Mama
A Carrie Fanfic
(A/N: This takes place after the events in my fanfic "Ghost Of Hiroshima", but prior to the epilogue. If you haven't read that fanfiction, please do so. Enjoy!)
Carrie's P.O.V.
It was late, 11:55 P.M. to be exact. I was lying awake in bed. I couldn't sleep; something just didn't feel right. The apartment I shared with Amineko was quiet. Was Amineko asleep? I couldn't be sure. She had once told me that ghosts didn't sleep, but went into a resting state to restore their energy, almost like sleeping. Shifting in bed, I turned to see the ghost in question. She had her back to me, so I couldn't tell if she was in her resting state or not.
Creak...
Our bed moaned softly as I sat up. Slowly, I peered over Amineko's shoulder. Her eyes were wide open. I gasped in surprise. Amineko turned her head slightly, glancing at me.
"I thought you were asleep," she whispered.
"I was," I replied. "But I couldn't stay asleep. How long have you been up?"
"I never did go into my resting state. I've been up all night."
I watched as Amineko sat up as well, pulling her kimono tighter against her body. She looked at me with tired brown eyes. I was concerned.
"Why aren't you resting?" I asked.
"...I've been thinking..."
"About what, Amineko?"
Amineko looked away from me, sighing. I noticed her quivering slightly, and I her whimpering. I touched her cheek, pulling her face towards me. It was then I saw tears streaming down her tan cheeks.
"Why are you crying, Ami?" I cooed. "What's wrong?"
Amineko didn't answer, but instead, pointed to the clock on the wall. I glanced at it, seeing that it was now 11:56.
"Do you know what tomorrow is, Carrie-chan?" Amineko choked out.
"Tomorrow?" I repeated. "Tomorrow...tomorrow...tomorr-" I froze when I realized. "Oh...tomorrow..."
"Yes, Carrie-chan," Amineko continued. "Tomorrow. Mother's Day. I was thinking about Mother's Day."
A silence between us occurred. I didn't look at Amineko, and I'm sure she wasn't looking at me either. Suddenly, the bed groaned again. I looked at Amineko. She was laying down again, turned away from me. I looked at her, then at the clock. 11:57.
"Amineko, we talked about this," I began, knowing full well what it was that was bothering her.
"I know. But it still hurts."
Amineko sighed softly. I bit my lip before laying beside her, body against hers. I shivered; she was so cold against my warm skin. But regardless, I stayed close to her. I even put my arms around her torso, hugging her.
"Carrie-chan?" Amineko mumbled. "Have I ever told you how much I care about you?"
I chuckled slightly.
"You tell me that everyday, Ami," I said.
"That's because it's true, my sweet. I wish...I just wish...with all my heart...that I had been born American. I wish I had been born in Maine. I wish I was born in Margaret's place. I wish you were my daughter. I wish I could have a child."
Amineko quivered harder with each sentence. I heard her sobs get worse and worse, and each one hurt to hear. I held her tighter.
"Ami...you're my mother, you know that," I said, wishing to make her cries stop.
"We're nothing alike, Carrie-chan. You're from the West, and I'm from the East. You are White; I am Asian. Our blood isn't the same. I'm dead. You're living. There are far too many differences between us for me to be your-"
She was cut off when I suddenly rolled her over. I pinned her to the bed, staring into her eyes. I was as surprised at my sudden aggression as she was, but I knew I had to set things straight.
"Mama, don't talk like that," I dared to call her. "Now please...stop thinking of those things. They don't matter. Love is what really matters. A true mother is one who loves the one she is caring for. Margaret didn't have that; you do. You are my Mama. Understand?"
Amineko slowly nodded. I sighed again, looking at the clock. 2 minutes passed this time; it was 11:59. Mother's Day was only a minute away.
"Why don't we count down the seconds together?" I suggested. "And once it's 12, we'll go to sleep. And when we wake up later, I'll prove to you how much I appreciate you, Mama."
Amineko was still silent. Her tears had stopped. A small smile formed on her face.
"I would love that, my daughter."
The seconds passed, and Amineko and I counted every one of them. We lied in bed together, hand in hand. The wait was growing shorter and shorter, until finally...
12:00.
I turned to Amineko, and she did the same. I smiled at her, and gently whispered,
"Happy Mother's Day, Mama."
