Feeling her tears beginning to subside, Marta took a shaky breath in. She hated crying. It left her feeling warm in the face and exhausted. It was decided, she was going to go home and go to bed early. The emotional roller coaster she just went through drained her of all her energy. However, going home was a much longer walk than going to uncle’s estate. She had about 8 more blocks to go to get to her uncle’s, whereas, she would have to walk the 7 blocks back to her school, then it was another 20 minute walk from there to get to her house. But the thought of socializing right now was completely out of the question. Plus, her mother would be able to tell instantly that she was crying and she would interrogate Marta until she finally got the truth from her. Marta was never a good liar. 

Marta glanced down at her watch, made of gold, and saw that it was five minutes past five. The party has started. Hopefully her mother would be too distracted to notice her absence. Though in reality, that would not be the case. Marta would have to make sure she telephoned her uncle’s house when she got home. Letting out a sigh, she went to adjust the buckle on her shoe and prepared to leave, when she heard someone sit down next to her. It startled her a bit and she looked over and saw Ezra sitting next to her. 

Before she could get a word out and ask him what he was doing there, he began his apology. She gave Ezra her full attention, wanting him to know she was taking him seriously. Technically yes, she was crying because of him, but not because of how he acted, but because of the reason he had to act like that. She despised what was happening in the world right now. The hate. It was the worst poison in the world and if Marta could, she would create an antidote with love. She is too optimistic for her own good sometimes. It gets her in some awkward and rough situations sometimes, like the current predicament she was in now. 

When Ezra mentioned how he was in the hospital because of all the terrible things happening, she let out a soft gasp. Aside from the one comment he made, Ezra seemed like a gentleman, definitely not a person who should land in the hospital because a couple of people felt that his religion deemed him as unworthy to exist. That thought brought tears back into Marta’s eyes, but she didn’t want to be selfish and have Ezra think everything was about her, so she held them in.

Marta glanced down at the bag of treats Ezra brought, and a small smile graced her lips. Guess she would quench her sweet tooth after all. She was about to thank him, when she noticed a cringe on his face and him holding his stomach. Unaware of why he was in the hospital, and why he was holding his stomach, Marta became concerned. Maybe he was sick? Did he need help?

Ignoring Ezra’s comment about walking her home, though she heard him say it and it made butterflies form in her stomach for brief moment. No guy has ever offered to walk her home. But that wasn’t what was important. Ezra, who was clearly in some sort of pain, needed to be the focus.

Shifting slightly so she faced him more, Marta placed a gentle hand on Ezra’s forearm.

“Are you ok? Do you need something? Medicine? A doctor?” There was genuine concern in her voice and in her eyes. Marta was a caretaker. She hated seeing other people, or animals, hurt. She would do whatever she could to make them better.