𝐕𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐒 | CHARLES XAVIER

CHAPTER 3

9:00 Am

I sat on the soft, freshly made bed in the Xavier mansion, the morning sunlight streaming through the window. I had woken up a few minutes ago and was torn between two options - getting out of bed and exploring the mansion in search of Charles and my mother, or staying under the covers and drifting back to sleep.

Last night, as Charles bid me good night, I unpacked the meager belongings I had brought with me. I carefully placed the few clothes I had into the wooden dressers, silently hoping that I would soon be able to acquire more. However, it seemed that acquiring clothes would not be an issue here.

I didn't get to bed until around midnight, tossing and turning in bed all night as usual. It was a surprise even to myself that I had woken up so early today. I had always struggled with sleeping, suffering from insomnia, and last night  was no different. The thought of starting a somewhat new life in a completely different place had stirred up a mix of emotions, making it difficult for me to find peace and quiet in the middle of the night.

I decided that I should probably get up and dressed. As I sat up in bed, I could feel the soft fabric of my sheets slide against my skin. I didn't want to stay in my room any longer, and I knew that my mother would come for me soon enough anyway.
I climbed out of bed, feeling the cold wooden floor beneath my feet as I made my way over to the wooden dressers. The room was still bathed in shadows, with only a hint of sunlight peeking through the curtains.

I rifled through my dresser drawers, picking out a soft white dress and a light cardigan to wear. I slipped into the clothes with ease, but took a moment to pause in front of the full-length mirror attached to the wall. The room's warm lighting cast a soft glow on my figure as I tugged my hair back into a small bun, secured with a delicate white bow. Though I didn't care overly much about my appearance, I still tidied myself up a little, wanting to look presentable.

I grabbed my sketchbook and pen before opening my bedroom door slowly and stepping out into the hallway. I paused after closing the door behind me, feeling a pang of hesitation. I was definitely going to go find my mother nether-less but I was also planning to draw. Drawing was something I had picked up along with reading, and it had become a comforting activity for me. Though I was not an expert, the act of creating something gave me a sense of purpose. I knew I would make something of it someday.

I made my way downstairs, each step creaking softly under my feet. As I reached the last step, I headed towards the kitchen, the scent of baking pastries and freshly brewed coffee filling the air. The sun streamed in through the kitchen windows, casting a warm glow over the room. My eyes going to my mother who stood in the kitchen.

"Goodmorning mama" I say softly coming to stand next to her by the countertop.

My mother turned to me, a small smile on her face. She leaned down to kiss my forehead, her hands still preoccupied with the mixing bowl in front of her.

'How's your day going so far?' I asked softly.

She paused for a moment, her gaze meeting mine. 'Aahh, not too bad, I suppose." Obviously today was her first day of a new start. As mentioned before she had never had a full time as a maid. Even for the Xavier's.

"What are you making, Mama?" I asked, my eyes fixating on the creamy mixture in the bowl.

"It's a coconut cream pie," she replied, pausing her stirring to smile at me. "Your favorite."

She went back to mixing, and added, "I thought I'd make it for you and Charles, as well as a breakfast spread. I'm hoping it will make a good first impression.. well as for being here officially."

"Is Sharon here?" I ask my mother softly, moving to sit on one of the chairs by the countertop.
"No, she's not here, but Charles is," my mother tells me. "I saw him this morning, bidding farewell to his mother."
"His mother has left ?" I say, a note of surprise in my voice.