Healing Sophie

29

Sophie had always loved the color pink. It was warm and happy. She loved all colors, even. Being so into art, she had always grown to appreciate how vibrant the world was, cast in brilliant hues. Life had always felt like a masterpiece to Sophie.

As she stared at the stoic old man behind the oak desk, though, the world just felt gray. Like she was stuck in an old black and white film. It felt like every beautiful thing had been drained of color and she felt like she was floating in space, her mind and body separate from one another. She was gone. Her mother was gone. Sophie's last words to her were filled with so much hate and anger and now her mother was gone.

A gentle hand found its way to her forearm and she glanced at Victor who gestured to the man.

"Sorry, what?", she asked dully.

The man repeated himself. "We'll need to discuss funeral arrangements. Will you be handling the services?"

Sophie stared at nothing and gave an empty nod. Victor looked at her with concern and she tried to ignore it. He had been her rock for the past few days and she couldn't even tell him how much she appreciated it without breaking down.

The man continued rambling on about things she just couldn't find it in herself to care about and she just continued staring at nothing, trying to find any part of her mind with a semblance of emotion.

She was numb. Other than the sensory annoyance of wearing stiff, uncomfortable clothing, she felt nothing. Her mother who she had just reconnected with, who had abandoned her, who had lied to her, was gone. What was one supposed to feel towards someone that had never really been a part of their life to begin with? Someone who didn't even want them?

For now she would just take comfort in the nothingness.

Victor and Sophie walked out of the Public Authority office after a grueling two hours of funeral arrangement plans. He was happy when she had asked him to go with her. It was the first bit of normalcy since Mavis had overdosed the week prior. The other guys and him were just stuck in the motions, trying to toe the line between supporting Sophie and giving her space. With this situation and Finn still grieving over his father, it was dark times for their household. Victor wished he could just take away all of their pain.

"You okay, princesa?" The question felt stupid as it left his lips, but what else was there to say? She just simply nodded and walked to the car. When they were inside, they were silent for a moment as Victor tried to find the words to help. "When... When my mom died, I'm not sure there was anything anyone could have said to help. I was angry and sad." Sophie said nothing but tilted her head towards him. He continued, "I think the only people who actually helped were Chase and Theo. They didn't give empty condolences or pity. At my mom's memorial, they pulled me out and we hopped on the bus and went to the ocean. It was empty and the two of them just let me scream and scream until there was nothing left."

Sophie looked at him with those beautiful brown eyes. They were more aware and focused than they had been in days. Good, she was listening to his words. Victor grabbed Sophie's soft hand and turned fully towards her. "Sophie, would you like to go to the beach with me?"

Though she hadn't yet smiled in days, he caught the slightest flicker in her eyes. His heart pulled at the view.

She whispered, "Yeah."

Trees and rolling hills danced along the car as the five of them made their way to the beach. It was about an hour drive, giving them each ample time to daydream in silence.

Finn was right next to Sophie in the back, with Theo on her other side. He was in his own trance, thinking about his dad and about how to help Sophie when he himself was hurting. He glanced at the girl beside him. Her eyes were stuck in the same hollow gaze they had been for days. He frowned and grabbed her hand, squeezing it tight. She just looked up at him blankly before leaning her head on his bicep. He played with her hair and gazed back out the window.