The Disconsolate Maiden

Chapter Two

Alarm clock blaring, Homura sat straight up in her bed, her heart thudding with shock. She was already getting the feeling that she had accidentally slept in.

Looking over at her clock as she gently pushed the top button, turning it off, she saw that the time only read "5:00 A.M."

"Too early..." Homura grumbled in her usual type of morning voice, the kind every tired person has when they first wake up.

Sighing softly, Homura sat on the edge of her bed and grabbed her brush, beginning to run it through her hair to get the tangles out.

Yawning, Homura couldn't help but cringe just a tiny bit in pain as she yanked the "twisted knots" out.

"I wonder..." Homura thought as she set her brush down, pushing her feet into her light yellow slippers. "what is it like to have friends...?"

Standing up, Homura walked towards the huge window in her bedroom, staring out as she watched a father and his daughter walk down the street, hand in hand, smiling and laughing together.

Homura tanked her curtains closed and let out another sigh, this time, much more depressive than before.

"I know I'm not supposed to even feel this way..." Homura thought, holding her hand over her heart, trembling just a little. "I know Father has to work...I know Mother is ill...I'm supposed to take care of myself. I shouldn't be so selfish and wish to have had times like those. If anything, I should be glad my Father provides for our small family. That way, I can put meals on the table for the three of us...the three of us..."

Homura stared down at her slippers, forcing a false smile on her face. She was used to doing this. Now, she did it so often, one could almost mistake it for a genuine smile. Though, only a fool would be able to do such. The wise would be able to look into the girl's muddy eyes and take notice of all the pain she felt.

Sadly, Homura was never around wise people, especially in her new school. They were all full of themselves, forgetting what really mattered the most.

"Homura?" a feeble voice called out softly, a gentle knock coming from the girl's locked bedroom door. "Are you awake yet?"

Homura jerked her head up, grabbed a ponytail holder off of her desk which she used for homework, and hastily began to braid her hair.

"Just a moment, Mother," Homura said in the sweetest, absolutely kindest tone of voice one could possibly pull off in the morning. Well, that is, if that person wasn't a morning person.

After twisting the final strands of her hair, Homura grabbed her pastel orange and yellow housecoat off from her desk chair, slipping it on.

Quickly, Homura rushed to her bedroom door, unlocking it. As soon as she opened the door, she was greeted by her mother, an uptight expression on the woman's face. Though, she was literally just skin in bones in a wheelchair, causing Homura to pity her.

"What took you so long?" her mother asked weakly, her voice just as cranky as it could be. "I was waiting for you, girl!"

Clearly, she wanted to be in a good mood, but she had also woken up on the wrong side of the bed.

Homura bowed in apology, not even bothering to talk back. She hated getting scolded, so there was no point in worsening the situation.

Her mother sighed, shaking her head a little.

"I'm sorry, Homura," she said softly. "I'm just frustrated, that's all. You know how I get when the doctors make me wait for a response."

"Yes," Homura said understandingly, forcing a pleasant smile on her face. "It's only natural."

"Would you mind helping me fix my morning cup of tea today?" Homura's mother asked, and her daughter immediately nodded her head.

Going behind her mother, Homura began to push her wheelchair down their home's short hallway.

"Did you sleep well last night?" Homura asked her mother politely, trying to help her mother forget the fact that the doctors hadn't been replying. "I pray you did. This morning is an absolutely lovely morning."

"I agree," Homura's mother said, smiling as she was pushed into the kitchen.

Stopping her mother at the kitchen table, Homura walked into the kitchen area and began to fill up a tea pot with water.

"I slept just fine last night," her mother replied slowly, her head turned towards the living room, gazing out the huge glass sliding doors. "Your father also called last night..."

"What did he say?" Homura asked, dropping a piece of bread into the toaster for her mother.

"He asked me how your studies were going. After all, we moved here to better your education. You're a smart girl, Homura," her mother said.

"I-I..." Homura, though she was already a quiet girl in the first place, got even quieter. "I haven't gotten my first report card yet, so I-I'm not sure..."

"Are you having any problems in your classes?" Mrs. Kanojo asked.

"Not yet," Homura said with a slight sigh, checking the tea she was making for her mother.

"Have you made any friends in your music classes?" Homura's mother pushed.

"I've spoken to this girl named Totoko and another girl named Naomi a few times, but I can't really call them friends yet," Homura said, getting out the butter to spread on her mother's toast.

"Your father will be coming home this weekend," Homura's mother said, silence filling the room afterwards.

"I see..." Homura said quietly, gently placing the perfectly fine toast on a small plate. She then proceeded to pour her mother's tea into her favorite tea cup.

Carefully, Homura approached her mother, placing the light breakfast before her.

"This is splendid," Mrs. Kanojo said, smiling in appreciation for her daughter. "You're so talented, my little Homura. I hope you know that. Never let anyone tell you otherwise. One day, you'll be just what someone wants. Then all the girls who ignored you will feel bad, because you'll be the richest girl alive."

Homura laughed lightheartedly just a little as she pulled a yogurt out of the refrigerator for herself for breakfast.

"Are you just having yogurt again, darling?" her mother asked, taking a sip of her tea. "You should have made yourself some toast. Bread sticks to your bones. At least, that's what you tell me."

Mrs. Kanojo laughed in spite of herself, loving how her daughter was the one who taught her things, not the other way around.

"I need to be at school early today," Homura said, swallowing some of the yogurt, almost choking. "I have something important to do."