Healing Sophie

27

"Want some?"

No answer. Finn shrugged and took a swig. It was hours after the burial and he was sitting next to his father's gravestone. It wasn't a very lively conversation, but he enjoyed the company nonetheless.

"I miss you, dad. It's been a long time." Four years, to be exact. "Sophie and I are together. Sort of. You and mom always said we would. Let's just hope I don't fuck it up."

A soft breeze fluttered through his hair. He took a deep breath and flopped onto his back, staring at the sky. "I'm worried about mom. She's been waiting for you to come home for a long time. Both of us have. This wasn't quite what we meant." He hoped his father could hear every word he couldn't find the courage to mutter. I love you. You were my hero.

"He always did have a dark sense of humor, didn't he?" Finn shot up and found his mom walking towards him.

He gave a sad smile. "Yeah." Sherry sat next to Finn and pulled him into a hug. He took a deep breath. "Mom?"

"Yeah?"

"I can't breathe."

She pulled back with a smile and stared at the gravestone. "He loved you a lot, Finn. He was so excited to be a father. His work just got to be too much." Finn looked at his mom's sad chestnut eyes and grabbed her hand.

"Are you going to be okay?"

She nodded sadly. "I will be."

Finn just continued holding her hand in silence as the sun set around the three of them.

When Sophie was young, she used to read about giants that roamed the mountains, slaying dragons with their big swords.

As she sat in a large mountain of rejected clothing, she felt similar to those giants. Trying to slay the difficulties of shopping. She absolutely despised it. The crowds, trying things on, all the noises. She much preferred online shopping, but, alas, she was a slave to consumerism and had to find a dress last minute for her showcase. She had been pushing it off for days, her nerves too strong to handle. It was two days before the performance though, so she finally gave in and asked Jess to take her shopping. Theo decided to tag along and was now lost somewhere in the store.

"I want to go home," Sophie whined through the dressing room door. Another sparkly article of clothing flew over the wall.

"Try this one," Jess said. Sophie sighed and stood, eyeing the new item. It was beautiful, but she didn't feel like it would look good on her. She slipped on the stretchy, black-sequin romper. It fit perfectly, but it was much different from her usual style. The outfit had a full sleeve on one side, and the other arm was uncovered.

"I-I can't wear this."

"Get that cute butt out here."

Sophie took a deep breath and exited the dressing room. She turned to Jess and before Jess could say a word, she was cut off.

"Woah." Sophie turned to see Theo who was setting her aflame with his eyes.

She nervously flitted with the shorts of the romper. "Do you like it?"

He slowly approached her while drinking her all in, and looked her deep in the eyes. "You look absolutely divine, Bambi."

She flushed and turned to Jess who looked proud of her work. "You look smoking hot, girly."

Sophie smiled and turned to the mirror outside the dressing room. She looked completely different, like a more confident version of herself and she loved every moment of it.