4 Melancholy

I lied on the floor facing the ceiling, covered with blood and bruises. Wincing, I pushed myself up and limped to the fridge. I opened the door and took out an ice pack. After grabbing the ice pack I tried walking to my room, but I fell onto the floor.

(Evil Ark) See, what did I tell you.

Oh shut up.

I dragged myself into a corner and used the walls as support to sit up straight. I gingerly placed the ice pack on the bruises. I felt my lips, warm blood was still dripping down.

It was about ten minutes later when the lights of a car and the sound of a car door being slammed shut broke the silence. The front door opened and a young woman about twenty five came in. It was foster mother. At first she was confused but when she saw my blood and my face, she immediately cared for me. She opened some drawers and pulled out a bottle of ointment and treated my cuts. It stung, causing me to wince. It wasn't until I was all treated when she asked.

"What happened?"

I felt my lips before speaking. The blood had dried.

"Nothing."

"What happened." she commanded.

"...stepfather got angry when I asked for something. That's all."

(Evil Ark) That was not all.

"What was that something?"

"...slip…."

"What?"

"A permission slip for a field trip."

"Here give me it," she spoke reaching for the slip. She pulled out a pen from her front pocket and signed the slip. She held it up in front of her and I gladly took it.

"Thank you foster mother."

Tears slid out of her eyes, each one glistening like precious diamonds. The moonlight reflecting around her gave an heavenly aura. At first it was quiet but then became loud sobs.

"Im *sniff* so *sniff* sorry. It's all *sob* my fault."

Taken aback, I immediately tried to comfort her.

"Um… I'm alright. This already happened before so it's alright. I'm used to it. I have a strong body so it'll probably heal by tomorrow… so please stop crying."

(Evil Ark) Bad choice of words.

She started to cry even harder.

Confused, I offered her my shoulder, and she latched onto me like a baby koala and started sobbing on my shoulder.

"I'm… a failure as... a parent… an adult…" she said her eyes tired and weary. I lifted her face and turned it towards me.

"You might make mistakes but trust me, you are no failure," I said, my eyes on hers. She put her head on my lap and stopped crying, my hands beating a rhythm on her back.

"Can... you call me mom?" She asked.

I silently gazed at her and smiled.

"Everything is going to be alright, so take a rest." I paused for a second before adding, "mom."

She immediately gave me a warm smile and snuggled to my chest.

Soon enough she fell asleep with tears still on her face. I wiped away her tears with my finger. The current her looked cute, like a child. Made me want to protect her.

'"If you could see the future, but you didn't like it… would you change it?" She whispered, softly.'

Ignoring my thoughts, I tried to get up but my legs still refused to operate.

(Evil Ark) Did you think about her again?

I settled down on the tile floor and patted mother on the head.

I whispered.

"I don't want to lose her too."

(Evil Ark) We don't have too.

I gazed at the moon for the rest of the night as a twirl of memories that used to be locked away emerged, bringing along it a sense of melancholy.