Cherry Blossom Abyss

Flashback: Uehara (age 7)

I will never be enough...will I?

"I made A's and B's,mom!" I gush,showing her my report card.

She doesn't look as she applies eye-liner,getting ready for work.

"3rd grade is easy. Of course you make passing grades." She says.

My face falls.

Why..?

Why was Mom so cold to me...

I hated it.

I....didn't care about anything anymore.

School grades didn't matter.

Weeks passed and I began to loathe her.

I started skipping school.

Picking fights.

I hated everyone.

I hated me.

It was the only time she'd ever pay attention to me was when the school had to complain to her about my behaviors.

"Yet again another call from the principal?? A kid has to go to the emergency room because of you,uehara!! You'll always be a lost cause just like your fucking brother. Why can't you just be more like your father??"

I scoff,amused.

"My father? Ohh you mean the one who beat you? Who left us?? Because he finally saw the bitch you really were-"

She slaps me,cutting me off.

"Are you saying this is my fault?? You're why he left us. You destroyed this family. He never wanted you and neither did I!!"

My face was hot with anger.

Why...did her words hurt me so much.

I hated her. So why did I care what she thought about me??

She..was supposed to be my mother damn it...

Why...

I slam my arm into the counter,slinging her pretty vases off to shatter on the floor.

Why couldn't she see how she was treating me??

Why couldn't she see she was in the wrong??

I point at her,getting in her face.

"I won't fall for you pushing your guilt on me. Blaming me for YOUR MISTAKES!!"

The tears start to flood my eyes.

I clench my fists, raising my voice at her.

"I WAS A CHILD,YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT ME!! you were all I fucking had!!! Fuck you!!"

I storm out of the house and down the street,sniffling and wiping my tears.

All my fault huh...

Did...dad really not want me...?

Who cares.

I didn't need parents anyways.

"I think you're a good person."

I look up to see a boy,smiling down at me from a tree.

"My name's aosuke."

He hops down from the tree and looks at me.

"And..my parents aren't exactly fond of me either..."

I furrow my brows,confused.

"...why?"

He shifts into a snake suddenly and I can't hold back my scream.

He chuckles.

"See?"

I look down.

"You're not a bad guy for chasing for your parents approval,uehara....we all do it. Some people just weren't meant to be parents. And that's not our fault."

"How...do you know my name..?"

He shrugs.

"We go to the same school. Your name is everywhere. Everyone is scared of you."

He holds out his hand.

"But I...want to be friends.."

My eyes begin to tear up again.

I didn't know why he wanted to...

"Okay..." I agree.

But...it made me happy. Really...happy...

He smiles softly.

Aosuke changed my world that day.

He loved me until I could love myself.

Sometimes soul mates don't have to be your lover.

You can find a soul mate in a friend.

Aosuke was the reason...I felt okay to exist.

Aosuke was the reason...I met Vivian.

Aosuke was the reason I could be happy again.