"You want to come over, Kagami?" We're giving Kagami a ride home after a victorious fencing tournament, but somehow, victory felt unsatisfying today. Now that Mother and Father are gone, I've been (trying) to perfect my skills even more to keep my girls safe.
"No, sorry, Adrien. Felix is coming over to help with homework. Perhaps another time," Kagami answers. "But it's Saturday," I mutter, and I feel my temper flaring. "Okay, um, have fun."
Even if I am irritated, I'm not going to lash out in anger. That's been happening lately at the worst moments, even if it is part of the grieving.
The medal feels heavy around my neck, and I can't to flop into bed. As I head upstairs, Plagg suddenly darts out from my shirt. "Adrien, you can't go in there!" he says. "Oh, yeah?" I want to brush him aside. "And why not?"
"Because it wreaks of stinky cheese, and I thought I'd air it out for a bit. How about to go down to the garden instead?"
I count to ten, then sigh. "Okay." I could look for ladybugs, not M'lady.
The garden is peaceful and beautiful and I sit down by the fountain. Mother came to my first fencing match, and I had so many butterflies in my tummy. I lost and felt horrible as I thought I let Mother down. But she hugged me and said she loved me, and did I want to go home and make molasses cookies, and yes, I could lick the bowl.
Mother.
The tears come, fast and without warning. My hands ball into fists, my emotional setting is like a dryer, tumbling and rolling, it's hard to keep up. Will I ever feel happy again?
"Kid?" My head jerks up, and Plagg is back, and I brush away my tears. "Yeah?" "Have a surprise for you," he says. "Okay."
"Surprise!" My mouth falls open as Kagami, Felix and Marinette jump out of their hiding spots. "We wanted to celebrate your victory," Marinette walks over, giving me a hug and kiss.
"I hated telling you no, Adrien," Kagami holds Felix's hand. "But that would have ruined the surprise."
"Come look at your desk!" Marinette's voice is excited, and I let myself be pulled over. Little memories in the form of pictures sit on my desk along with a plate of molasses cookies.
"Thank you, thank you all," I look at my favorite people in the world. Today, I made a new memory from ones of old. And though the past hurts, with friends like mine, I'll get through each day with someone I love by my side.