wish list | daerin

❛ Let the Pain Take Over ❜

65; third person ✎ᝰ

Mara stood blankly room as she overlooked the busy streets of Glebe from the living room window. It felt a lot colder than it did outside. She hadn't moved in the last twenty minutes. All she could bear to do was place her hand over her beating heart as she thought of her; of Mavis.

Mason rolled her suitcase into the living room with a gloomy smile; Riley knew how hard the latter was trying to look strong in front of everyone—especially Mara. "I think I'm all set." The words come out of her mouth like weak croaks. "We should be able to leave soon."

It hadn't been more than two days since they landed in Sydney, and Mason was set to leave just as quickly as they had left South Korea. None of it matters to her—not anymore. Not when she's in the process of losing one of her best friends.

Renz cleared her throat as she slipped on a baseball cap and a hoodie. "Are you guys ready?" She picked up her car keys from the kitchen island and clutched them tightly in her grasp.

Riley stood up from the couch and nodded. "I'm all set." She answered. "Maisie?" Her gaze was now set on the younger girl by the bookshelves. She realised that Mason was focused on a set of picture frames that were laid out on the shelves.

Renz turned her head to face Riley. "I have a picture of the girls when they were in seventh grade," She chuckled lightly. "They were so excited and full of life..." Her voice fades. "I took that photo. Mason's parents were overseas so I volunteered to drive her to her first day of school. I remember how fast she ran out of the car to greet Mavis by the entrance...time is..."

"A weird concept?" Riley thought.

Renz nodded. "Time is definitely weird." She chuckled again. Mason hadn't moved an inch. "One day they're starting their first day of high school and the next..." A tear runs down her face as she lowered her head. "This is so fucked."

Mason sniffled softly as she turned around little by little. Renz couldn't help but sob even further as her little cousin looked back at her with red swollen eyes. "Renz..." Her voice shakes as she runs into the comfort of Renz's embrace.

The eldest rubs the small of Mason's back as they both sob loudly, unable to control their tears. "I know, baby. I'm so sorry. I'm really sorry."

Mara swallowed the lump that formed at the back of her throat as she turned around for the first time in a long while. She finds Mason and Renz on their knees as they hug each other tightly.

"Are you ok?" Riley extends her hand to the doe eyed girl beside her. "I know that's a stupid question to ask..." She shook her head. "Just know that I'm here too if you need anything."

A small smile forms on Mara's lips. "Thank you, Riley. It means a lot that you're here."

Riley nodded. "Of course. I know we're not friends but that doesn't mean I can't be there for you too. I know this isn't easy and..."

Mara holds up a hand. "You don't think we're friends? Riley, I've always considered you a friend of mine." She explained. "You're more than just Mason's girl..." Mara soon realises. "I mean..."

Riley smiled. "I just thought that you guys considered me as Maisie's girlfriend so I dunno...I guess I didn't think that it would turn out to be more than that." She explained.

"Any friend of Mason's is a friend of ours. Besides, you guys used to be together. There's no way you wouldn't be a friend of mine unless you were a bitch...which you clearly aren't." Mara hung her head down towards the floor. "But I think it's time I tell you that I'm glad you're here. I know that this isn't going to be easy. But I know that Mace is gonna need you now more than ever. I think she feels slightly guilty for never telling Mavis how much she loves and cares for her. Once we hop on that plane tonight I fear she'll just break...and I feel better knowing she has you to be there for her because I don't think she'd be ok now that..." Her tears run endlessly down her face.

Riley swallows hard as she extends her hand and places it over Mara's own. "She has you too. Don't ever exclude yourself. I know that things have been complicated between the three of us in regards to our relationship and our feelings but...it's you that she'll need at the end of the day, too. You're her best friend, Mara. That will never change. She'll need the both of us. We have to be there. But you don't have to pretend you're strong all the time. You're hurting too..."

Mara sinks into Riley's embrace. "I don't know what I'd do when she's gone." Riley lets her tears run down as she wraps her arms around the older girl. "Riley, I don't think I can handle it..."

Riley let's Mara squeeze her tightly. "Just let it all out. You have to let it all out. Don't keep it in. You don't have to do that around me..."

The four young women find themselves in the comfort of each other; warm and full of love. Yet, their comfort will soon be replaced with the inevitable hurt and loss that will soon take over.

The time runs short as the sky grows darker with each passing second that they find themselves on the cold hard floor. Their tears create a pool around their hands and feet. Their is no medicine that could stop the ache that spreads across their chests and spreads through their bodies. Time will only ever tell if anything could heal them.

And as the moon hangs high, their sorrows have never been lower than they are in this moment.