Miraculous: Tales of Pandora Possum and Hawk Demask: Origins

Feeling Loss

Austine had a wonderful day with Mr. Morre and Simone, but elsewhere in California, Terracotta, a teen boy of about the same age was dealing with his own family, and troubles.

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Everything was lively and festive this evening. The walls were strung with colorful streamers and banners, everyone chatted cheerfully, and the evening sunset shimmered brightly. My grandma and mom talked and cooked in the kitchen in a happy manner, and my younger siblings and cousins all played together in the living area. Out on the porch deck, my dad an uncle talked fluently in our home language of Spanish, but I didn't feel like joining them. Even as happy as everyone tried to make today, it was forced happiness. Anymore, it always was. Nearly one year ago, my beloved aunt had passed away. It was so sudden and frightening, no one knew what to do. We tried staying together as a family, but it was hard when the one person who kept everything in check was gone. My aunt always had that bright and lovely smile that could cure almost anything. Now, it was just a faint memory. I was arched against the wall in the hallway, not really fitting in anywhere. I kind of had a habit of doing that though. No matter where I went, I always kind of felt like I didn't belong there, or that there was something else I was meant to do.

"Lucas," my grandma said to me. I turned around and smiled.

"Yeah?" I was ready to do whatever chore she asked me to.

"Will you go find your cousin Hazel?" She asked me kindly. For a moment I stared at her through my deep brown eyes. I nodded.

"Sure."

I wandered around the house looking for my cousin. Anymore, it seemed Hazel had a bad habit of just disappearing. Ever since her mother had died, she was more quiet and solemn, sliently revealing how broken her heart was. We used to play so well together as kids, being just a few months apart. After my aunt died, I noticed how different she had become. Instead of the fast paced sarcasm that lightened her spirit, she had a cold behavior, only talking to complain or rudenly note when something was wrong. I tried my best to let her grieve in her own way, but lately I had noticed she seemed to have pushed everyone away. No one knew what to say or do, because we were all lost, and broken. With all my heart, I wanted to make her happy again.

After checking both bedrooms, the bathroom, laundry room, and every other room in the house, I stopped a moment to think. Where could she be? As I pondered where Hazel could be hiding out. the sun drifted down on me, causing a new idea to pop up into my head.

Quietly I walked over to the back porch, and I at once noticed the familar short bob of wavy brown hair.

"Hey, Hazel." I said as kindly as I could. "Everybody's ready to start eating, and  celebrate your birth-"

"I know." She cut in sharply. I couldn't see her face, but I could tell from her voice that she had been crying. I wanted to comfort her, but no words escaped my mouth. A second later she pushed past me, and slammed the door shut. Talk about a cold welcome. I sighed deeply, then went back in myself. Hazel hadn't smiled in months, and much less attempted to talk to me, or anyone else. It was only natural that we all worried about her.

Later, when all our dinner had been eaten, grandma pulled out the cake and began lightening the candles. Everyone gave that half smile, that made it seem like everything was okay, when it wasn't. Dinner had seemed so fake. Everybody chatted a little, but no one talked about anything really. That one element of joy and comfort had seemed to vanish from our family. Everything seemed forced, and it gave me a sickening feeling. Throughout dinner, Hazel had been looking elsewhere, avoiding her shallow green eyes from making contact with anyone else's.