The Madrigal Fox

A Breaking Childhood

~~18 Year's Ago~~

A soft cough cough could be heard in a small room of the large house. It was quickly followed by a wheeze, though the small noises went unheard by the other house's inhabitants.

"My precious boy..." She cooed in a scratchy broken voice. She was sick. She knew she was sick. It worried her slightly that she wasn't getting better. She believed she could fix it all by herself, that she didn't need any help and that she could raise her son to be a perfect confident child, give him the childhood she lacked.

"You are so beautiful, Ollie, my precious boy." She coughed again, carefully placing the baby in the crib. She smiled before coughing again, a little more violent this time. She ignored the small amount of red liquid that now coated her hand and dribbled down her chin.

"Hermosa come eat-" The male paused, staring at his wife with wide eyes. He rushed over, placing his hands on the woman's face.

"Azura... What happened?" He searched her face, desperate to find out how to help her.

"Mi Amor it is just a small cold." She said softly, placing a hand over his. "I'm fine."

"Maybe we should get you some help, Julieta wouldn't mind helping," Bruno said, watching as she swayed slightly.

"It's alright, I'll be okay soon." Azura smiled at him. "Everything will be alright."

She swayed once more before falling forward, only being able to watch as Bruno panicked, quickly yet carefully laying her down on the ground.

"JULIETA! It's okay, I'll get help, it will be okay." He tried to smile as tears weld up in his eyes. "JULIETA!" He yelled again.

Azura smiled, a little more of the red liquid escaping her lips. She reached up slowly to wipe the tears from her husband's eyes.

"Oliver is going to be such a kind boy. My precious baby will bring this family peace. You can see it, can't you mi amor?" Bruno nodded quickly, a loud sob leaving him.

"You can see it too, hermosa. You can raise him to be kind." She hummed softly, nodding her head slowly.

"I love you, Bruno. I love my baby boy. I love my family..." She coughed loudly, wincing as her chin became coated with the liquid.

"We love you too, Azura. Tomorrow we can go visit the purple roses and we can bake your favourite sweets and we can listen to music and and and..." He trailed off as she coughed again.

"Tomorrow is so far away..." Bruno cried, nodding, agreeing with her in a sense. Time was going so slow, where was Julieta? Why did no one listen to his calls?

"But it is worth the wait." Azura hummed once more, wheezing out a breath.

Bruno watch as she slowly began closing her eyes, causing him to cry louder and more aggressively, hyperventilating while trying to keep her awake.

"Azura no, Julieta will be here soon, I promise. Please just stay awake. JULIETA!" He screamed out again. "JULIETA PLEASE! Azura, hermosa, please. Oliver needs you to stay awake. I need you to stay awake. JULIETA! MAMA! PEPA! PLEASE ANYONE!" He sobbed, clutching the woman's hand.

He blocked out the cries of his child as the woman he loved slowly closed her eyes, her breathing slowing down before coming to a full stop.

"Please no... Please hermosa... I can't do this without you... Please don't leave me..." He whispered in between his sobs. "Casita please... I need a miracle... Please..."

"Bruno why are you..." Pepa came to a stop as she saw her brother sobbing beside the still body of his wife. A small rain cloud slowly began to form over her head as she placed her hands over her mouth.