Miraculous short- stories book 3 by Summer Cheng @SummerCheng37.

Sentenced for Life Part 4 by Summer Cheng@SummerCheng37

        Alya's Father's POV:

          My wife and I  were told,  "Time Heals All Wounds," but I am sure whoever said that never lost a daughter.  Let alone had a loved one murdered. The two of us were devastated when we heard the news that Alya was dead.  We never once believed the ridiculous lie that she had killed herself.  We knew how much she loved Nino.

         I recalled how a few days before her untimely death, she had said how she wished Nino would hurry up and ask her the question. I asked her what question, and all she would say was "Dad, you know the one where he asks me to be his wife."   I knew for sure she was happy to be with him more than she had been with any previous boyfriend. I felt sorry for him. I felt bad for us being without our daughter, but horrified for him. I mean, he did witness her kidnapping. 

      It could not have been easy for Nino to have her taken from him.  As hard as it was for my wife and me, we were privileged to have her as part of our lives for twenty-two years. Nino told me once he felt guilty about Alya's death. I could not see why. He could not have stopped Lila if he had wanted to. It is not like he is a hero or anything.

        My wife and I were shocked to find out later not only that she was murdered brutally murdered by that nutty girl, Lila, but also that our daughter had kept secrets from us. She had known Ladybug's identity but never once told us. She had been the hero Rena Rogue.  It was a sad day for Paris the day she died. Now Paris was misus a great hero to fight alongside Ladybug and Chat Noir.  

       

     Our daughter was dead and all thanks to that shellfish, fake fox, Lila Rossi, if that was even really her name. There was some debate about that, too. What did people truly know about her?  It was clear that not much. We never once thought she would hurt Alya. Let alone snuff her life out. Yet, she had done it and with no remorse either.  I was not sure a life sentence was good enough for her.

      We testified against her at the trial.  We could not wait for her to go down for what she had done. She was one dangerous woman. Paris, France, could never be safe with her on the loose. It had been years since Hawkmoth, also known as Shadowmot,h had disappeared. No one quite knew why.   We thought without him the citizens were safe, but it turns out we were wrong.

       Lila was sentenced to life. Life in the Isane Asylum, which, if you ask me, was not good enough for her.  I believe she should have been tied up, gagged, and forced to tumble to her death from off some height. Perhaps it was due to the harsh circumstances in which she had easily killed Alya. She was our only daughter, a hero, the best woman to Nino, and the best friend to Marinette. What had she done to deserve such a fate?   Yet, she was dead, and Lila was alive. 

        No, the mental place was not good enough for that creep. Yet, she protested it as if it were the worst thing ever to hear. Ha, I hope she rots in their then.  She better not get out. Not ever. If she ever does, I could not say I would not string her up myself to make a public example of her.  I despise her.

          

        My wife has not said much since that dreadful day. Once the trial was over, she sobbed as she quietly told me, "Let's go home, dear."  She rarely speaks much anymore. When she does, she cries anytime Alya's name is mentioned. My wife is hardly holding up. I fear the worst for her if her condition does not improve soon. She was diagnosed with depression within weeks after Alya's death. She tries to stay strong for me.  

       Nino came by today. I could tell he was still hurting. The poor lad. He showed up with a dozen roses and some pansies, too.  The roses were for Alya's grave, and the pansies for my wife. I was impressed with his thoughtfulness.  I had given him a job. I could tell he was grateful for it.

  He had come by many times since Alya's passing. I  noticed that a new girl came with him a few times.  Most of the time, he still came on by himself like he had today.  "Mr. Ceasarie, I hope you know that Alya will still hold a special place in my heart, no matter what," Nino said. I smiled despite everything, "I know, son," I said. 

        I hugged him. My wife stood up and hugged us both. In some way, Alya's death brought my wife, Nino, and me closer together.  Yet at the same time, I felt I was sentenced to life, a life of fear over losing my wife because her depression was getting worse over time. A life of loneliness. A life of uncertainty.   I should have been walking our daughter, Alya, down the aisle to Nino within a few months. Instead, we buried her.

          The end...

Not all stories have happy endings.

   Until the next, Miraculous short-story,

bye-bye,

little owlets!

Summer out!