"Michael, it is three am; what on earth are you doing." When Michael saw Mimsy in the same pajamas as the photograph, he broke down on the porch in sobs. "Michael, it's ok." She opened the door and rubbed her hand on Michael's back. "Come in, you look awful."
The familiar smell of peach potpourri filled the living room.
"Here, let me get you some tea." Mimsy hurried into the kitchen.
Michael sat on the couch, taking deep breaths. How could anyone threaten Mimsy?
By the time she came back with a tray of tea and crackers, Michael had managed to control his tears.
"Could you please tell me what is going on?" Mimsy sat down in a chair beside him and poured two glasses from the pot. "Here you go."
Michael sat quietly for a moment. He suddenly questioned why he'd even come to the house. If they had followed him, they'd think he came here to tell Mimsy everything.
"Why are you shaking?"
"Mimsy, I need to go," Michael stood from his chair, setting his tea down.
"No, you can't wake an old lady up at three in the morning, cry in her living room, and leave. Michael, tell me what's going on."
Michael slowly sat down but didn't speak.
"I was engaged once too." Mimsy looked away. She didn't talk about her past very often. "It's a frightening time. The thought of spending your entire life with someone can be terrifying. I know I've given you a hard time about Katiella, but I believe in you more than I dislike her." Mimsy smiled, "I didn't mean to cause you all this stress. If you believe she's the one for you, I will support you. I will learn to love her the way I love you."
He appreciated Mimsy's acceptance of Kat. Of all five years they'd been together, Mimsy had not once said an approving word. But it was the least of his worries at the moment. He wanted to leave but knew the old lady would not allow it. A lump formed in his throat as he thought of the red X painted over her face. Did they have a car follow him?
"What do you do when you're placed in a situation that there's no way out of?" Michael wiped his eyes on his forearm.
"There's always a way out." Mimsy responded, "I learned that a long time ago. Ernie was handsome, my goodness, all the women in town were jealous and tried stealing him when I wasn't around. He was a charming devil, but he had bad friends that got him into trouble. Soon enough, I was getting in trouble too. I felt it wasn't my decision. I had committed, and there was nothing I could do." She paused, looking away from the table. "I was wrong. You can't control situations, but you can control your reactions. It took him going to prison for me to realize that."
Michael sat for a minute in silence, soaking in everything Mimsy had said. She talked so little of her past that when she did, he knew to listen carefully.
What type of company would threaten an old lady?
"Mimsy, there's nothing I can do, though. Whatever I choose will hurt someone I love." Michael was doing his best not to spill everything.
"There's nothing you could do that would hurt me. But with Kat, be patient. Give it time. You've known her for a long time. Her family is a little strange, but they're decent people. If she's not right for you, you'll find the right time to tell her. If you know, it's not right. It would be best if you ended it. Staying would be the cowardly act."
The advice helped Michael in more ways than Mimsy knew. He was astonished how, even though he hadn't told her anything, she was still able to give the perfect advice for his situation.
"Thank you, Mimsy. Is it ok if I sleep here?"
"This will always be your home too." She stood from her chair, "As long as I have breath in my lungs, I will answer the door for you. Please, next time, don't come at this ungodly hour. I will answer, but there won't be tea." She smiled. "Your room's made upstairs as always. Goodnight, Michael."
As he hugged the old woman, he felt tears begin to swell in his eyes once again. This was the woman that had known him his whole life, the woman that had taken him in when he needed someone most, and he knew this would be the last time he ever saw her.
He quickly blinked the tears away. "I love you, Mimsy." He said as he pulled away from the hug.
"I love you too, Michael. Now get some rest, I'll see you in a few hours." She stacked the cups onto the tray and took it to the kitchen.
Michael climbed the stairs to his teenage room. He let the tears flood his cheeks. Mimsy said there was no way he could hurt her, but he was afraid he needed to. It was the only way to protect her. Staying would be the cowardly thing to do.