𝓕𝓪𝓵𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓕𝓵𝓪𝓶𝓮𝓼 ~ 𝓙𝓲𝓪𝓻𝓪

𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 33

Days withered away like orange and yellow leaves from the coolness of the fall air. The hardest part perished into oblivion and their car glided on the road of recovery. Kiara suspected it would've gone well, which she was precise about, it went perfectly well. The doctors removed all tumors that were in vital parts of her brain successfully.

Mary fell unconscious for a day or two to rejuvenate her body and help her healing process. She went into the ICU for a night or so just so the doctor could keep an eye out for any complications. Luke and JJ visited her that day, while John B and Pope came a little bit after them, for the limit is only two per visit. Kiara couldn't make it as she felt it was a time for family and she did not want to overstep any boundaries. She wanted to meet her when the time was right. Today was that time.

"Do I look fine?" Kiara asked, fixing her hair once they walked up the concrete pavement.

He chuckled, "Yes, you look okay."

She glared at him, "Okay? I look okay?"

"Yes Kie, you look okay. Good. Fine. Whatever you want to be, that's what you are. Stop stressing this."

"How can you say that? Like I know she's your mom and she has this obligation to like you, but me, what if she doesn't like me?"

He stopped, pivoting his feet, "She will like you. She does like you. She knows about you and she likes you," he places his hands on her shoulders, staring at her intently, "Stop overthinking it. You look good and she will like you, I promise."

A deep breath escaped while she nodded. He let go showing her the way up the small steps. Kiara couldn't find a reason as to why she was acting this way, no reason at all, she's met other people's parents before and even though her nerves went mad then too it just felt entirely different, almost incommunicable.

The second he opened the door and the warm breeze filled with citrus lingered near her nose, it gave a new meaning to the world she was now about to enter. A second 'home' to come to when the walls of her own got too large to fill the space. He ushered her inside, closing the door behind them. The house was well lit with orange and speckles of yellow light emitting from the four lamps in each corner. Unintentionally, Kiara has been inside before but never paid any mind to much of anything.

"Mom, dad!" JJ called, taking off his shoes, "You can leave your shoes by the door, I'll be back." He went off into the darkened hall to the left until she couldn't see any further.

Kiara did as he said, taking off her shoes, setting them by his that were a few inches away. The house was small with deep brown hardwood that stretched all across and walls as beige as natural wool. Her eyes wandered the small area, seeing the fluffy coffee colored couch against a huge mural of an endless garden filled with infinite flowers that were painted an array of pastel colors. Beside her was a mid size table that held numerous frames, each with its own personal singularity that made each picture come alive.

Kiara picked up a yellow banana frame in particular. JJ seemed about ten years younger with him almost squished between Mary and Luke. Their smiles were so wide and cheesy as ice cream dripped from their hands. They appeared to be sitting on boulders with a familiar landscape peaking in the background. Kiara brought the picture closer, noticing the blue foam of the waves. The corner of her lips turned up as she quietly chuckled.

"You must be Kiara?"

She immediately set the picture down and turned to see them stand there with soft smiles on their faces. Out of all the stories JJ has spoken to her and the late night conversations they've alternated, he has never once mentioned how beautiful she was. Or how their demeanor was this unspeakable sublime that just spewed everywhere. It was a lovely way to feel yet she still felt her heart thumping in her ears for she feared that they may not be too fond of her.

Kiara nodded, placing her hand out, "Uh yeah, it's really great to meet you guys."

Luke was the first to return the gesture. His hands were inexplicably soft, softer than any man she's shaken hands with, which was not many. Mary however did not take her hand and instead took her in for a hug. It was one of those old time family gathering embraces given by an old sweet relative that's been gone for who knows how long.