Hardships

Gone but Not Forgotten

4 days after Hako's Funeral:

"Baby?", Adora asks as she looked around the room for Catra. Catra had taken Hako's death very hard, she spent every day training her ass off with warriors and guards in Tendūji, learning to fight against the fire that Kade's royal liege uses in fights. But she spent her nights awake, haunted by the image of seeing Hako's bloodied and lifeless corpse on her lap. Seeing her childhood bestfriend being lowered into the ground in a wooden box after literally just getting to know her again. It broke Adora's heart hearing how broken hearted her lover and best friend was, but she knew it'd be better to let her grieve on her own.

Knowing that, Adora slipped on her clothes and headed towards where she knew Catra would be. The Tendūjian Cemetery. As she predicted she found Catra there, looking over Hako's grave her hands in her pocket. Adora made her way over to her as quietly as she could before Catra's voice caught her by surprise, "I know you're there Adora". Adora snorts to herself before she put a hand on Catra's shoulder.

"Talking to Hako love?", Adora asks softly, cautiously. Catra nods taking Adora's hand in hers and saying, "Yeah". Adora noticed the monotone in her voice and it broke her heart even more. Adora nods and stayed with Catra as she looked down on her friend's grave. "You know whats funny Adora?", Catra asks suddenly. Adora raises a brow and asks, "what is it Catra?". Catra, takes a knee in front of the headstone looking at the candles the townspeople had left there for her. " How does one little headstone ever describe somebody's life truly eh? I mean, obviously it tells you their name and the day they died and were born ... but it doesnt show you the true person they were", Catra says putting a hand on the tombstone.

"Babe I-", Adora starts before shes cut off by a humorless chuckle from Catra, " They had lanterns in the sky, the day of her funeral. Lanterns! Can you believe that?! I know what that is, its childish". Adora only sat down next to Catra, glad that she was opening herself up to her. Catra's hand gripped the tombstone as she continued her voice deep with emotion, " Like lighting a candle, or a latern or even saying a silly little fucking prayer is going to make everything all better... stupid, delusional, exasperating little children". Catra snorted and looked at Adora as she continued, " I know what you're going to say Adora... 'It makes them feel better Catra'. So what? For how long? A minute? A hour? A day? A week? What difference does it make?".

Adora leans forward going to put her hand on Catra's before the feline stood up, running a shaky hand through her hair and pacing, " B-Because in the end, when you lose somebody... every candle, every prayer is not going to make up for the fact that the only thing left is a hole in your life where that person used to be. A-And a piece of fucking stone and a birthday slapped on it that im 100% sure is wrong isnt going to do shit but remind you that you couldnt do anything to save them..". Catra stopped in front of the grave and dropped to her knees, her hair falling in front of her face hiding any emotion evident there.

Adora took this chance and wrapped a soothing arm around Catra's back and shoulder, pulling the feline into her chest and running a soothing hand up and down the girl's back. Catra gripped onto Adora like she was her lifeline. "Listen baby, I know you feel like that if you cry you'd be weak. B-But thats not exactly true my love. Its ok to cry Catra", Adora says softly into the girl's hair. Catra shakes her hand and says shakily, "N-No I dont think y-you understand Adora". Adora pulls back and holds Catra's chin in between her fingers, lifting it up so her lover was looking at her.

"So make me understand Catra", Adora says softly running her thumb over the girl's jawline. Catra put her hand on Adora's halting it and taking it in her hand, pressing her lips to the back of it and chuckling softly, "Are you sure you want to dive into my mind right now?". Adora quirked a brow and said seriously, "Catra, please". Catra nods and interlaces her fingers with Adora's and sighs. " How often are we to die before we go quite off this stage? In every friend we lose a part of ourselves, and the best parts of ourselves. I've lost people before, we both have. People that we loved with all of our hearts, and the feeling of watching them get l-lowered into the ground is something that will haunt my mind forever. H-Hako, I didnt even remember her back in Etheria... then once I do I lose her again. In losing a friend, you are reminded of all that you have lost and all you stand to lose again. There is nothing to be done to make it any easier. We all grieve alone. Its just life and honestly it'll be over before you know it". Adora nods and runs a hand through Catra's hair and spoke gently, " We all lose friends.. we lose them in death, to distance, and over time. But even though they may be lost, hope is not. The key is to keep them in your heart, and when the time is right, you can pick up the friendship right where you left off. Even the lost find their way home, when you leave the light on. Baby, I know you dont wanna cry and thats ok you dont have to, like you said everyone grieves in their own way but concealing your emotion and pushing it back down will only make it worse. Death is but crossing the world, as friends do the seas; they live in one another still. For they must needs be present, that love and live in that which is omnipresent. In this divine glass, they see face to face, and their converse is free as well as pure. This is the comfort of friends, that though they may be said to die, yet their friendship and society are, in the best sense, ever present, and immortal. Please understand that although Hako left this world physically her love and her soul still lives with us, lives with you".

Catra inhales shakily and clutched the back of Adora's back and buried her head in her chest and exclaims, " I-Im afraid that if I start crying I wont stop!". Catra broke down right then and there, breaking into hysterics. Adora's own tears fell down her cheek as she comforted the girl in her arms. She was trying to be strong not only for herself but for Hako and everyone who loved her almost as much as Catra did. Adora thinks, smiling to herself.

You're ok now Catra, I've got you. She's gone but not forgotten...

To be continued...