me?!"

Silence.

"You can go for all I care, don't come crying to me when you fail your A levels!"

His words made her frustrated, made her want to cry, but most of all, it made her want to prove her father wrong.

She related the incident to the guy. He was sad for her, felt that her father was a total asshole. But what could he do?

She graduated with straight As on her A level certificate, and was overjoyed. She had proved her father wrong. She went on to University, on a scholarship, her fees all paid for. She was thankful for her scholarship. He on the other hand, had to go for National Service, although he had gotten straight As for his A level as well. 2 years.

Marie did not know how he felt, but she felt awful, despite the scholarship. Two years of solitude. Will she be able to cope? Will she be able to survive the workload, the new environment, her father's attitude?

Will she be able to cope with all these without his help and love?

All these time, she was living on borrowed time. He helped her through, gave her the strength to continue with life, knowing she would breakdown if he left her. Which is the reason why he did not leave.

Now that it is time for him to go for National Service, he had no choice. He wished that she would be able to cope on her own, and wait for his return two years later.

On the day of departure, they both cried. She promised to wait for him, promised to keep herself well. He believed her.

Two years later, he returned. But she was nowhere to be found.

He managed to reach her sister, the one he had always joked with and called 'Rabbit'.

"Where is your sis?"

Silence.

"Hello?"

A tearful choke of tears.

"What happened?" He knew something was wrong.

"Sis. She killed herself." A fresh downpour of tears was heard over the phone.

"You are joking right, rabbit? You are joking with me right?"

"No I'm not, Moron!" She had called him by his pet name. "Sis jumped off a building just two days ago!"

Silence.

"But she left a note for you. Come tomorrow, I'll pass it to you"

"Alright. Thanks."

He could not believe it. She promised. Marie promised to keep herself well. Marie promised to wait! It was just another two days! What was so tough about those two days!

When he got the note, he realized what was so tough about those two days.

"I am sorry. I cannot wait for you anymore. My father disowned me. My scholarship was cancelled because my grades slipped. My schoolmates hated me. I had to go. I am sorry."

By the end of the note, tears rolled down his face. Marie had left. Left him alone. He recalled a conversation they had years back.

"What would you do if I died?"

"I would have to move on."

He decided to follow what he said years ago and move on.

When he got married a few years later, he decided to be everything Marie's father was not, and showered his daughter with care and concern. His wife thought it was weird that he would behave in such a way, for he is Chinese and should prefer a son. He told his wife everything that had happened.

"Maybe I should tell you this."

"Go on."
"Marie did not die."
"What?" Possibilities of her being alive ran through his mind.

"I was her friend. I knew what happened. Someone else who looked like her had jumped off a building the day she went away. Her family mistaken, and thought that it was Marie."

"How could they! But where did she go? Why the note?"

"She wanted you to forget about her. She was bringing you down with all her troubles, all her miseries. She believed that you deserved a much better life than with her, so she left. I have no idea where she went. Even if I knew, I was told not to tell you."

He was so upset he did not know what to think. He was not angry with her for complaining to him! He was not feeling brought down! Why did she think that way!

It was a question he would never find an answer to.