Chapter 9: More Catching Up

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An hour had passed since they both had their little 'talk'. Nicole was finally ready. She had to be. She sat herself up on the pavement and looked towards Gumball. He was still cloud gazing and seemingly in his own little world mentally until Nicole cleared her throat. This caught his attention as he snapped back to reality and faced her.

Nicole took a final deep breath before speaking.

"Gumball. You wanted to know what happened to me after all those years...alone, don't you?"

Gumball nodded before giving her his full attention. Nicole felt her heart rate increase seeing this. She MUST stay strong, no matter what.

"Gumball, when I was alone...I thought of many things. I thought of our family, our old home and town. I thought of you..."

Nicole then clenched her fist.

"I thought of many good things. I really did. But Gumball, being alone after what happened to you, I..."

She composed herself after feeling the tears start to make their way into her eyes.

"I-I started having very bad thoughts. I felt alone. Truly alone. I felt as though I had lost everyone and everything that I held dear and was now trapped..."

Nicole's knuckles were now nearly white from clenching her hand so hard. Gumball saw that she seemed to have a now distant, non focused gaze. He saw her finally close her eyes, and tears started coming out.

"Gumball...sweetie. We all have a point in our lives when we feel as though we are at our rock bottom. When nothing seems to matter anymore. When life doesn't seem worth living."

Nicole lowered her head.

"The first few months after you were gone, I...started hurting myself. The pain stopped me from grieving somewhat. It seemed to work...but I was blind to see what terrible damage it was really doing to me..."

Gumball was shocked. His own mother...the same one who had raised him to take on the world and to be strong, was telling him she had been self harming herself. After telling him this, he saw her cover her face. Gumball quickly crawled over to her and embraced her with all he could muster. He had NO idea it had been this bad for her. No matter how many times he told himself that same phrase, he just couldn't except it.

"Mom..." was all he could say. He was still at a loss for words.

He gently kissed the side of her neck and rubbed her back reassuringly. This loving act seemed to bring his mother a sense of stability. After a few moments of being embraced, Nicole had finally stopped crying, but was still shaking slightly from it all.

This was truly a rough thing to tell Gumball. But she had done it. She had made it through; despite the tears. Nicole dropped her hands from her face, and hugged gumball. She kissed his head before resting her chin on it. After a few calm and shaky breaths, her body was eventually still and back to normal. After gaining enough confidence within herself, she pulled herself away from Gumball. She looked down at him and saw he still had a worried look on his face. She forced a half smile on her face, and this seemed to make him drop his worried expression.

Nicole now stood up. She had to process all that happened today from their talks. She still felt a bit needed to sink in, and judging by Gumball's somewhat distant expression, she knew he needed to let it sink in too.

"Come on. Let's head back inside." Nicole said, making her way to the door.

Gumball nodded before following suit. They made their way into their own rooms upstairs. It was time to think for themselves about what had just happened moments ago. It was all so much to take in...

Gumball plopped down on his bed and stared at the ceiling. Strange. Despite their home burning down, it was back. He noticed this when he had awoken in their bathtub, but seeing his mother took his thought away from this. Regardless, he was glad it was back. His home. His new home. Together with his mother. His...mother...

Gumball then focused on what she had said to him. The pain of losing him had made her utterly broken. She hurt herself. How, he was not sure. Frankly he didn't care at this point. All that mattered now was she was still here. He also noticed she seemed...more muscular then before. Perhaps she had been working out since he last saw her. No doubt her hugs were a bit stronger too. It was like she finally recovered from hitting her 'rock bottom' and grew into something stronger. This made him proud. THAT'S the mother he knew. The one who doesn't give up. The one who, despite all odds, succeeded when she thought she couldn't. Gumball knew that he had experienced something strange, something he could barely comprehend, but even being gone for so long; his mother remained.

Gumball now was in a sitting position and was about to take a shower, when his foot touched something under his bed. He looked under it...and remembered. His old clothes! He had forgotten they were still under there. He dragged them out, somewhat surprised they were folded so neatly. Regardless, he reached into his pant pocket and pulled out his wallet. He needed to see it. The photo. It had been so long. If what his mother said was true, it had been in fact many years since he last saw it. He knew he would feel emotions, but this time he didn't care. He didn't hesitate as he opened it up. Inside laid the photograph. His family...

Gumball gently pulled it out and held it in his hands. For the first time...he seemed to be happy looking at it. Despite them all being in the picture, he seemed to only be able to focus on his mother. She seemed so happy. He remembered she WAS happy that day. They all were. But it seemed that their workaholic mother truly was at ease that day. Inside and out. She told them her boss was 'generous' enough to give her the weekend off. Perhaps she really needed that...

Gumball smiled before placing the photo back in the wallet and placed it back in the pants. He folded the clothes back up and put them back under his bed. He felt content with himself now. Everything was going to get better. He knew it. With that, he made his way to the bathroom for a much needed morning shower.

Nicole laid on her bed and let out a heavy sigh. She felt lighter now. Having told Gumball all that had eased her somewhat. Sure, it was rough, but it was all done with. Now it was time for Gumball to take that all in.

'I wonder how he's dealing with it right now?'

Having said something so horrible and shocking to her son must have been hard on him, right? Hopefully he will understand and accept what happened in the past...was the past. Now she was stronger, and swore to never do that again; no matter what. She would be there for him, and hopefully he would be there for her too.

Nicole now stared at the ceiling. She breathed like she did during yoga, and felt her body relax the still tense muscles in her body. Things are only going to get better. She just knew it. They had each other. What more could she ask for?

With that, she felt herself doze off and drift into the abyss of nothingness...

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