once we existed☾

lucky ones☾ | 6

I stand on the balcony. My wind-blown hair picks up in the wind. My bare skin prickles in the cold. It was a bad idea of wearing a dress on an evening like this. "Holy shit," I smirk at Leo's words, "You look like a Picasso painting," He comments and I frown.

"Do you know how Picasso painted people?" He obviously realises and apologises profusely. "What I meant to say is that you look beautiful," I feel myself blushing. He snakes his hands around my waist and leans his head on my shoulder.

"Leo!" I hear a yell and a little boy walks out the door. He is dressed in navy pyjamas with green dinosaurs on every crease. "One more story, please?" Leo laughs and picks him up. I watch and shake my head, smiling.

"You'd make a great father someday," I say absentmindedly. "Are you suggesting something?" he wiggles his eyebrows and I roll my eyes, my cheeks becoming as red as tomatoes. "Leo!" I gasp. He just laughs and walks inside to Octavius' room, my little brother still in his arms, giggling.

"Once upon a time, there was a boy," both Octavius and I listen intently, "One day he was sitting on a balcony watching the stars when a beautiful woman came along," I laugh, "It was love at first sight,"

"Bleugh!" Octavius said, poking out his tongue and tracing it with his index finger, pretending to puke. Leo and I laugh. "What happens next?" Leo shrugs.

"I don't know what happens next," he looks towards me, smiling, "Guess we'll have to find out,"

I tuck my brother in to bed and turn out the nightlight. "Night night," I kiss him on the nose and he giggles. In ten minutes, he's fast asleep, and so am I.

»»-----　　-----««

"Happy birthday, beautiful," I yawn quietly and rub my eyes of sleep. Leo must've carried me to my room in the night because I swear I was sitting in the chair in Octavius' room when I fell asleep. I feel a kiss on my forehead and I sit up. On my bedside table is a steaming cup of tea and some pancakes, draped in a layer of golden syrup.

"I made you something," Leo exclaims, revealing something from behind his back. I'm still only half asleep.

"What is it?" I question, and he opens the cover and I gasp. Inside is a collection of his drawings including a copy of the first ones he drew of the skyscrapers and one of me. He even has a drawing of Andromeda and me, our cat Cosmos, and even Elodie. My eyes threatened to spill with tears.

"This is so beautiful," I gasp. "I thought you'd like it," he smiles and sits next to me. Suddenly, the Hologram switches on as I take a sip of my tea. I almost spit it out.

"BREAKING NEWS: The whole of the City is to go under severe lockdown as of 11:59 pm tonight. Yesterday we experienced the deadliest day of the Disease on record - ten thousand deaths. The country is going into a state of emergency. Stock in stores is running low. Chaos is in the air." I look towards Leo, my mouth open with horror.

Mum and Alya rush into the room. "Did you hear?" We both nod. "Did it say when the lockdown will subside?" I question. Alya shakes her head. "Not until further notice."

"I volunteer to go to the shops." Mum pipes. "Someone needs to take care of Octavius, we can't leave him on his own," Alya exclaims. We all mutter in agreement. "Nova," Leo says truthfully, "With all the chaos, I'd rather you not be out on the streets because of you already have caught the Disease before." I nod. It makes sense. "So, I'll stay and look after my brother," They nod, "And.. you three are going?" They nod again. "I'll start making a list of necessities," exclaims Mum, dashing out of the room.

»»-----　　-----««

"What's happening? Wheres Mummy and Leo and Alya?" Octavius asks once he wakes up. I stroke his hair. "Well, there are lots of people getting very sick, as you know," he nods, "So now we have to stay home so we don't catch this sickness, so we can stay healthy. Mummy and Leo and Alya are out at the shops buying things we might need." I try to explain it in the most child-friendly way possible to not freak him out.

"Will I get sick?" I kiss him on the head. "No, you won't, honey. Because we're staying home we're making sure that we don't get sick or other people sick, either."

»»-----　　-----««

Mum, Alya and Leo return with bags full of food, drink, hygiene products, and other necessities. "How is it?" I ask Leo quietly as he removes his gloves, mask and protective gear, leaving him in a shirt and jeans and joins me outside, "It's chaos," he replies, shaking his head. "I'm glad you didn't go." He kisses my cheek softly. I look out towards the horizon.

"I can't believe..." "What is it?" I laugh. "It's been over a year and a half since we met - and since then Andy's died, I've found out I have a sister, Elodie's died, I've found out my Mum is still alive, I found out I have a half brother, I've fallen in love with you, I've almost died myself... and now the City's going into lockdown for God knows how long," Leo hugs me tight and I break down in sobs. "Leo-why-why does the world hate me so much?"

He kisses the bridge of my nose. I feel comfort in his presence. "You know, you're pretty comfy," I say through sniffles. He smiles, playing with my hair. I look up into his sparkling eyes. "I don't deserve you," I say quietly, he frowns. "Don't you dare say that again, Nova June Cassidy," I look at his collar which is damp with my tears,

"Sorry, I just... " I sigh. "Don't apologise. It's not bad to cry. In fact, I think it makes a person stronger," he replies, "You know I'm always here for you, right? No matter what." I smile and bury my face in his shoulder. "I love you," It comes out muffled, "Sorry, I didn't hear you," he says teasingly. I swat his face and he laughs. "I love you too, Nova."

"Happy birthday by the way," I smile, almost forgetting I turned sixteen today. Sixteen. Holy crap. "Nova!" I hear Alya call from the kitchen. I frown and walk-in. "Happy birthday to you~" The familiar song fills my ears and I grin, my eyes widening as I notice a cake in the middle of the room.

Decorated with sixteen candles, and "Happy Birthday Nova", on the front, written messily by who I'm guessing was Octavius, draped with a blanket of chocolate icing. "Octavius helped," Mum says, reading my thoughts. My little brother looks at the cake like it is the most precious thing in the world.

"Want to help blow out the candles?" I ask, though I already know the answer. He nods eagerly, his blonde curls bouncing on the top of his head as I lift him up. And at that moment I forget about my past and focus on the future. My loved ones stand around me, waiting for me to blow out the candles. Before I can do so, they've already been blown out. I laugh.

And at that moment, I think, maybe I have it better than others, maybe my life is all I've hoped for. And maybe I'm one of the lucky ones.

»»-----　　-----««

What I know:

My name is Nova Morshower

I had an elder sister named Elodie

My Dad was Arden Morshower, an Author who had a passion for Astronomy

My Dad died from the Disease when I was almost one

My Mum is Ophelia Nightingale, previously Morshower

I have a four-year-old half brother named Octavius Nightingale

I love Leo

Leo loves me

The City has gone under lockdown

It's going to be OK

»»-----　　-----««

Thank you so much for supporting my story guys! As (quite😬) a young writer, it means so much to me. I hope you are enjoying Once, We Existed so far! 💞