𝐋𝐀𝐁𝐘𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐇|𝐆𝐄𝐍 𝐕

𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐧𝐞

Margaret Sawyer felt as if she was drowning. The panic of being held underwater with no sense of relief or hope of breathing in oxygen once more flowed through her body like a current, sending unimaginable pain into both her heart and mind. The feeling never seemed to go away, even as the years went on. Even as she stood up late at night praying to God that she would find some sense of normality, that her powers would be snatched away from her just as quickly as both her mother and boyfriend were snatched away. (Fuck, she couldn't even think about him without bursting out into tears.)

Dealing with such pain would require an outlet. The problem was, Margaret didn't have one. Her father, a deadbeat ever since Margaret's mother took her last breath exactly eighteen years ago. Friends went out the window as well, for Margaret can't remember herself making a genuine connection with someone in years. It's not like Margaret really made an effort either. Making friends was so much work (Her father would disagree, telling her that making friends was what would get her to the top and eventually into The Seven. Ugh.) and it wasn't like anyone really wanted to get close with her anyway.

Except for him.

Sam Riordan, the sunshine on Margret's cloudy day. His smile, eyes, laugh, everything about him was so perfect. Margret could remember vividly the way her heart would flutter every time he showed up on her front doorstep with that dorky smile he wore when they first met, ready to take her out on one of their cheesy dates that neither really complained about. Sam knew how to make Margret smile, how to comfort her whenever she was a sobbing mess. Margaret used to joke that he was some sort of empath, to which he would laugh and playfully tell her to shut up. Fuck, Margaret missed him so fucking much to the point where she felt as if her heart was going to burst out of her chest whenever his gorgeous face passed through her mind.

But he was gone now, killing himself as he couldn't take the voices in his any longer. That's what her father had told her on her birthday as she sat at the dining table, waiting for Sam to arrive. Margaret didn't believe it. She didn't want to believe it. Sure, Sam had always had issues, but never in the years that they knew each other did Margaret think it would grow to a point where he wanted to take his own life, not even bothering to leave behind a note. Loosing the love of her life was years ago, yet the sheer agony Margaret felt on that day would never, ever be forgotten. The pain returned in waves, reminding her of what she lost yet could've saved at the same time.
Because the truth is, she could've saved Sam. There had to have been something she could've said or did to prevent him from taking his own life. Guilt consumed her like a blanket, wrapping around her body and devouring her until there was nothing left to take.

Because there wasn't anything left.

"Margaret, sweetheart, it's time to wake up," Richard Sawyer gently knocked on Margaret's door, making sure not to put too much pressure as to annoy her. Margaret rolled her eyes as she turned to lay on her side, anger already coursing through every inch of her body at the moment. She hated it when her father woke her up as if she was some sort of child incapable of taking care of herself. It was as if he was taunting her, letting her know how weak she truly was for not being able to save the ones she loved. "Margaret, I don't hear you moving."

"I'm getting up, dad!" Margaret shouted through the door, cursing under her breath as she dramatically rolled out of bed and examined herself in the mirror. Per usual, she looked like a train wreck. Eventually Richard took the hint and walked away from the door, most likely making his way downstairs to cook breakfast.

Richard Sawyer was a complicated man to say the least. Back when Jayne, Margaret's mother was alive he actually used to be a good man. But when she met her fateful demise, he changed, and most certainly not for the better. He became more controlling, bitter towards both his daughter and the world. It didn't help that Margaret was injected with compound v and provided with superpowers, which gave his control issues even more time to shine. Not a day went by where harsh training sessions didn't occur, brutal speeches about the improvements Margaret needed to make in order to become perfect. Because that's what every supe in the world wanted, right? To be perfect, to make it into the seven and become the greatest superhero in the world. Well it wasn't what Margaret wanted. She wanted so much more than the life she had gotten stuck with. She wanted to become a psychiatrist, to help those who were in desperate need of help because of the powers they had received. But no, of course none of that would ever be able to happen because the universe hated Margaret Sawyer and anything and everything that had to deal with her existence.