Someone to Watch Over Me

(I love to hear from my readers. This is my Nude Day 2024 story. Please rate and comment!)

Ryan was excited to leave south Boston for college. He felt he could start anew away from everything he knew, which admittedly wasn't much. Ryan felt that away from South Boston he could become the person he was "supposed" to be. Ryan's father, an alcoholic, had gone out for a "pack of smokes' one day and never returned. Life and five kids in a cramped Boston triple-decker had been too much for him. From the time he was a little boy, Ryan swore he would be a better father and husband than his father---not that it was saying much.

Ryan's mother, who hadn't graduated high school due to being pregnant, rose to the challenge though. Dottie went out and got a job. First, she was just a cleaning lady for neighbors who took pity on her, then as a waitress at the Corner Deli, and finally as a secretary at Boston University. They were a very poor family but got by--so it goes.

As a middle child, Ryan was upset because he had to wear second-hand clothing. Classmates often frequented malls and video arcades on the weekends. Video arcades weren't an option for Ryan. The struggling family simply didn't have enough money for him to play Donkey Kong and Pacman. Food and utilities came first. They didn't even have a VCR!

After school, Ryan had to take care of his younger siblings while his mom was at work. He resented it, but it was something he had to do. Dottie couldn't afford daycare. When young Ryan pouted over their predicament, his Mom always said he couldn't wait for the storms in his life to pass. You had to learn to dance in the rain. It was a philosophy the struggling family lived by. Ryan took care of people. That was his life. Ryan always placed himself last.

Dottie raised a loving family that stuck together no matter the tumultuous adversity which came their way. Life went on as it always does. Ryan grew up and won a full-ride scholarship to The University of Chicago. Ryan made a personal promise and a life goal. He would be a better man and husband than his father. Ryan didn't care how much he suffered or what type of hellfire he had to endure. Ryan was determined to be a good man!

He packed up his bag, kissed his Mom and siblings goodbye. He took the Greyhound bus, west to Chicago. It was cheaper than an airplane and Ryan told himself he'd get to see the USA countryside; not that there was much to see between Boston and Chicago but an industry-heavy landscape full of semi-forgotten cities and industrial pollution.

A few days later, Ryan took his first class in Elementary education at the University of Chicago. His dorm room sucked, as did his roommate, Greg. Greg was always bringing women into the dorm room for one-night stands. He was a love em and leave em type of guy! Greg refused to meet with anyone after night stand after he'd loved them!

Ryan had to turn away many teary-eyed jilted lovers as Greg escaped out the fire escape. Greg had a lot of women because he was handsome and sauve. Ryan didn't want to be a Greg. He wanted someone who was entirely his. He wanted to be someone's one and only. Sacred. Protected. Truly loved and adored! That's what Ryan was looking for.

Since as a child, he'd taken care of his younger siblings; Ryan wanted to spend the rest of his life taking care of impoverished children in need of better opportunities. After graduation, from the University of Chicago, he'd taken a job as an elementary school teacher at George Washington Elementary School on the Near North Side of Chicago, near the infamous slum Cabrini Green. Ryan just wanted to help make the world a better place, even if it meant he wasn't a "high-roller" in life. He knew it was his mission. It was his calling. His purpose.

Then he'd met Sadie. She was a librarian's assistant at the Near North Side Chicago library. Ryan had met her while checking out a book. "Sounds like an interesting book," she said, smiling sweetly at him. It had only taken five words and a smile for Ryan to fall in love with her.

"Well, Sadie," Ryan said, reading her name tag and smiling back. "I'm Ryan, and I'd love to tell you about it over coffee...or dinner." To Ryan's delight, Sadie agreed! He was amazed because an undeserving schlub like him had asked out a gorgeous woman, whom he thought was out of his league!

That Friday, Sadie met Ryan at Giordano's Pizzeria. It only had three small tables. There was a chianti bottle with a flickering wax candle in the center, like at nearly every cheap Italian restaurant that was trying, but failing, to look fancy. The two shared a deep-dish pepperoni pizza. "This is WAY too much for me to eat...I know I'll puke if I eat another bite." protested Sadie after only two slices. Then she blushed--talking about puke on a first date probably wasn't the best way to talk about on a first date! Still, Ryan agreed with Sadie. Two slices of deep-dish Chicago pizza was a lot to eat!

"How about we go for a walk then...to let everything settle?" questioned Ryan. Hoping against hope Sadie would say yes. Even though they'd only known each other for a short time. Ryan really liked her, Ryan felt like they had a connection and wanted to court her. Ryan wanted to spend time with Sadie even if they had been talking about puke at a cheap pizza restaurant. Sadie agreed, and the couple walked around. Enamored with each other, the blossoming couple walked hand-in-hand 3 miles or 5 kilometers to Lake Michigan.

Lake Michigan was enchanting. It was an early summer evening, and the stars were just coming out. They reflected their ethereal light on the water.

"I'd love a swim," Ryan said as he peeled off his shirt, remaining in his pants. He didn't want to freak Sadie out. They'd just met after all. Ryan was nothing if not a gentleman.

"You're crazy; it's summer BUT that water was frozen yesterday!" teased Saide. Ryan took no head and plunged into the water. Sadie squealed and laughed at his antics. She'd been right. Lake Michigan's waters were freezing. But tonight, under the summer stars, wasn't the time for practicality...it was time for new love.

"The water's fine. Come in!" Ryan called. Saide shrugged. What did she have to lose? The water would be cold, but no dangerous and nefarious animals like great white sharks or a Cthulu lived in Lake Michigan. They'd only known each other a few hours, but Sadie knew Ryan was a man of honor who cared deeply for the people around him. It was in his comportment and the way he'd spoken of his family and students.

"It's SO cold! You lied!" screamed Sadie, splashing Ryan. He splashed her back, and soon, the couple were laughing and making out waist-deep in the water. A protective man Ryan soon noticed that Sadie was shivering and her teeth were chattering from the chilly water. He had to do something! Hypothermia could set in fast, even in good weather.

Ryan had only known Sadie a few hours and felt it was too soon to go "all the way" to warm her up---besides, he had no protection. Sure it was a sexy idea, one that many men would jump at---sex on a beach! BUT, what if something happened? His deadbeat father married his mother because of a pregnancy. Ryan didn't want to be his father and force a woman into an unwanted marriage. Ryan wanted a marriage of love and mutual adoration.

Claiming Sadie on the beach to warm her up WAS a good fantasy and a practical idea for warming her up, but it was too soon. So Ryan stilled himself. It could wait. He adored Sadie so he could wait...for her. He wanted a real relationship before they got down to fucking. Ryan wanted children but not this way, he didn't want to "trap" Sadie with an unwanted pregnancy. He wanted his children to be conceived in love.

"We should get out," said Ryan swimming towards shore. Teeth chattering, Sadie nodded and followed. She wondered what Ryan was thinking. She'd only known him a few hours...BUT...Sadie was starting to have ideas of her own. She didn't want to propose that though. It was to embarrassing for her.

"Here, take my jacket. There's a cafe about a kilometer away. We should warm you up." Ryan brushed the sand off his jacket and handed it to Sadie. Sadie realized that Ryan was shivering too, so the couple shared the too small jacket. Neither was really warm, neither was really cold, but they laughed as they stumbled about in the sand trying to share the jacket! Soon enough they arrived at the tiny cafe.

The blossoming couple got coffees to warm them up and spent the rest of the evening talking about nothing really. That night could have been Ryan's chance to have"exotic" sex upon a beach, something his coworkers around the water cooler would never believe. But Sadie and Ryan cemented their relationship instead. Ryan knew that night when Sadie was trying to share a jacket with him---he'd truly fallen in love with her.

After that evening, Sadie and Ryan couldn't get enough of each other within a year; they were wed. It was probably a stupid thing to do---neither Sadie nor Ryan had much money, they were only 22 and 23. Still kids really and broke without money. People would tell them they should be prudent, save money, and think about the future. Then get married in a couple of years when they knew each other better.

Sadie and Ryan didn't listen. They were young and impetus lovers who wanted and adored one another. Still, immensely practical, the couple were married at City Hall. Sadie's parents were there and Ryan's mother flew out from Boston. Saide wore a new pair of dark blue jeans and a light pink blouse. Ryan wore a rented tux. Soon they were wed, without ceremony or pretension.

They moved into a to small apartment close to the library and the school. Life went on, as it always does. Common boring everyday things. But, all of it was done with great love. They were Sadie and Ryan after all. Husband and wife. Together!

Sadie and Ryan wanted kids. They tried for seven years without success. They tried all the "urban myths" on how to get pregnant and accepted advice from everyone they knew, but nothing worked. Sadie blamed herself. She was the woman after all. Insurance wouldn't cover IVF (in vitro fertilization), Sadie was just a librarian and Ryan taught at a public school, they could barely make expenses themselves, still they both longed to be parents. At long last and with a loan from Ryan's mother, who longed for a grandchild of her own, the two had saved up enough to afford IVF. They were thrilled!

Ryan nearly wore a hole in the hospital floor as he paced back and forth while Sadie was getting IVF. This was a serious operation after all--what if something happened to her? What if something went wrong? She could die! It would be his fault. He was her husband. He loved...no adored her. She was his wife! His other half, his great love. His wife! She was his Sadie!

The IVF was considered "successful" by the doctors...by Ryan and Sadie too. During Sadie's first trimester, Ryan did everything he could to take care of Sadie. He rubbed her feet and helped her through her morning sickness. They found out the baby was going to be a girl. Ryan and Sadie decided to name her Dorthey, after Ryan's mother. They wanted their daughter to be a strong woman, like Ryan's mother.

In the fifth month, Sadie and Ryan lost the pregnancy. There was no particular reason, it was one of those things--just life. So it went.

After the pregnancy loss, Sadie was SO despondent. She blamed herself. After all, she was carrying the baby, she was the woman so it was her fault. Sadie had to spend two weeks in a mental hospital both Ryan and Sadie's doctors were worried about the possibility of self-harm and postpartum depression.

Eventually, Sadie did come home from the hospital but she wasn't herself. She wasn't even close to herself. Sadie followed what the psychiatrist told her, went to therapy and took medication. Sadie did everything she was supposed to. None of it helped. Sadie felt that all hope and good things had disappeared from this world. It was all her fault!

She sat on the sofa in her robe all day, looking out the window at nothing, drinking peppermint tea. Sadie didn't speak or eat. Ryan wanted to do something for his wife. He loved her! Ryan could do nothing for his wife. Sure, Ryan supported Sadie by making sure she ate, slept, took her meds, got to her doctor's appointments, and took care of herself. But Ryan felt his words and actions made no difference. Sadie was despondent and lost deep in her own grief.

After the pregnancy loss, Sadie was restless. She slept too little or too much. For months, she remained taciturn, perpetually silent and insensible. Upon waking, whatever time of day that was, she had a cup of black and bitter coffee. Sadie ate nothing. Sadie said nothing.

The tragedy of their loss meant their marriage hung in peril. Ryan loved his wife dearly and decided to make an honorable pact of celibacy until his Sadie was ready. No matter how long that took. He loved her so much. She was his wife. Time went on much the same. Waifeshly, Sadie spent her days at home while Ryan taught school. Their kind neighbor would stop by twice daily to check on Sadie and Ryan's mother called daily.

Three long years passed, and still, Sadie hadn't gotten better. Sadie was still lost in a thick fog of depression. Little to no progress had been made. The psychiatrist's efforts were futile. Sadie blamed herself despite everyone telling her otherwise.

Ryan's colleagues and work wasn't so understanding. It was just a lost pregnancy. They happened every day ---Sadie should act her age and just get over it. The colleagues felt that Ryan was making excuses not to do his work. They felt he wasn't contributing. Ryan was on the verge of being fired because he was always busy with Sadie.

Summer was coming and an end-of-the-year celebration for teachers of George Washington Elementary School was coming up. It was one of those mandatory events that all jobs have. No one understands why workplaces have them since everyone hates them. BUT, workers are required to attend, pretend they're having a good time, laugh and tell bullshit stories to colleagues---everyone hates the bullshit parties but it's mandatory for some reason. Sadie and Ryan would be required to go to this one, or Ryan could lose his job for not "partaking in school spirit"...or some bullshit like that.

Sadie was depressed but she was still madly in love with Ryan. They'd been through rough times, adversity, and great loss. Still, Ryan was her true love! Sadie agreed to go to the bullshit office party. Ryan watched Sadie dress. She brushed her long hair, for the first time in many days. she put on a neon pink dress that didn't suit her but it was the only dress that fit her emaciated figure. Truth be told, it looked terrible on her. Ryan still thought she looked wonderful. She would always be beautiful to him. No matter how emaciated or old she might be. He loved Sadie!

Sadie and Ryan arrived at the event and mingled for a while. It was required of them both. Sadie, who never had much to say, said even less. She hadn't been out in the world. She was unaware of most things, not because of stupidity or ignorance. So she had nothing to converse about. Sadie had just become indifferent, a phantom. Dinner was served. It was lobster thermidor, green beans, and baked Alaska.

"Ryan, I'm allergic to shellfish. I'm so hungry! I didn't eat today because of the fancy party--- I can't eat this lobster thermidor and you know I've never liked green beans!" Sadie said softly, as she pushed her plate away.

Ryan, who had been speaking to a colleague, immediately stopped. It was the first time, Sadie had spoken for herself in months. Not only was she speaking, she was requesting something. She was standing up for herself instead of accepting her fate.

"Well, sweetheart, what do you want?: Ryan questioned. He'd do anything for Sadie. He loved her.

"I want to leave...I want to go to Gordino's Pizza where we had our first date. I want just to BE with you. Not at the apartment, not at the doctor's, not at this place, just BE somewhere, just the two of us. You and me, together." said Sadie, softly, as she looked down at her plate and melting baked Alaska. She knew what she was asking for was socially "wrong". They had to stay at the work party. They had to make an appearance. It was required.

"Ok then, let's go," said Ryan. He didn't give a fuck about this party. Right now, he didn't give a fuck about his job. Sadie was his love. She was his wife. She was his world. She was all that mattered! The two left the work party, not even bothering to sneak out.

"So Gordino's Pizza it is. Should we get a cab?" questioned Ryan. It was a bit nippy out and he wanted Sadie to be comfortable. The last thing he needed was for her to get sick.

"No, I just want to walk with you. I don't care how long it takes, we can be together." said Sadie. She and Ryan walked in silence the 3 miles (5 kilometres) to Gordino's Pizza. It was the same one that they had their first date.

It was a small pizza store, with only three tables. Right now, Ryan and Sadie were their only customers. The chianti wine bottle still had a flickering candle. It was like the night they'd first met accept Sadie and Ryan were older now. The couple sat at a small table. They ordered a deep-dish pepperoni pizza and Coca-Cola. It was soon brought.

"Thank you, sweetheart. This is delicious.." Ryan watched happily as Sadie ate every bite on her plate and smiled when he gave her a third piece of the deep dish cheesy pepperoni pizza. She realized now she hadn't eaten in two days and the food, though simple was as delicious. After her stomach was full, Sadie sat back. "If you give me a bit, I think we can get some strawberry cheesecake."

Ryan imagined having her for dessert. His vow of celibacy had been hard. Ryan was ashamed to think that he'd thought of cheating on Sadie several times. Ryan had stilled himself---he wanted to wait until Sadie was ready. Ryan loved Sadie. Still, tonight, she seemed almost ready. Ryan wanted his wife more than anything. He just hoped she was nearly ready.

Somewhere above the pizza parlour, a person put on and old record of Ella Fitzgerald. Her rich and earthy voice broke out in her classic "Someone to Watch Over Me". Ryan dragged Sadie into the street, he held her close as the two danced together. Sadie knew she was lucky...beyond lucky to have a man who loved her so. A man who'd waited until she was ready. A man who loved her for her. For, the past few years, Sadie had been lost in the wilderness yet Ryan had always been there to support her. She truly adored him. She would be nothing without her great love.

Regrettably, the music eventually ended. The two lovers left the pizza parlor and headed out. That night, Sadie put on a simple t-shirt and nice panties, instead of her usual heavy flannel pajamas which covered her entire body. Saide had been trepidatious about going to Ryan. She wanted to be pregnant again BUT what if she got pregnant again and lost the baby? She couldn't put Ryan through that. Sadie loved him too much.

Still, Sadie pictured his strong hands, she wanted Ryan touching her. Embracing her. Drawing her to him. She wanted the passion and intense love that their marriage used to have. Sadie wanted to put the past behind her and live for the future. Doubt and uncertainty fought in Sadie like fierce tides.

Sadie wanted her husband. After all this time, she was on fire for him. Quietly, she shifted closer to him, stopping until their bodies were only inches away. It was as close as she dared to move. What if Ryan didn't want her anymore? It was her fault---she'd lost the baby. Sadie wouldn't blame him for that.

Still, the fires of passion were strong in Sadie. She wanted her husband. She gently traced her hand up Ryan's naked back, adoring the conturves of his muscles.