THE ONE

CHAPTER NINETEEN

MAGDA SINGER (AMERICA'S MOTHER)'S POV

Everything was in slow-motion. I watched the bullet slowly move out of the gun, slicing through the air. It finally, after what felts like minutes of torture, watching that bullet, it hit something. Blood splattered as it tore through flesh. I felt my heart slowly rip in two, as slowly as this is all happening. I watched, brokenhearted, as he slowly crumpled to the ground. Though I knew that guns were supposed to make noises, it was all silent. Though my mouth opened to scream, to scream out his name, as if that would bring him back to me, nothing came out. Then, my mind was slowly brought away from the dream.

Waking up from the nightmare, I wanted to scream. I wanted to call out his name. I wanted to sob into my pillow. But I knew someone would hear me. I had to stay strong. I had to get through this silently, for my children. They're already hurting enough as it is- especially America. The poor girl is so strong, after everything that's happened, especially. I couldn't let them know how much I was hurting. I put my hand on the bed to help me get up. But nothing was there to put my hand on. I was laying on a couch just big enough for me to lay on. I pulled myself into a sitting position. I was just about to get up when a knock came at my door. The only person who's been visiting my room is Amberly, so I assumed it was her.

"Come on in, Amberly." I called. But when the door opened, it wasn't the queen's figure coming through the door.

AMERICA'S POV:

I felt bad. I felt really bad. I'm so selfish. Do I think of anyone but myself? Here I am, wallowing in self-pity when I should be comforting the rest of my family. How selfish am I? I knew I had to change that. So first order of business was my mother. After all, she was his husband, right? She must really be hurting, really miss him.

I knocked on her door.

"Come on in, Amberly!" My mom called from the other side. I opened the door and walked in.

"Expecting someone? I can come back later, if you'd like?" I asked unsurely. She seemed surprised to see me

"America! I'm sorry! I wasn't expecting her, she's just the only person-," But she cut herself off.

"The only one who visits you." I finished for her.

"No! Just that we've been planning things and all that." She covered up. I smiled.

"Yeah, I get it."

"So? How have you been?" She patted next to her. I took her offer and sat next to her.

"Alive, ya know?" I said sarcastically. She laughed lightly. I couldn't help but smile. I leaned my head on her shoulder.

"I miss this…"

"Me, too."

It felt nice to just sit down and talk with my mom. The only time I see her lately is with the other girls, planning things. I never get time like this anymore.

Later that day, I knew I should talk to Maxon. Thankfully, I ran into him in the halls.

"Maxon, we need to talk." I demanded.

"Are you mad at me?" He asked sheepishly.

"No, but you need to decide what's going to happen to him. And I want a say in it."

"I can do one better than that, if you want." He offered. "You make whatever decision you want about him, and I'll make it happen." I threw my arms around him.

"Thank you." He kissed me.

"You're more than welcome." We let go from our embrace. "Take your time. Oh! I forgot to tell you! We have a news conference in two weeks. It's just about the engagement and everything that's happened since then. You should announce your decision then."

"Okay, two weeks." I repeated.

"Yep, now I believe our mothers are looking for you. Go!" I went to find my mother and my soon-to-be-mother-in-law.

After finishing planning dad's funeral, I walked numbly to my room. For one in a long time, I had nowhere to go, no one to meet. So I picked up my new violin. I started playing, just an old song I know. I let myself get lost in it. Soon, I was playing my own song. It was a sad, bittersweet melody, like the background music in the sad part of a movie that would make the viewer cry.

Tears came in my eyes as I thought of why I was playing that; why I was so sad. I miss him. I love him. And I can never say goodbye. I can never say I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I made a mistake. I'm sorry its my fault he's dead. I ended the song as tears escaped my closed eyes. Small clapping startled me and my eyes shot open.

May was sitting daintily on the couch facing me. Wanting to appear strong, I wiped away my tears quickly before she saw them. She wasn't smiling like she usually was, but looked somber.

"I miss him, too." She said in a small voice. I smiled sadly and took the few steps to her. She stood up and I hugged her close. I'm not sure who I'm comforting- me or her- or both. Either way, it worked, and when we ended the hug, we both smiled softly to each other. "You're going to be a great Princess, ya know." She said quietly. I could only smile.

"I hope."