Chapter Text
"Why aren't you like, married yet? Aren't you a grown up?"
Nurse Bendy was coming home from work when she met Stephanie in the stairwell. For a month or so now, they would arrive at the same time and chat about their lives before going to their respective apartments. Both women felt they were growing close but neither voiced it.
The question surprised Stephanie. "Oh! Well, I don't think marriage is quite for me," she chuckled.
"Why not? You're like, nice. Too nice for a place like this." Nurse Bendy looks down at the floor, a frown forming on her face.
Stephanie raises an eyebrow. "I don't know that the right person for me is in Moralton. What about you? Is Principal Fakey ever going to put a ring on that finger?"
Nurse Bendy crosses her arms and sticks out her tongue. "Ew! He better not! He says he loves me but I hate him. He only does bad things to me." She looks dejected for a moment and lowers her voice. "Bad things... that make me feel.. worthless. And stupid."
Stephanie puts a hand on Bendy's back, giving a supportive rub. "Oh, Nursula. I didn't realize, I'm sorry. I guess I thought you were just bored with him."
Nurse Bendy scoffs. "Yeah, bored is right." They've reached Bendy's apartment by now. She shuffles her feet awkwardly for a moment, not wanting the conversation to end. "Um, thanks for talking to me Stephanie. It feels.. good, or whatever."
Stephanie gives her a warm smile. "It feels good talking to you too, Nursula. I'll see you tomorrow." With that, Stephanie heads off for her own apartment. She thinks to herself how nice it is that Nurse Bendy is coming out of her shell. She's glad that she can make her feel comfortable, and she wonders if she opens up with anyone else like that.
Once Stephanie is out of view, Nurse Bendy enters her apartment, shutting the door behind her. She slumps against the door for a moment and sighs. Stephanie really is too nice for this place, she thinks. The way she talks so softly, her reassuring smile, the gentleness of her touch. Bendy feels all warm inside just thinking about it. About how she can still feel the spot on her back that Stephanie touched. About how she wishes Stephanie's hand was still there.
As her mind begins to wander, Bendy considers when she last felt so cared about. There's Joe of course, but Hubby betrayed her, and her brother certainly isn't a comfort, and every other man in her life does nothing but use her. Stephanie is the only person who's good to her.
Bendy goes through the motions of her nightly routine, bathing, making dinner, brushing her teeth. It's only when she lays down for bed that a single word pierces her thoughts: ALONE. She's so sick of being alone. She doesn't want to marry and have kids, even though it's her duty as a Christian. She's always accepted that she would settle down eventually, but she used to believe that she'd meet Mr. Right and everything would work out fine.
But now the thought of Mr. Right makes her stomach turn. She just can't bring herself to even imagine dating a man, let alone marrying one. Before falling asleep, Bendy has one last thought. "If only Stephanie were a man, then I could marry her."