𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕃𝕒𝕞𝕡 𝕠𝕗 𝔻𝕦𝕣𝕪𝕠𝕕𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕒

Epilogue

»»ᅳ15 years laterᅳ►

 The Pandavas stood in the cemetery, silently praying, as they did every year on the day of Boo's death. They had wished for two things when Boo was cremated. One, was for Boo to have a gravestone in the mortal cemetery, as an honorary marker. The other, was to only be called the Pandavas. Being called the Potatoes just didn't seem right without him anymore.

As they stood, their heads hung in mourning, a glint caught the corner of Aru's eyes. She looked up, analyzing her surroundings, until her eyes landed on a boy, playing with a totem. She smiled, he vaguely reminded her of someone.

Aru laid her hand on her husband's shoulder, "Aiden, doesn't that boy remind you of a certain someone?"

Aiden looked over to where his wife was pointing. He saw a little boy, no older than 5, who had jet black hair, a white strip in his hair, and sad cobalt blue eyes. The boy sat on a bench, swinging his legs back and forth as he played with the charm, simultaneously staring at the cracked sidewalk near their museum. His facial features looked extremely familiar. The same sharp jaw and thin lipped smile graced the boy's face. Memories of a certain bird flooded his brain. He shook his head and whispered, "There's no way..."

Aiden kept the sentence hanging, and Aru took that opportunity, " I'm gonna go talk to him, Aiden. He's a little kid, and besides, if it's really...him, then..."

Aiden sighed and nodded to her. Aru squealed slightly before running over and sitting next to the five year old boy. She smiled at him. The boy looked up at her, slightly afraid of what her intentions may be.

Aru held out her hand, "Hi! I'm Aru. What's your name?"

The boy looked at her, clutching the totem closer to him, "I- um... I'm sowwy Ms. Aru. I do not have one. " He said tears welling up in his eyes.

Aru withdrew her hand in surprise, "No name? Where are your parents?"

The boy started to cry, " I don't have any! I'm from the house for kids with no parents like me... I was kicked out!" The boy cried, hugging the charm, a small necklace on his neck glinting in the sunlight.

Aru gasped, "You used to live in an orphanage? Why were you kicked out?"

The boy tried to stop his tears, " T-they kicked me out because I brought pigeons in the house! It scared everyone away... No one likes me! I is always alone. It's not fair! Mr. Monkey can bring monkeys but no one likes birdies..."

"Pigeons..." Aru muttered. She looked up and back at the boy, who was once again playing with the charm on his necklace, "What're you doing?" Aru asked, leaning in slightly.

The child jumped, startled. The necklace fell out of his hands and onto his chest, opening up the small locket. A picture revealed itself. Aru's eyes widened. It was her, Aiden, Mini, Brynne, Rudy, the Twins, and... Boo, when they were 14 and the twins, 10. She reached down to try and hold it in her trembling hand. She used her other hand and reached up to her neck, where that same necklace used to be. She had stopped wearing it after her wedding...though she never threw it away. How did the boy get his hands on it?

The kid grasped it in his small chubby hands, " No! Please don't take it away! Teacher Uri gave it to me! She said my mommy or daddy gave it to me, and she saved it so that I could wear it when I was older!"

Aru jerked her hand back, "Uri? Mr. Monkey? Your mommy and daddy?"

The boy smiled slightly, "Teacher Uri is my nickname for my teacher. I feel very safe with her... And Mr. Monkey man! I feel very safe with you too! Teacher Uri said to follow my instincts, and I think I can trust you. I can right?"