This is only the prologue, so I'm sorry it's a slow start but I just need to explain the setting a bit so you can understand what is happening. Hopefully you can bear with me and wait for the next chapter. But I appreciate you reading my work! Thanks! If no one is really reading it then it shall become a one-shot :)
Aunt Meredith is dying.
Daddy says she caught the evil cold, and will be fine soon. They think I'm stupid, just because I'm young and innocent but in reality I know what's going on. It's the terminal cancer. My mommy is already dead, and I never even got to meet her. She died after giving birth to me, and so I blame myself every day for it.
Aunt Meredith treated me like her own child, and I treated her like my own mom. She was always so nice and protective of me. I remember during the summers I used to stay over her house and we'd sleep on the roof. She promised never to tell my Dad because she knew he'd freak. First we'd watch the sun sink down and the beautiful stars rise. Aunt Meredith showed me all the constellations, and we'd sip on her homemade lemonade with the little umbrellas hanging off the sides. She was so fascinated the galaxy, especially the stars and different planets. Then in the morning, we'd make pancakes together and watch some movies; Footloose, Back to the Future, The Goonies, and sometimes Nightmare on Elm Street.
Peter joined us sometimes, but he was usually locked in his room listening to that damn Walkman. When he did come out, he never smiled, he rarely spoke. He was sad, and I never knew why. Aunt Meredith said it was because he never got enough sleep, but now I know the real reason. He knew all that time that she had cancer. When I found out I felt sick, as if it was bad to have fun with her while she was like that.
Before my Aunt's sickness Peter and I were really close cousins. We'd talk and talk for hours about…anything! We loved the same music, movies, anything you can name. Aunt Meredith nicknamed him Starlord because he loved the star constellations, and I liked to call him that too. He called me Jinx because I am a klutz, although my name is Jennifer. I was hurt and shocked when he started to drift away.
"Jenny, come on sweetie." Dad said, with the car door opened. I looked to him with stinging eyes, and tried to push the feeling away but it wouldn't. I didn't want to go inside the hospital. "Jennifer" He repeated sternly, this time holding out a hand to take.
I glanced down to his hand, and slowly unbuckled my seatbelt. I took his hand and groggily slipped out of the car. As he slammed the car door behind me, the loud thud made me jump.
The sky was black and there were no stars. I realised that it was raining lightly, fitting a perfect mood for this horrible, horrible event. Daddy and I walked in silence on the way to the door of the hospital. The grass and mud beneath my feet squelched and oozed from previous rain.
Daddy walked up to the receptionist's desk to a lady who wore too much red lipstick, and he asked for "Meredith Quill". The lady answered with a room number that I didn't really listen to and she flashed a pearly white grin. We didn't smile back, although Dad did thank her.
I released my hand around his, feeling sweat form in my palms and felt a little embarrassed but I'm sure he didn't mind.
We began to walk down the hallway and took two turns, to where the room was. It was darker here, and the receptionist's desk was empty. I saw Peter sitting on a chair beside the empty desk, wearing his headphones and squeezing his eyes shut. I didn't want to say anything to him.
Dad noticed him too and looked down at me, "Go sit with your cousin while I say hello to your aunt." He says and kisses me on top of my head. He disappears into the room, and basically forces me greet my cousin.
I fumble with my hands a little before mustering up the courage to take a seat next to Peter. He doesn't open his eyes, but he knows it's me. I can tell by the way he huffs and turns a little.
"Hi." I say timidly, my voice soft and shaking.
He doesn't reply.
I gently take off his headphones and put them around his neck, yet his eyes remain closed. "Peter." I say desperately. He opens his glossy eyes slowly and looks up to me. I can tell he has been crying but I don't say anything because he's a boy.
"Jennifer" Peter whispers. He rarely calls me by my real name – it's usually Jinx.
I force myself not to cry, especially in front of him. He notices and slowly puts an arm around my shoulders and then plants a small kiss on my cheek. We sit there in pure silence for a little while, with the exceptions of the faint music playing from his headphones.
I point to his headphones and ask, "What song is it?"
He places the headphones back on and instantly answers, "I'm Not in Love, by 10cc."
I nod at him and he slowly nods back. His hand slides off my shoulders and he closes his eyes once more. I sit back into my seat and scratch off the purple nail polish on my thumb nail, waiting for something to happen.
The door of the room finally opens, and Grandpa walks out with a grim expression but does his best to look somewhat happy in front of us. There is nothing to be happy about. He takes in a deep breath and kneels in front of Peter.
"Peter," he says. "Your momma wants to speak to you." He goes on, but Peter doesn't seem to be interested in what he has to say.
Grandpa sighs, and then removes Peter's headphones but he doesn't say anything. He just looks down sadly and pats Peter on the leg, then turns to me with a sad smile. "C'mon, Jenn." He encourages lightly.
Peter and I stand up from our seats, and follow Grandpa.
I see her, but I don't recognise her.
Her blonde hair is gone, and her skin is fading and dry. Her bright blue eyes are darkened and she has dark bags. I look down to the hospital plate, and it read exactly "Quill, Meredith". All my relatives stood around the bed, confirming that it was her. My hand went across my mouth and I tried not to whimper.
"Jennifer, my beautiful niece." Meredith croaks, and looks at me with a ghost of a smile. Grandpa pushes me closer to her bedside. She still smells like daisies and vanilla cake batter. I can't say anything, my throat is really dry. "You are so beautiful." She says lightly and brushes her hand across my head. I try smiling a little, since it's the only thing I can do.
"Look after my Peter for me?" Aunt Meredith asks.
"Yes." I whisper, and look to Peter who stares at the floor. I take a step back and allow him to talk to his dying mother.
Meredith looks sadder when her son comes in to sight, and I sneak behind my Daddy's legs. My vision blurred a little and I didn't really listen to what they were saying to each other. I cannot imagine a life without Aunt Meredith, without a motherly figure, without someone to make me happy.
I begin to pay attention when Meredith falls out of breath and my eyes widen.
"Meredith, you got a present there for Peter?" Grandpa reminds her.
"Of course." She says, and attempts to grab the little wrapped gift right beside her. Grandpa grabs the gift for her and stuffs it inside of Peter's backpack, with a light smile.
"You open it up when I'm gone, okay?" Aunt Meredith looks to Peter and he nods sadly.
"Your Grandpa is going to take such good care of you, that is until your Daddy comes back to get you." She explains to Peter in an unintentionally soft voice. I had almost forgotten Peter had a father; it had always been him and his mother. It would be strange to see him with a Dad.
"Can you grab my hand?" she asks her son, and tries her best to raise her hand up to him. Peter only looks away and I grip tightly on to my father's leg. "Peter, please…" she urges weakly, but Peter continues to look away.
"Pete." Grandpa looks down to Peter.
"Take my hand." Meredith sniffs, but he doesn't have a chance to do so.
Because she is dead.
"No! No, no, no! Mom! " Peter shouts and tries to wake his mother up. Grandpa grabs Peter and takes him outside of the room.
"Peter!" I yell and try to run but my Dad and aunty pull me back. "Peter!" I shout again, hearing him scream and Grandpa struggles to tame him.
I never knew that would be the last time I saw not only my Aunt Meredith, but Peter…