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December 24, New York City, USA – Lenny

When I opened the door to the apartment, there was complete silence. I hesitantly called for Mom, but I didn't hear anything. I dropped the door behind me into the lock and went to my room. Mary had to be there, it was pretty clear. Half an hour ago, she was. But there was peace in my room too. The half-rugged bed, however, testified that I had to lie right. It wasn't until I discovered Mary's phone on it that I started to worry. I went to the bed and took her phone. She had received a few notifications, but they didn't tell me anything. I quickly tried to unlock her phone. However, since she had chosen the numbers of the date for Christmas Day, I had no difficulty doing so. When the screen unlocked, I ended up right in a chat she had had with Josh. Confused, I read the last text she had sent.

My heart seemed to be beating trees. Mary really wanted to be with me, just me. However, that joy vanished within seconds when I realized Josh had never read those words. The two hooks remained grey. The words "Last online, today 8:34 p.m." made me realize that at that very moment something must have happened, the extent of which I did not know. I left my room and glanced again into the living room, where there was really nothing to see. The intention to go to the roof of the house came to me all of a sudden. So I hurried and closed the door behind me before I, taking two steps at once, ran up the staircase. I hurriedly pushed the door out and took a step into the cool air. The picture I had there was unbelievable. Somewhere behind the house wall a path of candles had to start, which once meanders around it and finally ended on the large area in front of me. That's where Josh squatted in front of Mary. In his hand he had, unmistakably, a ring. I froze.

Mary noticed me immediately and turned to me. You could see the panic in her face. No one could have seen the tears in her eyes from that distance better than me. When I also noticed Mom and Sina, all the pieces of the puzzle were slowly coming together. "Lenny!" exclaimed Mary, almost relieved. She came running towards me and fell into my arms. I couldn't focus on her because I had Josh firmly in my sights, who had stood up in the meantime. "You!" shouted Josh, slowly coming towards me. I let go of Mary, who retreated terrified. Sina and Mom looked scared too. My thoughts were paralyzed by the memory of the conversation I had listened to. I wouldn't let him play such a game with Mary. Not with my Maria. "Josh, this is how I see you again." Josh looked angry. Damn angry. I was prepared to beat him if he wanted to. However, I was also aware that it was here and Mary. Their future and their choices. She should decide what I did. She didn't know about the bad plans Josh, or rather Paul, had. But she had free will, and I knew I couldn't stop Mary from getting into her head.

So I took a look at her. "Do something," she demanded. And I obeyed. Josh raised his fists and almost stood in front of me. I took my phone out of my pocket and opened the recording I had taken within seconds. Josh froze in motion as soon as he heard his own voice, and Mary suddenly looked confused, too. Now Carol also dared to come closer together with Sina. I breathed heavily as I heard the words again. How could anyone want to force something like that on someone like Mary?

By the time the audio was over, all the color was gone from Josh's face. Mary, on the other hand, seemed to be boiling with anger. "Why Josh, why?" she asked him. And she was crying again. Josh didn't give her an answer. Instead, he dropped the box with the ring. "I didn't want to do it myself," he tried to talk himself out of it. "Mary, you know how much I loved you." Mary only stared at him with a tearful look. "I didn't want to do this, I swear. I never wanted to keep you there. I didn't want to take those dreams away from you. But I quickly realized that if I didn't, I would lose you. And Paul realized that sooner." All I could do was keep quiet while Mary slowly learned the truth about her ex-boyfriend. Who knew what would have happened if I hadn't shown up at that moment?

"Go back to Australia, Josh. Find a woman who will move with you to a house on the coast and give you children. Grow old with her and have a good life. But I'm not going to be the woman by your side." Mary turned away from Josh and looked at me. Then she smiled through her tears and fell into my arms. My Mary.

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