Tiva sat in the bright room. The bay window bringing in enough light to cover the whole space. She had meant to fold up the clothes and books. To bring the room to some sort of order, but she couldn't do it. Sitting there amongst all the books and memories… it almost felt as if she was still here.
She couldn't help but regret things.
Not making enough of her favorite foods. Not helping her enough with her studies. Not spending enough time with her.
They hadn't been given enough time. Or maybe she just hadn't spent it wisely.
No she couldn't think like that. She was grateful, of course, for every moment she got to spend with her. She wouldn't have traded it for anything in the world.
She went to the closet to put away the shirt she had intended to fold, and in the corner she saw the old suitcase, and on top of it, a picture.
Pulling the picture out of the closet she knew immediately what it was. That brown hair and those violet eyes were unmistakable. Vaila. The older woman holding her could be nothing short of her mother. The likeness was uncanny.
She traced the smile that graced the little girl. Tiva bit her lip. She could only hope that Vaila was able to smile like that now.
Looking at the older woman, she said a silent prayer. A desperate hope that this mother, the real mother, was pleased with how she had cared for her.
If there was only one thing these two shared it was an unending love for that little girl. Tiva couldn't help but want to claim the title too. To have been called a mother… if only just once. But maybe that was selfish.
She sniffed as she broke her gaze from the photo.
There was a slight pounding on the wall that dragged her from her thoughts. She stood up off the carpeted floor, carefully placed the photo on the nightstand and then ducked her head outside.
Priority was hammering a nail into the wall of the hallway. Quietly she exited the room, coming up beside him.
He looked at her softly and gave a slight sad smile. He hammered the nail in a few more times until it was completely in the wall save a small visible head.
He bent down and slowly picked up a picture frame. He turned it around and hung it on the hammered nail.
Tiva smiled softly as she looked at it. Her eyes glazing over with tears.
She remembered when they took it. The first day Priority brought Vaila home. Tiva had her arm around Vaila in a bear hug, her smile wide and unyielding. Vaila's violet eyes showed a mix of confusion and excitement, but ultimately her mouth creeped into a reluctant smile.
Priority had held the camera up in front of him, getting all three of them into the picture. His dark features lit up in excitement and hope.
"I had always meant… to put her picture on the wall." Priority tensed holding in his emotions.
Tiva wrapped her arms around his waste as they both stared at the picture.
They stood in silence. Overall, words would just get in the way. The emotions they felt. The sadness and pain. It was all too raw. Too heavy. But each knew they didn't bear the burden alone.
Tiva was the first to speak.
"It's perfect."
And it really was perfect. After all, a wall of happy memories just wouldn't have been complete… without her.