Second Chance

Six years ago

"Mama, please! I'm begging you. You have to help me!" A young girl, aged sixteen at the most, knelt at her mother's feet, her anguished tears staining the hem of her skirt.

"You got yourself into this mess, so handle it yourself. It's not my fault that boyfriend of yours ran off and left you like this" the woman snapped coldly, turning her head away from her daughter. After a heavy silence, the woman slowly turned her gaze back to the girl and spoke once more. "Does he know?" she asked softly.

"N-No, he doesn't." A scowl appeared on the woman's face as she thought about what she would say next.

"Will he be back before the baby is born?"

"I don't think so" the girl said softly, her eyes filled with sadness as she looked up at her mother, silently praying for a solution to her current situation.

"Then, here's what you will do." The girl's expression turned hopeful as she waited for her mother to continue speaking.

"Yes? What is it?" the girl asked.

"Get rid of it."

"What?! I can't do that" the girl argued, and her mother scowled once again.

"You'll do as I say" she snapped.

"Fine" the girl muttered. "But, I have to ask. When you say 'get rid of it', what do you mean, exactly? You're not suggesting killing it, are you?"

"Absolutely not! What kind of monster do you think I am?" the woman scoffed, and the girl breathed a sigh of relief. She looked down at her tiny belly and placed her hand over it gently, smiling to herself.

"Don't worry. You'll be taken care of. I promise" she whispered.

The next eight months seemed to go by in a flash, and after several hours of suffering, a baby boy was born. As the young girl held him close, her mother sat in the corner of the room, her arms folded across her chest.

"Do you want to see him, mama?" the girl asked softly. The woman turned her head and frowned, then looked away.

"I did" she grumbled. The girl shrugged off her mother's behavior and cuddled her son close, forgetting about the harsh reality they would be faced with. Being oblivious to it was just fine for her, even if it were to only last a moment. After several moments of silence, the girl's mother spoke again,

"It's a shame you had a boy. If it had been a girl, I would have considered letting you keep it" she sighed. Finally having enough of her mother's spiteful attitude, the girl carefully handed the baby over to the nurse, then shakily climbed out of the bed. She walked over to the woman and stood in front of her, her body still trembling from what it had just gone through.

"You know, mother, just because daddy left you, it doesn't mean all men are evil. I would never raise my son to act that way. I'm sorry, but he's my son, so he comes first. If that means I lose you, then so be it."

"What are you saying?" the woman hissed.

"I'm keeping my baby" the girl said firmly. "If you don't like it, then I'm leaving. I can take care of him myself."

"You can't possibly handle this on your own" the woman scoffed.

"Watch me" the girl hissed, then turned to retrieve her son. She then proceeded to leave the house, never once thinking of looking back.

A little over a month passed, and the young girl, Catherine, and her infant son seemed to be getting along fine. However, amidst the joy she felt from being with him, there were several moments of hopelessness. In addition to tending to her son's needs, Catherine was also taking on several odd jobs to try to make ends meet. The reality of her situation was beginning to wear her down, and she was starting to think her mother might be right. Could she really do this on her own? In the days that followed, the solution to her problem would make itself known to her.

A few days later, Catherine was sitting outside by the stream, finishing up her elderly neighbor's laundry. As she laid the damp clothes out to dry, she could hear footsteps behind her. She slowly turned, fearful of what she would see. Her child slept peacefully next to her, completely unaware of what was going on.

"You don't have to be afraid" a gentle voice said, cutting through the silence. Catherine turned more and found herself face to face with Helios.

"I know who you are" she murmured. Helios tilted his head and smirked at her, and she immediately broke her gaze on him and looked at the ground, blushing.

"Is something the matter?" he asked, chuckling slightly.

"I'm sorry" Catherine said shyly. "It was rude of me to address you like that, Sir Helios." Helios stepped forward and knelt in the grass next to her, smiling, and she instantly felt at ease.

"It's alright. Honestly, you're not the first person to react that way around me. I don't make myself known that often."

"I guess that's true" Catherine giggled. "I think this is the first time I've ever actually seen you." Helios nodded in response and glanced over at the sleeping baby, then the look on his face turned serious.

"I can sense you've been struggling, Catherine. That's why I've come here today."

"Do you think you can help me?" Catherine asked, her eyes filled with worry. She then bit her lip slightly, regretting asking Helios something so forwardly.

"What is it you need help with?" he asked, already knowing the answer but wanting to hear it from her.

"I want a better life for my son" Catherine whispered, tearing up slightly. Helios smiled softly and nodded, staying silent for a moment. After a few minutes, he looked at Catherine and his next words would change everything.

"Let me take care of him." Catherine looked at Helios, her eyes wide with amazement and shock.

"What?"

"I will take him. I'm not sure how long I'll be able to keep him, but I can promise you that he will get the second chance you want him to have."

"You would do that for me? And for him?"

"Of course" Helios said, a small smile appearing on his face. "What's his name?" he asked. Catherine looked at him sadly, then looked at the ground.

"He doesn't have one yet" she said softly. "I couldn't think of a name that suited him." Helios' gaze grew intense as he looked at her, and a scowl appeared on his face.

"That's not true" he said softly, but firmly. "You didn't name him because you knew you weren't going to keep him, and you didn't want to get attached. Is that right?" Catherine avoided eye contact with Helios and nodded, frowning slightly.

"Am I wrong for doing that?" she whispered.

"Of course not" Helios assured her. "To be honest, I'm glad you didn't name him."

"You are?" Catherine asked, confused. Helios nodded, grinning slightly.

"Yes. I'm glad you didn't name him, because I know what his name should be" Helios said softly, reaching into his pocket. He pulled something out and placed it in Catherine's hand, closing her fingers around it. She opened her hand and looked into it, seeing a beautiful blue gem sparkling in the sunlight.

"This is a Zoisite stone, isn't it?" Catherine asked. Helios nodded and began to explain its meaning.

"That's correct. Zoisite stones symbolize purity and healing. Your son is going to grow up to be a gentle, kind man." Hearing this, Catherine smiled contentedly.

"I knew it" she whispered to herself, then looked at Helios again. "Helios, do you know what the future holds for him?"

"Why are you thinking so far ahead?" Helios asked, chuckling.

"I just want to know if he'll be happy…" Catherine said as her eyes began to fill with tears. Helios closed his eyes for a brief moment then opened them and looked at Catherine. He smiled, and assured her that he would be. She then kissed her baby for the last time, and could not contain her tears any longer as she watched Helios and Zoisite walk away…

"What are you thinking about, Catherine?" a man's voice asked, snapping the young woman out of her daydream. Catherine brushed her blonde hair out of her face and turned to the man next to her, smiling.

"It's nothing" she murmured. "I'm just happy our son is getting the life he deserves."