16 years old

Sadness had covered Stephanie's face when she had heard the news half a year ago. She went to her Uncle for a week because she had a Christmas vacation and her parents had to go away that week.

She had been there just a day when she woke up from the telephone in her uncles living room. She couldn't hear the exact words that were said but she knew from the tone of voice her uncle had used that It had been pretty serious. Never before had she heard that tone of voice come from her uncle's mouth and hopefully she would never again hear it. But the events that caused him to speak those words where far worse. Her parents had died. Never to return. Never to say goodbye to her again. Never to welcome her home and never to brush her hair when she went to bed. Never before had she felt so sad. It was that moment that had been the worst of her life. After hearing those words, she had given up the will to live. She had given up because however much she loved her uncle she couldn't live without her parents. She just couldn't. Since those words, her life had turned upside down. she could hardly remember going with her Uncle to the funeral and afterward taking all her stuff with her. She could hardly remember the rest of the week or how concerned her friends where. It wasn't until a week after that vacation that she began to live a little. And it wasn't because of her or her friends or family. It was because of Sportacus. He obviously had heard about what had happened after she didn't come outside for two weeks to come and play with her friends. She had just been sitting staring at her ceiling lying on her pillow when she heard the knock.

''Go away.'' She said every time someone knocked on her door. But this person didn't listen. The door opened and in came the only person she cared about at this moment. Of course, she had cared for everyone before it happened but he had been the only one she cared about since it happened.

''Stephanie.'' He said calmly while he closed the door and walked towards her bed.

''Go away I said I don't want visitors or hearing how sorry you are. I know how it goes and I don't want it. Please just let me be.'' She said while looking away from him.

'' I'm sorry but I can't do that Stephanie.'' She looked at him fury in her eyes ready to scream all sorts of offensive words at him only to see his eyes and relax a bit those big blue eyes were heaven for her.

''Why?'' she breathed. It was barely audible but obviously, he heard it.

''Stephanie look at yourself. This isn't living.'' He said calmly, of course, it wasn't in his nature to be mad at her but if needed he could try.

''Of course, this isn't living. Don't you see? I'm trying to die right here. I don't want to live without my parents.'' She said harshly. She looked away and turned around so she was facing her wall her back turned towards Sportacus.

''Stephanie, I know why you want that but you shouldn't. You mustn't. You know that your parents wanted you to live. You know that.'' She said as calm as he could.

''HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT MY PARENTS WANT? HÉ THEY ARE DEAD! HA THEY ARE DEAD YOU CAN'T KNOW THAT!'' she said screaming her head off while she faced Sportacus. From where she lay she tried to bang her fists on his chest. She had been pounding two or maybe three times when he took her wrists and took her in a hug. Her body shook when she cried on his shoulder.

''They are dead.'' She sobbed on his shoulder. He let her cry and cry until she couldn't anymore. Until she was hiccupping and he let her go. First her wrists then her body. He lay her down on her pillow and saw her eyes dropping. He wanted to quietly walk away when she began to talk.

''Sportacus. Would you please stay. At least until you need to rescue someone?'' she asked softly. He walked back towards her and sat down on the ground next to her bed. When he was sure she was asleep he stroked back a lock of her pink hair from her face.

''The only one needing rescuing here is you Steph.'' He said quietly for no one to hear.

When she woke a few hours later she was alone but there was a note on the ground.

''Dear Stephanie,

If you ever need me please come to my airship or look for me outside.

I will await your visit.

Sincerely Sportacus.''

After reading that note she was smiling her head off and walked towards where she hid her diary. She took a new page and began to write. At the end of the page, she attached the note from Sportacus so she could forever see it.

-0O0-

Of course, that had been half a year ago and if she was honest with herself Sportacus had been the one to rescue her from her possible death. She had never answered the note until yesterday.

She had written her letter in her usual pink paper and posted it with the tube so it went towards his airship. It had been a really innocent just asking for his help the rest she would tell him when they were alone.

When Sportacus landed next to the mailbox where she had been waiting for him he looked concerned.

''What's wrong?'' he asked her immediately. But she shook her head and smiled always going for the worst thing imaginable.

''Nothing I just want to ask some help with uh… can we talk in private?'' she asked.

''Sure, we can go up if you want or go to your house just say it.'' he gave her one of his brilliant smiles and she led the way. He already knew what her bedroom looked like so there was no shame there.

When they were finally in her room after letting her uncle know that there was nothing he should worry about. When she closed the door, she looked back at him a bit anxious.

''I need your help.'' She said before he could answer.

''I want to go visit my parent's grave tomorrow but Uncle won't let me go alone and everybody I asked until now has no time.'' She said and began tearing up a bit. Just the thought of her parents where enough to make her cry in front of everybody. She had never before in her life felt so weak.

''Hey, it's alright I'll come with you,'' Sportacus said reassuringly. He was pitying her for so long already. She hadn't deserved to lose her parents so young. But she did and there was absolutely nothing anybody could change about it. You could only help her as best you could while she tried to live her life.

''On one condition. Where going with my airship because that's quicker than the train. '' they smiled at each other when he had said those words. He had been trying to cheer her up for longer then he could remember. But alas not everything worked and sometimes at night when he was walking back to his airship he passed the mayor's house and could hear her cry. Those cries broke his heart every time that he heard them.

-0O0-

''Come on Stephanie wake up time to shine.'' He said the next morning when he had come to her uncle's house. Of course, he had asked the mayor if it was a good idea for him to go with her but the mayor was more than happy that he went with her because he knew that she wouldn't go alone.

''mph.'' Was the only thing that came out of her mouth.

''Come on Stephanie wake up.'' He said again because she didn't want to wake up. But it was already 7 in the morning so she should really wake up. Of course, it was early but the earlier you wake up the more you can make of your day. Stephanie turned around and was facing him with her big doe eyes. She blushed and immediately sat up still clutching the blanket around her.

''So now that you're awake please get changed your uncle just left so I'll make you some breakfast. I'll be downstairs if you need me.'' He said while walking downstairs. What should he make her for breakfast? Maybe some sports candy would be good for her but she would probably like something else. What to make what to make?

When Stephanie walked downstairs she saw Sportacus busy in the kitchen with all sorts of fruits. Of course, it would be fruit. Sportacus would always talk about his sports candy. When she sat down on the barstool Sportacus turned around with a big smile on his face and a bowl of fruit in his hand.

''Eat.'' He said while she picked up a fork and slowly began to eat.

-0O0-

''So tell me why you wanted to go back today of all days?'' Sportacus said while he flew them to her hometown where her parents lay buried in the ground.

''Today was their anniversary. They would have been married for over 20 years and I just feel like I should pay them a visit.'' She said softly. She was a bit ashamed that she had to do this with Sportacus while she wanted to do it on her own. She was 16 so she should be able to do it on her own. But why did it have to be so difficult to face the things that made you want to cry the most?

''Stephanie you alright? You've been awfully quiet these past minutes.'' He said when he stopped above the graveyard where the Mayor had told him they lay buried. He stood up and walked back towards where Stephanie had been sitting on his bed. She was staring in front of her with a glazy look. He sat down next her and put a hand on her shoulder which woke her up a bit from her daydream.

''Come on Stephanie let's face the music.'' He said while he helped her stand up.

''Door. Ladder.'' He said and together they climber down towards the entrance of the graveyard. He held her hand because he knew how much she needed him right now. When they arrived at the grave where her parents were buried she immediately began to cry. Oh, Stephanie if there was a way in which I could help you so you don't feel this much pain anymore. He took her in his arms. Her head was lying on his chest and he could feel her tears seeping through his suit. But that didn't matter at this moment.

After a few hours of just standing there, he thought it was time for them to go home. So he took her in his arms and brought them back to the airship where he let her sleep while he flew them back.