Lars found himself wrapped up in a blanket, his favorite food and his favorite beverage standing at the table in the kitchen right in front of him. His mother Martha had put up a lot to make him feel as welcome back home as possible. Unfortunately, Lars did still not feel hungry at all. He tried to tell her, but she wouldn't listen. She was way too excited that her one and only son was back home. Lars felt like he wouldn't deserve all of this, but was still happy about being welcomed back like this.
"Mom, thank you! But, really, I-"
"Are you comfortable, Lars? Are you feeling okay? You haven't eaten anything yet, you must be hungry!" Martha interrupted her son.
"Mom!" Lars shouted out and sighed. "I'm… not hungry! For some reasons, I cannot become hungry anymore ever since I… I look like this!"
"But… you have to eat at least something!" Martha said, not quite understanding the context of what her son just said.
"I know! I mean, I don't know!" Lars sighed frustratingly. "Look, Mom! I'm not entirely sure about who or what I am! All I know is that I'm pink and I have this weird portal thing going on in my hair and… I know it's hard to understand, I haven't even figured it out myself. But what I can tell for sure is that I'm not hungry and I haven't been hungry ever since I rose up from the dead like this. Please don't worry about it!"
He had told her about everything that happened while he was gone and he could see that his mother had a hard time understanding what was going on with Lars. How could she, when he couldn't even understand it himself.
Martha looked at her son, confusion arose in her mind. No matter how hard she was trying, she couldn't and wouldn't understand and accept that Lars had died. She didn't really want to think much about it either.
"So…" Martha said, her voice sounded like she was still right in the middle of her thoughts. "I won't have to cook for you anymore?"
Lars breathed out a laughter. "I guess!"
"I can't do that!" Martha answered.
"Mom!"
"No, Laramie! I have been cooking for you ever since you were born! I can't just stop! You're not dead! You're right in front of me! Sitting! Talking! Breathing! I… I can see you! I can touch you! You're not dead! And I won't pretend that you're dead by not cooking for you!" Martha said. She became really nervous and hysterical as she spoke.
A sigh escaped from Lars' lips. "You're not supposed to pretend I'm dead! Because I'm not… I think! I'm just… not getting hungry!"
Martha sighed as well and drove one of her hands through her orange hair. "I'm sorry…"
"Don't be!"
"It's just so confusing!" Martha said and closed her eyes for a moment.
"It's okay! It's even more confusing for me!" Lars answered. "But I will try to understand! And once I know what's going on… I will help you understanding it, too!" He gave her a smile.
Martha smiled back and caressed over Lars' cheek. "It's incredible to see how mature you became… It's almost like you're a whole different person!"
"I'm still your son! The same old Lars, just… in a new Style!" Lars joked and smiled awkwardly. He tried to cheer his mother up by brightening up the mood a little.
But she was right. He had become some sort of a new Lars. During his time at Homeworld, he felt like he finally figured out what was important. He understood that being scared or being different weren't negative things. He learned that individuality was a gift, that every shape of him was worth loving and that running and hiding away from life would lead to nothing. Being part of the Off-Colors did well to him and he was thankful that they could show him that hiding was no longer an option. He had to stand up for who he is and who he wants to be, he had to stand up for what he loved and wanted.
Suddenly, a familiar name crossed his mind.
Sadie.
Lars had thought about her a lot.
He knew he had to face her sooner or later. He wanted to face her. He wanted to tell her how much he missed her, how sorry he was for leaving her behind when she needed him the most and how much he felt for her.
But he knew he messed up.
This wasn't the first time he messed up when it came to her. But this time, he felt like he overstepped the mark. He went too far. He had probably hurt her, a lot. He probably made her feel miserable, not only about their previous bit of relationship, but also about herself. That she was not worth being rescued. And the more he thought about it, the more unbearable became these thoughts.
Eventually, Lars stood up from his chair and looked at his mother.
"I'm going upstairs… in my room. Is that okay?" He asked.
Martha nodded her head. "Of course! Get some rest. I'll be here if you need me!"
After thanking Martha for her understanding, Lars went out of the kitchen. He grabbed the phone and went upstairs into his room. He was making plans on calling Sadie.
But what would he say? Where would he even begin? How would he break the news to her that he was some sort of Zombie? Would he finally tell her all about his feelings towards her?
He sat there on his bed. Thinking. Staring at the phone with her number already dialed, ready to make the call. But he didn't. He sat there and looked at the house telephone as if they would hold a staring contest.
After half an hour of just staring at the phone, Lars finally took it into his hands and made the call, hoping that the woman he felt so much for would eventually answer.