Rei was a fool to even think that he would apologize in any way.
She could recall faintly, once upon a time ago, when things were better. Better than they were during Fuyumi and Natsuo's upbringing, and certainly better than now.
A time when she thought she was marrying a misunderstood man with a good heart, a time when slights were resolved quickly and she was more sure of where her life was leading her.
It's been 16 years... she thought to herself as she settled into bed that night. 16 years since her life held some semblance of hope.
16 years...
Tears pricked her eyes, but she would not shed them. She refused to cry for a man she no longer knew, a man whose very presence carried her worst nightmares with it.
She was stronger than this. She had to be stronger than this.
She would not cry.
In her worse moments, she would allow herself to mourn things long lost; her womanhood, her children's wellbeing, her sons' very childhood innocence. She would lie there in the dark, where Enji's bright fire could not reach her, and weep for the things she couldn't change anymore.
Her mind was still aflurry with darkness; the darkness she sought refuge in had a tendency to seep into her own mind, poisoning her good memories with blots of black.
The birth of her first son (his innocence was ripped away).
The birth of her daughter (not the right one, he'd muttered).
The birth of her middle son (not the right one, he'd shouted).
The birth of her youngest son (watching helplessly as he's ripped away).
She clenched her eyes shut and took in a breath. Held it. Let go.
Once upon a time, she'd felt stirrings of love for that man.
Back when she was a simple teenage girl, back when her greatest worries were what school she would get into come next spring.
She had faintly remembered him from the rising heroes, being number 2 only to that other one, All Might.
At first he was standoffish and inexperienced in matters of the heart. She'd thought it cute. They married in the spring when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom, a good omen of things yet to come.
Four years of relative quiet and safety in their marriage. Four years of growing used to one another's presence. Four years of caring for their first child. (an energetic, happy baby boy)
Then the floodgates opened come her twentieth year.
Her son realized his own beautiful (horrifying) power, and one thing became clear.
Enji was a man to be feared.
Tears slipped down her cheek as she stubbornly held in a sob.
The darkness had stained the rest of her memories black.