Marlene got up from her spot, moving to practically sit in Lily’s lap, though not just quite. She reached out, playing with Lily’s hair, something she’d done for years, it was a way of Marlene showing affection and comfort to her friends. She was a tactile being after all. She listened as Lily spoke, not interjecting until she was done. Marlene knew how jarring it could be to be tryign to express yourself and losing your train of thought through interjections. Finally, she nodded her head. “That’s all valid, Lils,” she said softly. Sometimes, it was helpful to know that you weren’t crazy for thinking and feeling specific things. Sometimes, that was a big part of the internal battle. “As for your age…well, yes, it’s young. But love doesn’t wait for y’ t’ turn twenty-five. It hits y’ when it hits y’, and…everyone who got married older, well, they have the privilege of not havin’ to decide that in the midst of a war,” she pointed out. “I think, and I appreciate that I’m not speakin’ from any level of expertise or knowledge, I haven’t ever felt about someone how y’ and James feel– but… if y’ see y’rself spending your life with him, growing together, havin’ adventures, then who cares if it’s at nineteen, or ninety?” she asked. She leaned forward, scooping Lily into a hug. “If she wants t’ miss one of the biggest days of her sister’s life, than she doesn’t deserve to be there and share in y’ happiness,” Marlene stated. “I know it’s not the same, but I’ll be there, and…I’ve weazled my way int’ bein’ family,” she murmured softly. She exhaled softly. “I get it, I’ll never get over the fact that Max won’t be there if by some miracle I get married one day, nothin’ will ever make that right. Just like, nothin’ will make up for your parents not bein’ there,” she expressed. “But y’ created a little family of your own with us all, so please don’t think you’ll be alone, your family will be there,” she promised her. “And I bet your ma’ and da’ will be beaming from wherever they are now,” she added.
“S’pose I’m sayin’, it’ll never be right without them, but they’d want y’ to be happy,”