➳☓♡ II ao'nung x oc

ᅳ➳16♡ᅳ

ᅳ∘༉♡∘ᅳ

Ta'liyah

It was the next morning.

"My dearest.." My mother softly begins, eyeing my pretending to be asleep figure as I face the wall. "They've left." She states, calmly.

When I count my blessings I count each of my parents twice.

I am forever grateful to have a mother so loving and kind; beautiful inside & out. I'd wish I were more like her.. carefree and loving. But all I can do is pretend to be those things.

Deep down I'm truly in turmoil.

I glumly sit myself up,"Thank you, Mama." I speak, tired. "What'd you say?" I rasp, not particularly interested in her answer.

"That you're sick," She shrugs, a warm smile on her face.

I did my best to return the smile. It felt as though it took every muscle in my body to do so and my face strained. My frown emitting back in place, I sigh. Rubbing at my tired eyes.

My mother walks towards me—a steaming wooden cup of herbal tea in her one hand—which she quietly places beside me on the floor and gives me an earnest look. "Drink up," She gently requests.

I do so. My mother takes the moment to seat herself beside me. I drink the tea In one large chug. Immediately grimacing as the hot waters burn along the back of my throat.

I scowl, glaring at the now empty cup as if it was the route of all my problems.

My mother gives a soft chuckle which instantly eases me. She places a hand over my hair and guides my head on her lap as I lay myself back down.

I stare up at our Marui ceiling, frowning at the although, beautifully crafted.. boring wood view. My mother then begins to brush her hand through my hair and I close my eyes while she does that.

"May I ask," My mother then began, my eyes peaked open, "What happened?" Those words, two weak words, instantly made myself feel hollow inside. I felt myself grow overly sensitive.

As though I was a small child, again, holding in tears, puffing my cheeks after I'd suffered a small fall and grazed my knee. Then, someone would say 'Are you ok?' And just like that everything—those tears I'd tried so deeply within myself to hold in—would just.

Unwelcome tears brimmed my eyes. I inwardly scold myself for being so weak. "Him." I manage to mumble out.

No other words needed. I'm afraid I'll just end up weeping.

My mother takes a small moment to respond, "Hmm," she hums as her fingers massage my scalp. "Well, it's a good thing your Papa isn't around,"

I let out a soft chuckle, sniffling my tears away.

"However," She smiled, yet, toned down her amusement, "My dearest, what exactly happened?" She presses, softly, "You know you can tell me anything." Her voice is warm, thick with assurance.

I press my lips together, not really knowing where to start. There was more to it than that heated argument from last night. But it's not like I was ready to open up to her about what had happened two years ago.

"I saw him—" I begin, "Alone. Just laying there on the lower shore—looking dead," I bluntly state, remembering the way his rigid hands twitched."I was just—I just wanted to help him." I answer through stiff breaths, "He obviously didn't want that. Because then, he just started cursing at me." I let out an angry huff.

To my surprise my mother let out a soft laugh, my ears twitched. "Ta'liyah, my love.." I felt a frown paint its way onto my lips, this was the tone she'd use before chastising me. "How long has it been since you've spoken to the boy.. before then?"