Capítulo 16:
Three Weeks Later - Sally's Point of View
Three weeks have passed since Percy walked out the door. Three weeks since my boy disappeared to face the fate I had always feared. Every day has been a silent battle for me. I tried to move on with life, pretending everything was fine, but the emptiness Percy left at home was overwhelming. No matter how much I tried to distract myself, that absence loomed over everything.
The first thing I did after he left was clean the apartment. The same apartment that, the day before, looked like a battlefield. Percy had faced something big, and even without knowing exactly what, I could see the signs. That disaster wasn't the work of an ordinary child.
The floor was scratched, as if something huge had passed through. The walls were slightly cracked, and there was even a broken blade I found tossed under the bed. I spent hours cleaning everything, as if erasing the battle traces could help me cope with reality. It was my way of trying to control something, anything, even knowing that Percy's biggest struggles were beyond my reach.
After tidying up, I returned to my routine. Or at least, I tried. The first mornings were the worst. I caught myself waiting to hear Percy waking up, stumbling over his own feet as he headed to the bathroom. I knew he wasn't here anymore, but even so, it was impossible not to expect it.
The living room that was once full of life, with the sounds of Percy playing, playing video games, or simply being himself, was now silent. There was no more laughter, no more random strange conversations, no more muffled giggles as he made some inside joke about how his art teacher looked like an ogre.
I started avoiding the living room. Every time I looked at that empty space, I felt the weight of his absence. Instead, I kept myself busy with work at the candy shop, washing dishes, and taking care of the house. It gave me some sense of normalcy, something to keep my hands occupied while my mind wandered.
Today was no different. The day was gray, reflecting how I felt inside. The open windows let in a light breeze, and the distant sound of the city tried to fill the void. I was in the kitchen, as always, washing dishes that seemed to pile up on their own. The warm water ran over my fingers as I scrubbed the plates, repeating the motion automatically. Each dish washed was like a small reminder that life continued, even when I felt stuck in time.
My thoughts drifted between the present and the past. I remembered Percy when he was younger, messing up the house, always curious, always full of questions. Now, he was out there, fighting enemies I could barely imagine. I knew he was brave, braver than I had ever imagined, but… a mother never stops worrying.
Suddenly, an iridescent light flickered beside me, reflected in the sink. For a second, I thought I was imagining things. But no. There, in the water's reflection, an image began to form. My fingers stopped moving, and the plate almost slipped from my hand as the connection stabilized.
I quickly dried my hands, heart racing, and slowly approached the image that was beginning to solidify. At first, I couldn't believe what I was seeing, but then Percy's features became clear.
"Percy?" I whispered, incredulous, as tears instantly welled up in my eyes. "Percy, is that you?"
Percy's image smiled at me, but something in his eyes seemed different. He was more distant, more mature. He wasn't the little boy I had seen leave through the door weeks ago.
"Hi, mom…" Percy's voice echoed through the room, and I stepped closer, wanting to touch him, but I knew it was impossible. My heart tightened even more when I saw the tired look on my son's face.
"Percy… where are you? Are you okay? What happened?" The questions spilled out of my mouth before I could control them.
"I'm fine, mom," Percy responded with a calmness that didn't seem like him. "I… can't say where I am, but I'm safe. Everything's okay."
Tears began to stream down my face. "I was so worried… I… I thought… that I would never see you again."
"I'm here now," he tried to reassure me, his voice soft. "I didn't want you to worry."
"But how could I not worry? You're my son! How could I not think the worst? I… I just wanted to hug you again… to see you here, safe."
Percy was silent for a moment, as if my words had struck him deeper than he wanted to show. "I miss you too, mom. I wish I could be there with you."
My heart felt like it was about to burst from so much love and longing. "Please, tell me you're safe. That… that you're coming back to me."
My voice trembled, and I knew he could hear the pain in my words. Percy swallowed hard, and I could feel the weight he was carrying, even without him saying it. He wanted to promise me the world, but we both knew the road ahead would still be long.
"I'll come back, mom. I promise. I just… need more time."
His words didn't completely ease the anguish, but they gave me something I hadn't had in weeks: hope. "I love you, Percy. Never forget that."
"I love you too, mom," he said with a sad smile. "I'll never forget."
His image began to fade, and I reached out, desperate to prolong the moment. "Please… don't go yet…" But it was too late. Percy disappeared, and the room returned to being cold and silent.
I stood there, motionless for a long time, staring at the empty space where my son's image had been, while the tears kept falling. He was still far away, but now… now I had something new: hope that he would return.
With one last sigh, I wiped my face and looked around the room. The world seemed a little less dark now, and for the first time in weeks, I allowed myself to believe.