𝐇𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐃 | Hosie ✔️

Chapter 18

For a few seconds, Josie looked after Hope before she finally disappeared completely behind the trees and out of her reach. So now she was alone. For a moment, she continued to stare at the trees while her hands closed tighter around the crystal. She still found it hard to believe that she was holding a magical item from her father's office that Hope had gotten for her. However, she still had to admit that it was an opportunity she didn't want to miss just like that.

She had always dreamed of getting the chance to talk to her mother. Even if it was only for a short time. Because even though Caroline was always a great mother to her and had always made sure that she felt loved, she still felt curious. She wanted to know if she looked like her mother and if they had any similarities. Lizzie resembled Caroline even though they were not even related, so much so that Josie slowly began to wonder where she came from.

So she dispelled all her doubts and threw her gaze back at the tombstone in front of her. She just had to try. Although she had no idea how this would work, I'm sure she would find out somehow. Following a reflex, she knelt in front of the grave and put the prism on the ground. No sooner had it touched the ground than it suddenly began to glow in bright pink.
"Jo?" she asked cautiously, while uncertainty resonated in her voice. Was she making a complete fool of herself here? What if it didn't work at all?

"Josie", the female voice that sounded behind her, dispelled these doubts immediately. In an instant, Josie was driving around and saw a woman behind her. She was about a head taller than Josie herself and had black hair and green eyes. A broad smile appeared on Josie's lips when she saw Jo. So it had worked. She had no idea how it worked and maybe it was nothing more than a projection of her thoughts, but even if it wasn't, it felt good.

"How are you?", Jo took another step towards her and a gentle expression appeared on her face. Josie swallowed lightly and was unsure what to say in response. By now it had become a real reflex for her to simply answer "good" and make sure that no one cared about her, but this was her mother. She couldn't just lie to her like that. Especially since this might be her only chance to ever talk to her and get help from her.

"Not so good, and a... good friend told me that you might be able to help me", she was simply honest. Jo listened to her words and then nodded in agreement: "I'll try everything I can to help you with your problem."
It took Josie a moment before she started to explain her situation: "I have a problem with my twin sister. Soon there is this event where I am supposed to help my sister win, but somehow I would like to try to participate myself. But not for her, but just for myself. But if I do what I want to do, she will feel betrayed by me and will never speak to me again. But if I do what she wants, I'll be betraying myself."

Jo sighed slightly when her daughter had finished with the explanation. She hadn't anticipated this problem. But when the corners of her mouth lifted slightly, relief spread through Josie. That had to be a good sign.
"Oh Josie", she put her hands gently against her daughter's cheeks and looked at her face: "You have become such a great girl. Do you know that? And it has nothing to do with neglecting your sister once you decide in your favor. As it sounds, you do a lot for your sister and often put your needs on the back burner. But that doesn't mean you always have to do that. If something is important to you and it feels good, then sometimes you have to do what you think is right. You can't always help your sister succeed. Sometimes she has to do it without your help and sacrifice. You are both independent people, and you have a right to your desires."

Attentively, Josie had listened to her and nodded as Jo came to an end. She had to realize that her mother was right. She could not forever only help Lizzie to get her wishes and put herself on the backburner. Penelope and Hope had tried to tell her so many times, but she had never taken their words seriously. Hearing it now from her mother, who had a twin herself and probably knew better than anyone how she felt, even though they had never really met, strengthened her desire to do what made her happy just this once.
"Thank you, mom", the corners of her mouth up with a happy smile: "You've helped me."