Nobody knows what the future holds, but we do know how we live our lives day to day. The important thing is to make the most out of the time given to us. Olivianna Collins was no exception to this when she married her high school sweetheart, Liam Farron. Olivianna, a sweet and gentle natured young woman, majored in elementary teaching and Liam, her hard-working, dedicated husband, was a solider of the Guardian Corps. Not long after their wedding, Olivianna gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby girl they named Claire, and the couple couldn't have been happier.
"Wow, she's beautiful. Great job, Livi!" Liam commended his wife as she held their daughter in her arms. He leaned down to give his wife a kiss on her forehead.
"I can't wait to have more!" He grinned.
"One thing at a time, sweetheart." Olivianna smirked.
The new parents laughed, enjoying this very happy moment together. As time went by, they soothed every tantrum, calmed every fear, rejoiced in her first steps, and laughed at her sweet innocence. Claire was a very happy child with two loving and doting parents. Three years later, a second daughter was born, and she was given the name Serah. Liam pushed his wife down the hallway to introduce the newborn Serah to her older sister.
"What's that pink thing?" Claire asked her parents, tugging at her mom's arm to look at what she was holding.
"That's your baby sister, Claire." Liam explained.
"Can we keep her?" Claire said with a beaming smile.
Liam and Olivianna couldn't contain the laughter that escaped their lips at the innocent remark.
"Come here you." Liam chuckled, hoisting his daughter up on his shoulders.
Claire squealed in delight as the Farron family headed back home.
Claire loved being the older sibling. She absolutely adored spending time with Serah and was her mother's little helper in taking care of her. When Serah learned to walk, Claire was right there cheering her on with her parents. It was certainly a picturesque childhood, but it wasn't too long before a dark cloud shadowed the Farron household. On that fateful day, eight-year-old Claire and five-year-old Serah were walking home from school. When they got home, they found their mother with puffy, tear stained eyes, desperately trying to maintain her composure. Olivianna had just received the news that her husband, Liam Farron, had been killed shielding his unit from a grenade blast while on duty in the Corps.
"Your father died a hero girls…" Olivianna would repeatedly tell her daughters.
Serah felt great sadness at the loss of her father, but Claire was heart broken. Nobody else could be a hero in Claire's' eyes, nobody could be like her father. It shook the family hard, but especially Olivianna. Without her husband, she fell into a depressed state, but stuffed that inside to be strong for her daughters. She had to work two jobs to support the family. It got tiresome, but Claire was always by her mother's side helping her with Serah and anything she could. Following her mother's example, she did her best not to cry, but Olivianna knew her daughter, and confronted her anyway, asking her how she was feeling.
"I'm fine mommy…" Claire lied, trying to keep it together.
"Sweetie, what's wrong?" Olivianna pressed.
Claire just shook her head violently and crossed her arms.
"Daddy always taught me to be strong. I need to be strong for you and Serah."
"That's a big burden to place on yourself, Claire."
"Mommy, I'm tired."
Olivianna pulled her daughter into her arms and stroked the back of her head.
"Let it out sweetie…it's okay to cry."
Soon, silent tears changed into loud sobs as Claire gripped her mother in a tight embrace.
"I miss him." She wailed.
"I know sweetie, I do too." Olivianna agreed as she wiped several tears from her cheeks, hiding her face from her daughter.
Seven years went by and Claire was now a teenager of fifteen with Serah on the brink of adolescence at age twelve. They came home from school and found their mother sitting quietly on the couch. Claire immediately sensed the tension in her mother's features.
"Mom, what's wrong?" She asked.
Serah looked at her sister curiously, feeling like she missed something.
"Girls, come here…" Olivianna said gesturing her daughters to sit by her, "I've got something to tell you…"
Cancer, the silent killer, and both girls were stunned with the news.
"It's too late for the doctors to do anything" Olivianna explained, "They gave me a year prognosis."
"A year until what mom?" Serah naively asked.
"Until she dies, Serah." Claire answered in a harsh, biting tone.
"Claire!" Her mother retorted.
"How can you leave us like this mom?" Claire demanded, eyes full of betrayal and hurt.
"I'm sorry sweetie, but this is out of my control…" Olivianna said trying to hold back tears.
"Tch…whatever." Claire muttered as she stormed to her room slamming the door.
Olivianna was at a loss for words and was overcome with guilt.
"Oh mom…" Serah mumbled, crying in her mother's embrace.
"I'm sorry." Olivianna whispered.
Eventually, that dreaded day came when Olivianna Farron was lying in a hospital bed barely clinging to life. Serah and Claire were both there by her side and many tears were shed.
"I'm sorry mom." Claire said remorsefully, "I'm sorry for how I've been acting. Please don't leave us…Serah needs you… I need you."
Olivianna weakly squeezed her daughters' hands with all the strength she could muster.
"I love you both so much…" She whispered.
Then gradually, the grip from her hands weakened, her heart monitor flat lined, and her eyes closed for the very last time.
A once perfect, fun-loving family was now an overwhelming mess. After Olivianna died, Claire underwent a major transition. With both her parents gone, she had to grow up more quickly than most girls her age. At only fifteen, she was in charge of her little sister Serah. Claire now had a huge responsibility to raise her and bring her up in society. With that, Claire changed her name to Lightning, putting her past and her true name behind her. Following her father's example, she enrolled in the Guardian Corps as soon as she was of age. The training was tough and the hours were long, and Lighting poured herself further and further into the Corps while she raised Serah. The older Serah became, the more and more she missed her sister, and the lonelier she grew. Truth be told, Serah worried about the happiness of her sister just as much as Lightning did for Serah. Ever since they lost their parents, they solely relied on each other. However, Serah rarely saw her sister anymore; Lightning was completely consumed in the Guardian Corps. Serah wished her sister was around more and that they could be close as they once were. Could they ever be that way again?