The relief of escaping the bandits' grasp was fleeting. in time as she settled in—there was still the issue with Percival and Isaac: How did Percival and Isaac get captured? Why did Isaac run away from his father?
She wouldn't get the answer if she just stared down the water as dark as a void. With a new resolve, she brought herself to ask Isaac.
She entered the tent he settled himself in—it was sparse, with only a table near the bed holding the map of Stepanburg and a lantern that dimly lit the entire place. .
"Isaac?"
Isaac turned around, his eyes meeting hers. "..Big Sister."
She smiled and walked closer. "How are you feeling?"
His eyes darted back and forth, his fingers fiddling nervously. "..Fine." he replied conservatively.
The room was then filled with a bland silence, prompting her to sit beside him.
Should she be straightforward and ask him why he ran away? Or should she build it up? Both had their advantages, though..
"Were they scary?"
"The bad guys?" he murmured, his voice barely a whisper.
"Yes. The bad guys."
"..Yeah. They beat up Big Brother too."
That was unsurprising, given the outcome of Percival's state.
"Were you scared?"
He nodded.
"Are you still scared?"
He nodded again.
She scooted closer and placed her arm around her shoulder. "Well don't be scared anymore. Big Sister is here, the other Big Sister is here, Big Brother as well, and the Trystan Knights—we're here to protect you."
Her reassurance got him darting back and forth again.
Her eyes widened as she felt the press of his small arms wrapped around her waist. If this wasn't him showing his trust, then she no longer knew what it was.
A warm feeling spread across her chest, filling it with joy and contentment.
"Thank you for trusting me." she murmured. "Well.. Do you mind if I ask..?"
"What is it, Big Sister?"
"I want you to answer me very honestly, okay?"
"Okay."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
She inhaled deeply.
"Could you tell me why you ran away before you got captured?"
The tent went silent once more.
The cool air became hot and tense. Immediately, she wondered if it was the right decision to ask him.. But even so, she just had to learn the truth in hopes of providing him wisdom.
"..Not nice." he murmured.
"What?"
"It's not nice in the house.."
Her heart paused—did this mean Boris was hurting him? Were his parents arguing constantly?
"..Mama died."
…
"Ever since she died, nothing was nice."
"Papa was still Papa.. He worked like normal—everything was normal."
"He still smiled at me like nothing happened."
His grip on her jacket tightened. Even from her angle, the frown of anger was evident.
"I was so confused.. Why is Papa happy?"
"Was he not sad?"
Those last words rang in her ear like a silent hallway. Her lips trembled, and the weight over her chest returned and became heavier.
She wondered the same thing.
She remembered.
…
Death is natural and expected, yet the pain could come like a wrecking ball.
A family member could never be replaced; they filled a unique role in your life.
The love you gave could be plenty, but never enough.
The time you gave could be long, but always too short.
Maybe it's true.
You may wonder why: "Why did this happen to them?"
"Why did this happen to me?"
.
At the vast backyard of the Galena Palace, a lone tombstone stood:
AVA AMELIA GALENA
452 AMD
-
489 AMD
The soil that piled over her body was fresh, and it was the only thing two children and a father could stare at as the little ones wept for their mother.
Their father sat in-between, caressing their shoulders. "..She's in a better place now."
His voice showed no sorrow, joy, nor anger.
"That's why, Meredith, Damon, you two must grow up to be powerful and successful—to make your mother the proudest angel of them all."
She couldn't bother to reply, her throat lumped too much to do so, yet she still wept.
The loss of someone so dear.. Someone who loved you their entire life without compromise and only wanted to make you happy.. It hurts, doesn't it?
When you realise you were completely their life, but they weren't completely yours.. It's reality, but it sucks, doesn't it? The only soothe to it was that you loved them very much and wanted to make them proud.
Alas, the little one could never think of such thoughts at her age, she could only think and wonder why—why didn't her father weep with them?
Was he not sad?
…
"Big Sister?" Isaac murmured shakily, his wet eyes meeting hers.
She looked at him once more and smiled. "He is sad."
"But.. How?"
She hid her mouth and closed her eyes—she couldn't afford to let her emotions pour out as well when this was for him.
She swallowed her saliva, hoping to ease the lump in her throat.
"You see, Isaac.. Not everyone will reveal their emotions. A lot of people hide it because they want to appear strong for everyone."
"But the problem there is.. It could be misinterpreted. Nevertheless, it's so they could stay strong for the people they have left in their lives."
She poked his nose. "He wants to stay strong for you, Isaac. I could never know, but I'm sure he wanted to show you that you could.. Cry your loss without any worry. If he cried, you would have told him not to cry, right?"
He nodded.
"I'm sure he misses your mother as well—they were husband and wife, they loved each other."
The image of Sévir flashed before her eyes.
Even so, she was unsure if she got her point through, or if she said anything good at all.
"I'm sure Mama will be happy if you apologise to Papa and be there for him."
"..Will she?"
"Yes. I'm sure of it."
A moment of silence, broken by a sniffle and his muffled whimpers as he buried his face in her chest.
She hugged him back and patted his back. "There there.."
She can't be there to resolve their issue directly, it wasn't her place.
The only thing she could do was provide insight.
Insight that she realised growing up.
"Do you love Mama?"
"Y..Yes.."
"Do you love Papa?"
…
"..Yes! I love Papa!"
"That's the answer you need."
Only his voice as he wept filtered the air that very moment, she was only there to comfort him from that point on.
Her top felt wet, yet she didn't mind. It was only the natural course.
.
He sniffled as he wiped his tears away.
"Are you feeling better?"
He nodded.
"Good. We'll be dropping you to the city centre tomorrow to meet your father. Is that okay?"
He nodded again.
She smiled in satisfaction and walked up to the exit. "Good night, Isaac."
"Good night.. Big Sister."
As she prepared to leave, she halted at his two words:
Thank you.
She never grinned as big the whole day.