Stork was lying with his eyes closed on a long leather couch.
Dr. Demisle Strix sat across from him, tapping her eraser onto the pad of paper infront of her. The white merb tugged at the end of her brown braid and leaned back against her chair.
"Stork, can you tell me what happened after the ship crashed?" she asked gentally.
Stork nodded, "I woke up in the orphanage,it had been turned into a refugee home.
The social workers explained that my father had died in the impact..and my mother was still in the hospital with near-fatal fractures." he said.
Strix nodded and scribbled on her pad. "Did they let you see your mother?" she asked.
"Eventually they did. She was almost gone by then." he said.
Strix pulled a small silver pocket watch off her desk. "Stork, we are now going to try a little thing I like to call hypnosis therapy." she said.
Stork opened one eye. "Is it going to hurt?" he questioned.
"No" Strix said. She lifted the watch up and began to swing it back and forth. "Just watch the watch." she said.
Stork opened both eyes and watched it swing back and forth. 'This is never going to do anything he thought'. He was right, at least until he fell asleep while gazing at the glittering silver trinket.
Strix smiled. "Now Stork, I want you to go deep inside and tell me about the last day you saw your mother, explain it to me." she said.
Stork opened his mouth and began to speak.
The hospital lights were really dim, they hurt my eyes. I remember wishing that I was somewhere else. Anywhere but this place. I remember the hand of my Aunt Whynona on my shoulder, steering me towards the room where my mom lay, nearly dead. I was wimpering and she was shushing me softly, telling me that it would be okay and to not make a scene. The door had opened with a rusty squeak and we both entered. My mother Albatross lay there in the bed, her pale blue face the only color in the milk blanched room. Tears sprang into my eyes. She had always been so warm and happy, seeing her here made me think of a songbird in a cage, waiting to be free. And I knew the only way she would be free was if she was to pass on. "Momma." I whispered. She opened her eyes slowly and a small smile spread onto her pale lips. "Storkie, my little one, oh thank goodness your okay." she said, her voice barley more than a whisper. "Momma,
I don't want to lose you." I said. She closed her eyes. "Stork, reach into the drawer for me, okay?" she said. I did as she asked and opened the drawer.
Sitting on top of a hankercheif was a pair of silver hoops. "They belonged to Airen." she said softly. I began to cry softly. "Daddy." I said. Momma looked at me and smiled. "You look just like your father, Stork, and when your older, you can wear those." she said. Then she leaned back and closed her eyes,
breathing softly. "Momma?" I whispered. "Yes Storkie?" she asked. I clutched the earrings to my chest. "I'll stop them someday momma, the cyclonians will pay for this!" I cried. Momma sighed. "Storkie, don't go away from this with a cold heart, I want you to live a good life, not a vengeful one." she said.
I leaned forward and kissed her on her nose. "I will momma, I'll become a piolet for some sky knights, kay?" I asked. She smiled. "Good boy, you do that,
help them in protecting Atmos." she said. I slid the earrings into my pocket. "I love you Momma!" I cried, wanting to hug her. "Oh little one, I love you to"
she said softly. Her pale hand reached up slowly and stroked the tears off my cheek. "Do great things, Stork Windstone, Airen and I will always be watcing over you." she said. Her hand slid down my face and landed next to her on the sheets. "Momma?" I asked. She was silent and still. I began to sob, I knew more now than ever that I was alone. "Goodbye Momma, I will make you proud." I said through my tears, then clapsed against her bed, sobbing soflty. I don't remember Aunt Whynona lifting me up and taking me away from her, my momma. All I remember is after that, I felt an empty place, because I was, so very alone.
Strix snapped her fingers. Stork opened his eyes, tears running slowly down his cheeks. "The roses Piper gave me where the same color as my mother." he said.
