Buried Alive By Love

5. Dreams Long Gone

I took Natalie to her home and helped Joan to clean the place, it was a mess. While Natalie slept I went through her stuff.

"Joan, you're her friend. You gotta help her."

"I know what you mean. I try, Ville. But you know Natalie."

"She can't live her life like this." I found some things that I immediately threw in the garbage. It wasn't much, but she should be away from those things.

"She doesn't do it frequently. She's not an addicted."

"Yet."

"Sometimes she feels a lot of pressure on work. With her weight and all."

"What? She's so thin. Unhealthily skinny."

"Yeah, I know. Sometimes they complain she's too skinny, and then she gains some pounds and she's too fat. This fashion world is fucked up."

"She should... Well, I'm gonna talk to her." I kept cleaning, throwing away the empty bottles of wine, beer, vodka, salmiakki, she had any kind of booze there. I knew she would oppose, but I called Marie.

"I need a big, huge favour."

"What is it? Are in trouble?"

"Would you cook for me? You know, those magical soups only you can make."

"Of course, you know I'll do it gladly."

"But... It's not for me. It's for Natalie."

Marie let out a grumpy sound as expected. "Marie, please. She's very... Sick. She needs to eat something and I think your food can help her. You can go to my place and let everything there."

"Fine!" She hang up abruptly and I smiled. I knew that was a lot to ask from her, she hates Natalie, she truly did.

She slept for hours, which gave me time to clean the place with Joan, but she was going to France to see her family, and left. I would have to spend these days with Natalie any way, I couldn't leave her alone. Seppo came to deliver Marie's food.

"How's she?"

"She's just sleeping."

"Well, here's the food. Marie also sent something for you."

"Wow, that's a lot of food."

"Are you gonna stay here with her? Only you two?"

I shrugged. "She doesn't have a family. I mean, they don't care. Her roommate went to France, and I don't know any of her friends who would stay. So, there's no one left."

Seppo looked worried. "Are you gonna be alright?"

"Sure." I smiled to him. I was giving him too much trouble, always. I didn't want him to worry. He nodded and left a bit hesitant.

I drank a beer that I didn't throw away, I was feeling so horrible. I wondered what Ruby was thinking, and every time I thought of her, I felt guilty because of Nat. I just felt myself shrinking inside a black hole that was getting deeper and deeper.

Natalie woke up, she was a bit sick, but other than that she seemed fine. "Come, let's eat."

"You made food for me?" She smiled.

"No, dear. I'm not good in the kitchen so... Marie did."

Her face fell. "I won't eat that witch's food. She might have poisoned it."

"Silly, come. Her food is really good."

I pulled her from the bed and took her to the kitchen. She acted like a spoiled child to eat, but in the end she admitted Marie's food was very good. I liked to take care of Natalie, besides everything. I felt useful to someone, but at the same time I didn't want to give her hope, I couldn't pretend I would be here forever. I wished her the best, even with all the craziness.