Number Eight: Apocalypse (Umbrella Academy)

5

2002

Almost a month has passed since Heather first arrived at the orphanage, and since then, her Uri had spent almost every day together.  Marie, a fourteen year old francophone young lady, who had beautiful long brown hair with long thick eyelashes and white skin did not like Uri's new friend.  Marie and Uri both arrived at the orphanage together, and were best friends ever since, inseparable, until Heather came into the picture.

Marie walked the hallways of the orphanage, her home, alone.  It was almost lunch time, so she made her way to the yard to get a good spot, she usually walked with Uri, but he was with Heather at the moment, like he was all the time and every day.  Marie would see them walk in the hallways together, eat together, and do crafts together, everything her and Uri use to do, he now did with her.  Uri never made any time for Marie anymore, the only thing he talked about and every wanted to do stuff with was Heather.  For almost a month now, Marie had been sidelined and forgotten while Heather got all of Uri's affection and attention, it just wasn't fair, but there was nothing she could do about it. 

She tried talking to Uri about a week ago about this issue, but he denied it, claiming that Heather was new and that she needed help and to be shown around.  When she was still frowning at that lame excuse that he had used multiple times before in small conversations, Uri asked her to try to imagine coming into a foster home this old and not knowing anyone, and no one would help her, and asked how she would feel.  Marie, who knew that the older people get, the harder it is to connect with others, considered that point of view, until her stubborn nature kicked in and she argued that Uri wasn't giving her enough space to make friends and be independent.  That was the moment the yelling started, Uri claimed that Marie was jealous and trying to keep him all to herself, then, as anger got the better of Uri, he shouted how she stopped him from making other friends.  Marie, shocked and angered screamed at him to go and hang out with Heather because she didn't want to see him again.  Words were said, feelings were hurt, some stuff got tossed around, and in the end, both sides were to angry and hurt to be remorseful.  Ever since the argument, Marie and Uri hadn't spoke, walked with, or made eye contact with each other.

Marie sat on the grass with some tears forming in her eyes as she recalled the argument, the words she spat at him were so hurtful, and she wanted nothing more in the world then to apologize to Uri, but that is not how teenage arguments work.  Nothing is ever simple when you are a teenager. 

She slowly wiped her eyes from the tear formations as a shadow fell over her from the front.  She looked up to see Jane standing in front of her, blocking the sun.  Jane asked empathetically, "how are you doing, Marie?"  Marie sniffled, but didn't answer in fear that she would start to sob uncontrollably.  Jane sat down beside her, "I know its hard to see now, but things will get better, they always do."  Marie, after swallowing the last wave of tears fighting to reach the surface, asked, "I just don't understand why he was ignoring me before our argument?  I would have loved to meet Heather, and we could have included her in our group, I can be flexible.  He just didn't trust me enough maybe?  Maybe I made him uncomfortable somehow?  Or upset him?"  She stared at Jane with the tears falling down her face and asked, "what's wrong with me?"  Jane embraced Marie in a hug as Marie cried on her shoulder, Jane said softly, "there is nothing wrong with you, Marie, don't ever think that there is.  Everyone is beautiful and perfect in their own ways, including you, okay?"  Marie asked in short sob interrupted fragments, "but, I... I just don't... seem to... understand him anymore?  A-and h-he doesn't want to... hang out... anymore."  Jane rubbed Marie's head gently and said in her same tone, "that's called being a teenager.  It sucks.  It complicates everything and makes trivial issues large, and large issues seem out of this world, but trust me, it will get better."  Marie started to calm down as she asked, "will we ever go back to normal?"  Jane answered honestly, "I don't know, you might go back to normal, or you might both find a new normal.  What ever you find though, it will be beautiful, I know that for sure."  Marie nodded as she stayed in Jane's arms for a little longer.