Venus - LAMS

☆Prologue☆

~Alex~

I was 12 when it happened..

I clung onto mama as best I could. I felt terrible.. I was hot, I couldn't stop shivering, I felt like throwing up but I had nothing left to throw up.. And I knew mama felt just as bad.

Mama held me close, rubbing my back weakly. "l-lexi.." She murmured. I looked up at her.

"W-we're gonna be okay... r-right, Mama?" I asked, trying to stop shivering. She smiled, a sad look in her eyes. It didn't occur to me back then, but I think she knew all along she'd be dying that day..

"y-you will be baby.. Alex.. I want you to promise me something.." She replied, managing to get enough strength for this last request.

"Yes, Mama.. Anything.." I murmured, looking up at her. This scared me..

"Promise me.. That you'll keep looking for me in the stars.. And that you never.. ever.. Stop dreaming.."

"I.. I promise, Mama." I gave her the most serious look I could muster. She chuckled weakly and kissed my forehead.

"Then my work is complete.. I love you, Alex.. Never forget that." Her voice softened to nothing more than a hoarse whisper, as she breathed her final breath.

I didn't notice she had died until the missionaries James dragged back told me..

~~~~~~~~~

~John~

I was 13 when mom died. She died after giving birth to Mary. The docs said it was something about a blood clot in her lungs..
I don't know.

All I know is that I was watching Mary in the PICU when she passed. I like to think that some of her made it's way to Mary, and that's why they look and act so similar..

I remember, at her funeral, I held Mary. I refused to let anyone else hold her. It was because of that theory, of mom being in Mary, that made me want to protect Mary with all my being so she could carry oh mom's legacy.

Mom made me promise something when I was younger. She made me promise to watch the big dipper. She said that if anything happened to my family, that we'd be up there. I believe it. So each night, I look up at the sky I  hopes of seeing the big dipper.

It's a way of keeping her close.

Something I need. 

Something I hold onto, and hope to share with a very special someone.

I knew that I'd have to fight to get it, but that kind of love would be worth it in the end.