The Disconsolate Maiden

Chapter Eighteen

"Homura," Mrs. Kanojo called from the other side of her daughter's door. The feeble woman knocked ever so gently upon the white painted wood, yet its throbbing sound echoed in Homura's ears. "What's the matter?"

Lifting her head, Homura wiped her tear stained eyes, still wanting to cry.

"I have to get over myself," she scolded, leaning up against her door as she pushed her feet forward, helping herself stand back up.

Turning around, she swiftly unlocked her door and bowed to her pale skinned mother.

"I'm sorry, Mother," Homura quickly apologized. "I had a memory, that is all. I wouldn't find it very pleasant to speak of at the moment, but I am grateful for your concern for me."

Mrs. Kanojo smiled weakly and held out her arms, pulling her daughter into a gentle hug.

The sudden warmth from Mrs. Kanojo comforted Homura, having not felt like her existence mattered to her family for the longest time.

"You're a strong girl, Homura," her mother comforted, rubbing her daughter's back. "I love you very, very much. Believe it or not, your father loves you too. I understand he can be a little harsh at times, but I'm sure you know why."

Homura pushed away from her mother, immediately regretting her decision to do so.

"You don't understand..." Homura said, staring down, her voice shaking. "He doesn't love me. I was the foolish child. I'm the one who should have died."

"Never say that again," Mrs. Kanojo sighed, rubbing her daughter on the head. "I don't want you to keep lying to yourself like that. It's not good for your health. Everyone in the world knows that accidents happen."

"Yes, ma'am..." Homura said quietly, yet deep down, she honestly wanted to fight her mother. That wasn't something she felt very often, especially since her mother needed constant care and was too weak to even argue.

"I have some news for you," Mrs. Kanojo said after a moment, taking short breaths. "I'll be seeing my doctor this weekend. You're going to have to pack in just a moment and be ready for your grandparents. I know this has come up so...suddenly. Really, I hate not giving you any kind of notice before now..."

"I understand," Homura said, praying her mother hadn't gotten weaker in just a few days without her noticing it. She had been so distracted by her own feelings, Homura feared she had neglected her mother without realizing such.

"They should be here in about an hour," Mrs. Kanojo said, smiling softly, gently petting Homura on the head. "Be a good girl and don't be a nuisance to them, alright? Bring your homework with you, too. You know how your father is about your grades..."

"Speaking of father..." Homura said under her breath as her mother turned around, walking back to her resting place in the living room. "When will he be home tonight?"

"He'll be late," Mrs. Kanojo replied. "I know how much it saddens you, not being able to say goodbye to him. It's just for the weekend though. I'm not sure what the doctor will do this time around, but my yearly treatments are due. Just know, when Monday comes around, everything will be just fine, my girl."

Homura bowed to her mother, the knot tightening even more in her stomach, causing her to gag a little.

Two hours later...

"Homura! My girl! What a joy it is to have you here!" Homura's grandmother chuckled as their granddaughter walked through the doorway to their home, followed by the grandfather.

Grabbing Homura roughly, the plump, old woman wrapped her arms around the shy girl, pressing her into her "chest".

"Aaa yes!" Homura laughed uneasily, setting down her slim suitcase. "I've missed you!"

"I made something for you," her grandmother said, letting go of Homura, swiftly waddling to somewhere in the back of the house. "I hope you adore it!"

"I-It's an h-honor...!" Homura stammered nervously, shifting uneasily from foot to foot on the tile floor in the kitchen. Staring at her brown shoes, the girl began to feel sick and anxious.

"Mother...she really hasn't been acting like her normal, weak self..." Homura thought, her eyes clouding over with regret. "I'm such an idiot...I should have noticed...and now if something's wrong...all the blame will be on me. Really, I would take the blame though...it is always my fault. That's just how things have to be..."

"Where's your sister?" Homura's grandfather grunted as he lit a cigarette and began to smoke inside the house. "I haven't seen her around lately. How has she been?"

"G-Grandfather..." Homura choked out, looking up, tears in her eyes. She wasn't sure if she felt like crying because of her mother, or over the fact that her sister had been gone for many, many years. Or both.

"What's the matter?" he grunted, letting out a puff of smoke before he erupted into a serious of loud gags and nasty coughs.

"S-She's...not coming over anymore. That's all. Something came up," Homura sighed, having forgotten that her grandfather would forget things constantly.

"I see..." he muttered, coughing one last time.

"I found it!" Homura's grandmother exclaimed with glee, waddling back as fast as she could to the kitchen, a large, somewhat flat box in her arms.

"Is that f-for me?" Homura asked, not sure if she should accept what she was about to be given. Despite her grandparents being very wealthy, she still felt that it would be wrong to accept random gifts from them unless it was for her birthday or Christmas.

"Yes, dear! Now hurry, open it! Think of this as...a random gift from me to you!" her grandmother chuckled, shoving the box at her granddaughter.

Carefully, Homura took the cardboard box and lifted the top off of it. What she saw utterly amazed her. It was as if her grandmother knew exactly what she had been needing for when the prom came along.

Behold, in the box, rested a white, pastel yellow, and pastel orange dress, ruffles and all. The sleeves were covered in lace, and so was the neck of the dress. Here and there, one would find a few hidden faux diamonds. It was just enough to sparkle to grab someone's attention, but not too bright that it would hurt their eyes and scare them away.

Homura gently pulled the dress out of the box, a single tear running down her cheek as she held the dress up to her body. It was definitely going to be a perfect fit.

There, at the bottom of the box, Homura also noticed a pair of pure white, satin gloves that would reach up to her elbows, and a small, silver flower pin with a yellow jewel in the middle, obviously, for her hair.

"I'm..." Homura whispered in shock. "T-Thank you so much!"

Even though Homura feared going to the upcoming prom at her school, this particular dress soothed her feelings of angst.

"I take it you like it?" her grandmother chuckled, her rosy cheeks shining.

"I love it!" Homura exclaimed jubilantly, throwing her arms around her grandmother's neck. "Thank you so so so much!"

Quickly, minding her manners, Homura pulled away from the old woman and bowed respectively.

"It's an honor, really," Homura's grandmother chuckled. "to have such a beautiful granddaughter like you still."

Homura's eyes were swimming with tears of happiness.

"Perhaps..." Homura thought to herself. "Perhaps this weekend won't make me feel so miserable inside...perhaps...this is where I've always belonged."