“I haven’t forgotten anything.”
“You’ve been going to the hospital to see your sister a lot lately, every day with bags full of things,” John remarked to his wife, Mary, as she returned from the hospital and they sat down for dinner.
“Why does that bother you?” Mary asked, surprised.
“It’s not really a bother. I understand she’s your sister. But Jane isn’t in critical condition, and there are others who can visit her besides you—her husband, her daughter, her son with his wife. Why do you go there every day? Unless there’s a charming doctor you’re visiting,” John teased.
“What nonsense you’re talking about!” Mary scolded. “And for your information, Jane’s doctor is a woman. So much for your theory…”
“But seriously, Mary, explain to me. Why do you need to go to the hospital every day after work? You wake up at six in the morning, prepare broths and juices. Then you rush home after work, pack a bag, and race to see her? You’re exhausting yourself, not getting enough sleep. Just look at the bags under your eyes…”
“Fine, I’ll tell you, since you won’t give it a rest,” Mary sighed, clearing the table. “I’ll make some tea and we’ll talk.”
“Sure,” John brightened up, “I honestly don’t understand…”
***
Seventeen-year-old Mary Smith moved to London right after graduating high school to enroll in university or a technical college, whichever worked out. She was born and raised in a small village without any opportunities for further education or career prospects. Mary was determined to get a diploma and become a lawyer.
She didn’t pass the university entrance exams, but she did manage to get into a legal college, which made her incredibly happy. She really didn’t want to return to the village where there were no opportunities. Working as a shopkeeper like her mum wasn’t appealing. Living in the village was even less so.
Mary was determined to make her life in the city. She wanted to study, secure a job, and build her personal life. Visiting the village would be just for holidays, and she’d help her parents once she was stable. She had ambitious plans and no doubt about fulfilling them.
Back in school, Mary had dated Tom Parker, a classmate. Unlike Mary, Tom had no interest in city life and planned to stay in his hometown. Right after school, he started working on a farm where his parents worked and intended to join the army before returning to farm work. It was the life he wanted.
Mary was appalled by such prospects, so she easily broke up with Tom, understanding he wasn’t the hero of her story. They had no future. Tom didn’t mind much either and promptly married Lucy, who had always had a crush on him, as soon as he turned eighteen.
In college, Mary secured a spot in a dormitory and adjusted to her new life. She studied hard to earn a higher scholarship. Her parents sent her money monthly, so Mary wasn’t living in poverty. She wasn’t extravagant, but she didn’t have to starve or stretch her finances too thin.
…Mary remembers that autumn day vividly even now… She was on the bus returning from the library where she had prepared for a civil law seminar. The library kept her until the evening, and she ended up in rush hour. People were just returning from work, and public transport was packed.
Mary barely squeezed into the bus full of passengers, not wanting to wait for another one, which might have been equally crowded… Waiting on the platform for an hour wasn’t an option for tired Mary.
As she stepped off the crowded bus, where she felt like a herring in a barrel, she sighed with relief, only to realize in horror that her bag had been slashed… She broke into a cold sweat; her wallet had been stolen…
Such incidents were unfortunately common, with thieves exploiting the crowded public transport and passengers’ inattention. Finding the thief was near impossible.
The worst part was that Mary had received her scholarship that very day, along with a money transfer from her parents the day before, all of which were in her wallet. She hadn’t yet hidden the money under her mattress as usual, and now it was all stolen, leaving her penniless…
To make matters worse, Mary’s recent phone call with her parents revealed that her father’s paycheck was delayed. Her mum had asked her to be frugal since they didn’t know when they could send money again.
Saying Mary was in shock would be an understatement. Tears streamed down her face as she cursed herself for not transferring the money sooner and for being inattentive on the bus. She’d heard of similar thefts. A classmate had recently been robbed in a trolleybus. Now, Mary herself had become a victim…
Reporting it to the police seemed pointless. What could she tell them? She hadn’t noted any faces of the bus passengers. Finding the thief would be even more difficult than finding a needle in a haystack.
That cheap wallet, likely thrown into a bin or ditch by now, had all her money… How would she live now? What would she eat? Her food supply consisted of a block of margarine, two onions, some tea, a bit of buckwheat, and pasta. Clearly, not enough for a month.
“Why are you crying?” asked Julia, her roommate, noticing Mary’s tears.
Mary shared her misfortune.
“That’s tough,” Julia said. “But it’s your own fault. Who carries all their cash around? You should have clutched your bag tightly or hid the money in your bra or pants on the bus. You have to be vigilant nowadays… You’re bright in your studies but act like a fool otherwise…”
Mary understood this well, but Julia’s words offered her no comfort… She wasn’t offended by being called a fool. That’s exactly how she felt… You can’t turn back time or change what happened. The money was gone, and she had to move on.
Mary decided against phoning her parents at once. She was too ashamed to admit her carelessness, given their financial struggles. With her father’s delayed paycheck, they lived on what her mum earned at the shop, which largely went to buying food. Supporting her and her younger sister Jane was already tough…
Perhaps she needed to find a job, Mary considered. It was possible, but who would pay her straight away? She’d have to work at least a month or even two weeks for an advance payment… But new hires usually don’t get advances… What should she do? It felt like a no-win situation…
“Do you want me to introduce you to a sugar daddy?” Julia unexpectedly offered.
“A what?” Mary didn’t quite get it.
“Oh, come on! A wealthy guy who’ll support you in exchange for… well, you know. Or do I need to spell it out?”
“No need, I understand…”
“Good. With your looks, you’ll have plenty of suitors… You’d be living the dream.”
Julia’s offer didn’t sit well with Mary. The idea of becoming someone’s mistress—even a rich one—sickened her… She knew Julia was fine with that lifestyle, having no financial concerns, but Mary despised the notion…
“So, should I introduce you?” Julia asked again.
“No,” Mary shook her head and, after a pause, asked, “Julia, can you lend me some money? Just until my next scholarship. I’m completely strapped.”
“Sorry, I can’t lend anything. Spent it all on clothes and makeup, only have a bit left for food. But think about my offer, it’s open. When you’re starving, you tend to forget your morals.”
Mary didn’t respond to Julia. She turned to the wall and cried softly before drifting into sleep without realizing it…
