We are your family

My mates tried so hard to console me, but I was inconsolable. I couldn't grasp what happened. One minute I learned my mother was still alive, posing like an aunt, just so she could see me one last time, and the next, she was gone. It hurts. More than when I realized I wasn't human. I was unable to come to terms with the pain. This one was deep in my soul, eating me out.

“It's okay.” Fred patted my back, placing a kiss on my hair. “Your mum won't appreciate this, you know, right? She will want you to be strong, too —”

“Strong?” I peered up at him with puffy eyes. “How do you expect me to be strong when I just lost my mother?!”

I know it wasn't his fault, but I couldn't help but yell at him. I just wanted to let everything out, to ease my mind of the burden.

“We know it's difficult,” he continued, patting my hair. He didn't even flinch when I raised my voice at him. Instead, he smiled. “We will be your strength if you don't have one. You can lean on us. We will forever be your shield