𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬 - regulus black

chapter ninety nine

Days were long at the Winsten mansion. Adena was staying all day in her mother's bedroom - which was formerly  the guest room - wanting to keep her company so she wouldn't feel lonely, also analyzing her health evolution as best as she could. She would usually stay quiet or chat a little and sometimes she would read for her with the many books she had. The worry she had felt for the first days of holidays had erased anything else to the point that she had completely forgotten Noah's birthday party.

The boy visited her the evening of his birthday, wondering where she was since she was supposed to be with him and the others, and the brunette instantly felt guilty for forgetting about him.

"I'm really sorry, my mother has fallen sick and I didn't think of anything else for the past days."

"It's okay. I hope it's not serious though... but can you come?" he asked hesitantly.

"I'm not sure..." answered the girl, uneasy. She didn't want to decline but she didn't want to leave her mother.

"Go. Mum said you should," said the voice of her sister from behind them.

"Is that okay?"

"Of course, it is," said the voice of her father. He was stepping out of the fireplace, done with work for the day. "I'd rather want you to be with your friends than closed up here," rejoined the man. 

Adena was a little unsure until her sister added, "Mum said you should think about something else, that's your chance." While wearing a small smile, she placed a hand on her shoulder. This was the kindest Candace had ever been in a while, but they had to get along as best as they could in those hard times after all. And so, she prepared her stuff, and after saying goodbye to her father and visiting her mother with Noah one last time, they decided to leave.

Once at Noah's house, she explained the situation to the others, but adding that they shouldn't worry. Jacob suggested they should pay her mother a visit one day, and Adena agreed, saying she was barely seeing anyone anymore and that she must feel lonely. Once the explanations were finished, the small party celebrating Noah's eighteen's birthday started.

The brunette tried to have fun as well, but it was rather hard. Her mind would constantly go back to her sick mother whose health could get worse anytime. Even when she was home, it could happen too. Her mother has become so fragile, maybe life in general was that fragile. Anything could happen anytime to her loved ones and she couldn't shake this thought out of her head. Life was so fragile... life could be replaced by death so easily... But the contrary was impossible. Fear of death was suddenly overwhelming. Fate could work in the worst possible way and make everything disappear in one second. Her mother would never be the same, Adena had understood that. But she hated that she now had to preserve and protect her in order to avoid her passing. Life wasn't easy, you could never be completely free. Adena would never be completely free, the worry for her mother and anyone would never leave her. Adena who just wanted a peaceful life where she would do what she wanted, was now submerged with worry and anxiety regarding the future. She just wished she could be back to her innocent and reckless self from years ago. Why growing up was so difficult, why life was so harsh. But as she thought that the brunette looked up at her friends having fun. 'I wanna be like them,' thought the girl. But she was instantly back to reality, at least to her reality. Maybe it was just fate, fate had decided to give her difficulties, whether it was in life or with her emotions. People had a tragic destiny sometimes, and maybe Adena was just one of them.

The next day, Adena apologized again to Noah for her gloomy mood at his birthday party but he totally understood. He was so kind and empathic, always doing his best to comfort others in hard times, she was thankful to have him at that moment.