EXISTENCE: Recovery

CHAPTER 3: Questions

"Andre! Andre! Boy where are you? I know you don't want me coming in your room!"

Andre sighed. "Can't a ni- uh, guy, watch his YouTube shit without being bothered?" He walked up and out the door, entering the living room. Sitting in his room was his mother and his sister.

His mother looked up at him. "C'mere boy, take a seat. We're having a family meeting tonight."

He walked around the couch and gave his sister a quick kiss on her cheek. "How was school, Cassie?" He took his seat between her and his mother. 

His sister gave him a big hug. "It was fun, Andre! I can't wait to tell you about it later!"

His mother smiled. "All right, all right, you two. Let's get down to the important stuff, shall we?"

Andre looked at her. "What's good, Moms?"

"Well, I got a pretty solid paycheck tonight." She gave a grin. "I'd like to splurge, but I understand tomorrow's your last day of freshman year, is that right, honey?"

Andre's eyes glowed. "Yo, does this mean we're gonna go all out for dinner?!"

His mother smiled. "That depends, would you rather wait until tomorrow or would you wanna go out now?"

Andre turned towards his sister. "What's your call, Cassie? I'm honestly down for either one."

Cassie smiled. "Let's eat tomorrow! It'll feel like a celebration when you're finished!"

Andre grinned. "This is why you're the smartest one in the family." He gave her a kiss on the forehead. He got up and started for his room.

"Oh, Andre!"

He turned around. "Yeah, Moms? Something you need?"

She gave him a warm smile. "I know you've been pushing yourself. It's okay to take it easy, you know?"

Andre blushed and rubbed at his head. "Wh...what are you saying, Moms? Telling me to take it easy when tomorrow is the last day of school..."

"I just felt like you needed to hear it," she gave a warm laugh. "I bet Cassie feels the same way, too." She placed a hand on her daughter, who gave a little laugh in response.

Andre smiled. "Yeah, well, we all gotta take it easy at some point. Even the best of us get tired sometimes." He started for his bedroom door.

Cassie quickly jumped out of her couch seat and ran towards her big brother. "W-wait, Andre! You said you'd hear me talk about my day today!" 

Andre feigned shock. "I did, didn't I? How could I have forgotten?" He opened his door. "Step inside, Princess, let's hear your day." 

Their mother looked on as her son closed the door, and smiled as she heard the sound of active chattering and laughter.

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Adam carefully walked back down the hill, reflecting on Virgil's words. He still had so many questions he had wanted to ask the British youth, but none more so than "why." 

He weighed the statements he had just heard carefully to himself. 

Juan's alive? Does that mean that Gabriel...no...there's no way he could have...

His thoughts rushed back to the moment Gabriel sacrificed himself. The blood, the tears, the screams, and Gabriel's final smile.

"Thank...you..."

The tears started streaming down his face. The last thing he wanted to do was remind himself of that time.

He continued walking down the hill when he heard a soft meow. He stopped in his tracks and looked up to the source of the sound. Clinging onto the end of a branch was a cat, but Adam could barely make out what it looked like in the dark. He quickly jumped and grabbed hold of the cat, securing it in a hug hold, and gently placed it on the ground. He stood back up and continued on his way.