A Mother's Instinct

Written by: Miradeathnote

Chapter 3

I fall flat on my butt, trembling at the hovering figure. It's been years since I had last seen him and he grew enormous! He stood above me, the dim light of morning sun creating a shadow across his face. It makes it hard for me to see if he's angry or not. He reaches his large hand out. Without hesitation he grabs my trembling hand and pulls me up, and drags me into his room.

"No! Shit, I'm sorry-"

"Calm down Lovino! It's me, Ivan! I wouldn't even hurt a fly!"

He laughs at what was probably a joke. I can't help but be dumbfounded at what I see. The room has a chair with a bare light bulb in the ceiling. Off to the side, as if forgotten, a small bookshelf filled with Russian books is painted to match the rest of the room. The room was painted with a realistic blue sky, at the very bottom of the walls it seemed to feel like you were on a hill. A hill filled with sunflowers. The room was covered in them as well. Everywhere I glanced it seemed a new pot had been painted to match the wall. I could see seedlings peeking from the top.

"You did all this?" I ask slowly, mesmerized by my surroundings. Honestly I found it amazing. Sure everyone had brought something from their old homes. Like Kiku, he keeps a painting his big brother had painted before they disappeared. The painting is what I figure to be his family. Gilbert has his little brother's favorite toy (a stuffed yellow bird). Then Hercules keeps a book with what he says are pictures of a trip he took with his family. Even though everyone seemed to have something special, I knew deep down that this room is very special to Ivan. He seems to suddenly go shy and responds.

"Well, yes. My sister, Sofia, taught me to paint. She told me how paint had to be treated like a child. Precious, and delicately." He seems to get choked up a little and says, "Then my little sister, Natalia, taught me to garden. She had this huge crush on me," he shivers at the memory, "but she did teach me something to. That a plant is like a heart. It grows fond of who is taking care of it and if betrayed, will wilt away."

I stare wide eyed at the crying teen in front of me. So maybe…

"Is this your flower garden?"

He nods slowly. He sits on the wooden chair with a plop. Then he looks up at me. He pats his lap expectantly. I stare in horror at the invitation.

"Sorry, this is the only chair. Please don't looked so alarmed. I want to tell you a story. If that's okay?"

Is this some alien of Ivan? This is totally out of character of him! But, one thing that bitch taught me, take the chance when you see it. So I nod a little and walk over, carefully lowering myself onto his lap. He sniffs a little, composing himself before he begins.

"Once upon a time," he begins, "there was a little boy who lived alone with his older sister and younger sister." He pauses, shifting me a little. "There, more comfy. Now where was I? Oh yes!" He spreads his arms wide out into the open air. "They lived on a large bare hill, in a small shack. It kept them dry, didn't have a huge rent, and seemed presently new. They were a contempt family. One day, on that bare hill the little boy found a small seedling." He puts his arms down, his left one reaching into his jean pocket and fishes out a seed. He holds it up to my face. "It fascinated him. He immediately asked his sisters about it and he was taught how to garden." I look skeptically at him. Where is this heading…

"The sisters had no faith in the little seedling. Being that they were on bare land. Not even two years later the hill, and the hills surrounding it were filled with beautiful flowers!" He puts the seedling back in his pocket. "They then began to sell the flowers that seemed to reach for the sun. Everyone would congratulate them. Gifts would always be at their door step. Life was so good!" He has a very bright look on his face, then it slowly seems to diminish. He snakes his arms around my waist and continues.

"But not even four months after that miracle, another happened. The boy's big sister got pregnant." He sighs heavily, his arms tightening. "However when she gave birth it was announced a still born. Not even a month after that his little sister had an accidental pregnancy. She died giving birth." Why is his breathing getting shaky? "Not long after that, his big sister shot herself. He was left all alone. His only friends were his sunflowers…" He buries his face into my neck and starts to sob. So he is the little boy.

"How old was he when he came here?" I ask gently.

"He was eight years old."

I immediately feel a pang in my heart for the guy. I turn slightly, embracing him. That's nothing compared to my brother and I. Nothing at all. We sit there like that until he sniffles a little. He takes a long shaky breath and continues.

"Then he met two little boys. One was much younger than him. The other was only a year younger than the boy. While the boy kept himself locked up he would sneak a peek at the two boys through the key hole. Sometimes they would be trying to escape. Other times it was out of play. But they both were always smiling." He then begins to form a smile. "One day the boy came out of his room and spoke to the oldest of the two. However he became afraid and ran back to his room in the morning. Ever since that visit though, the eldest brother would come up to the boy's door and speak to him." He then stares into my eyes. "He saved that little boy's life."