𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭-𝐈𝐭 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬 ━ 𝐉𝐢𝐦 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭

- 10 | sunday smile

Sunday smile

Jim woke up on Sunday morning with a sense of purpose. The sun filtered through his bedroom window, casting a warm glow over the room. He stretched out, shaking off the remnants of sleep, and couldn't help but smile when he remembered the events of the past two days. Marceline was still asleep on his couch, and though she'd seemed to be resting peacefully, he could tell she was carrying a lot on her shoulders.

Jim wasn't exactly sure what Marceline's story was, but he knew enough to understand that she needed a break—a real break—from all the stress that had been weighing her down. She hadn't smiled much since he'd met her, and when she did, it was usually tinged with worry or a hint of sadness. He wanted to change that, even if just for a day.

He got up, showered, and dressed quickly, his mind already planning out what they could do. As he made his way to the kitchen, he decided to let her sleep in a little longer while he got breakfast ready. It was a simple meal—eggs, toast, and some fruit—but he hoped it would be a good start to what he wanted to be a carefree day.

Around mid-morning, he heard the faint sound of movement from the living room. Jim smiled to himself as he cracked another egg into the pan. A few minutes later, Marceline shuffled into the kitchen, looking slightly disheveled but more rested than she had the day before.

"Morning," she mumbled, rubbing her eyes as she sat down at the kitchen table.

"Good morning," Jim replied cheerfully, turning around with a spatula in hand. "I made breakfast. Hope you're hungry."

Marceline glanced at the table, where plates were already set with toast and fruit. "You're spoiling me, Jim," she said with a small smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes.

Jim shrugged, flipping the eggs onto a plate and bringing them over to the table. "Just trying to be a good host," he said, sitting down across from her. "Besides, I thought it might be nice to start the day off right."

She gave him a grateful look and started eating. For a few minutes, they ate in companionable silence, the only sounds being the clinking of forks against plates and the occasional sip of coffee. Jim noticed the way Marceline's shoulders relaxed slightly as she ate, and it encouraged him to move forward with his plan.

"So," Jim began casually, taking a sip of his coffee. "What do you usually do for fun on a Sunday?"

Marceline looked up at him, surprised by the question. "Fun?" She paused, as if she had to think about it. "I don't know... I guess I haven't really done anything 'fun' in a while."

Jim nodded, not entirely surprised by her answer. "Well, I was thinking... maybe we could change that today. I know you've had a lot on your mind, but what do you say we do something different? Something just for fun?"

Marceline hesitated, her fork pausing mid-air as she considered his suggestion. "I don't know, Jim... I've got a lot to figure out, and—"

"And it'll still be there tomorrow," Jim interrupted gently. "I just think it might do you some good to take a break from all that, even if it's just for a few hours. No pressure, though. We can just hang out here if you'd rather do that."

Marceline looked at him, and for a moment, Jim worried that he'd pushed too hard. But then she sighed and set her fork down. "Okay," she said quietly. "You're right. I could use a break. What do you have in mind?"

Jim's face lit up. "Great! I was thinking we could go to the park. There's a nice spot not too far from here where they've got paddle boats, and it's pretty quiet this time of year. Plus, the fall colors are still hanging on, so it should be beautiful."