Ninjago: Reversed Destinies

Chapter 41: Proud of You

"If my memory doesn't fail me, it has been two years already." Lou began sharing his story. "Cole's mom had fallen ill and no doctor could find the cause to it. The only thing they were certain of it was it was terminal, and there's nothing we could do to save her."

"Woah." Jay was shocked in hear that. "Cole never told us any of that... He, um, never talked much about himself..."

"Of course he wouldn't." Lou sighed. "His entire life was devoted to Lily. Her death was too much for the poor boy. He was always the first person to jump into her arms whenever she came home after some of her, uh, excursions." He explained. "He was always sharing his time with her and listening to her stories, and saying how much cool everything she lived was."

"Obviously, my son took the recent news really badly." The man sighed with watered eyes. "It hurt a lot to explain her situation to him, and even more when he constantly asked for us to visit her on the hospital. But..." He pulled his handkerchief once more. "Nothing prepared me for her death, and I believe it was the same for Cole."

"I won't lie, at the time, I didn't made the best choices. It was too much for me to deal with everything, so I tried to put my mind in anything that could distract me from how much I was missing my wife." The elegant man brushed his watered eyes. "If I performed before, now this was everything I done."

"But...what about Cole?" Zane gently asked. "How does he fit in all of this?"

"Simple." Lou sighed. "He didn't. Every time I came back home, the dinner was ready, the house was clean. Everything was in order. At first, I thought that was Cole's way of dealing with his loss. Giving everything he got on everything. But..." He looked away.

"I felt how closed off he became. He never spoke unless it was necessary, and he never shared anything with me. So I thought..."

"You thought...?" Kai asked, with furrowed eyebrows.

"Maybe... This wasn't doing him any good." Lou shooked his head. "He needed friends of his age, be more active. And I couldn't provide any of this for him."

"So... That's why you sent him to study on Marty's?" Nya asked, confused.

"Exactly." Lou nodded. "At first, he didn't seemed fond of the idea, but after seeing his letters..." He smiled sweetly. "He was so happy in them. I'm glad he was doing way better. Maybe living here was not helping him after all. And look at you!" The man added. "He made such good friends! I'm happy to see my son is doing well lately."

Zane, Nya and Jay looked at each other, unsure of what to say. Sure, Cole looked to be in a better place, but his father didn't had any idea of why.

"Have you finished?" Kai asked, getting up.

"Yes." Lou nodded. "I'm sorry you all had to listen to that."

"Yeah, I am sorry." Kai walked to the door. "I'm sorry that Cole had to deal with a poor excuse of a father." He added, coldly.

"Excuse me?" Lou asked, surprised.

"Kai..." Nya spoke, nervous.

"What? I just saying the truth." Nya's brother said, annoyed. "I think you didn't understood your son at all." He looked at the elegant man. "Maybe if you did, you would have noticed how unconfortable he was all day. Parents shouldn't leave their kids behind." He put an end to their conversation by lefting the room.

"Ugh. Way to go, Kai." Jay sighed.

"I... I'm sorry, but I agree with him." Said Nya, leaving Lou more surprised. "Maybe I shouldn't be saying this, but you should have thought about Cole's feelings, Mr. Lou."