I heard him let out a long, deep sigh. “I’ll take that into consideration,” he murmured softly. “Since it’s from you.”
The warmth of his voice was the last thing I felt before the world faded again.
“Rest well, Rena,” he whispered.
I don’t remember ever having a fever that made me feel this miserable.
Sleep pulled me under gently, and soon the world around me shifted. When I opened my eyes, I was small again—barefoot, standing in the middle of a sunlit stream. The water was cool and clear, curling around my ankles as dragonflies skimmed the surface. Laughter echoed—soft, familiar—and there she was.
Mom.
Her long hair shimmered in the afternoon light as she playfully splashed water toward me. I squealed, splashing back, the sound of our joy carried by the breeze. Then she paused, her expression turning wistful, her hand dripping as she brushed a strand of hair from her face.
“You know, sweetie… let me tell you a secret.”
I blinked up at her, curious. She knelt in front of me, her knees sinking into the stream, and her hand came up to cup my cheek, her touch warm and trembling.
“…I had to do this,” she whispered.
“Do what, Mommy?” I asked, my little voice innocent, trusting.
Her eyes softened—then dimmed with something heavy, something she didn’t want me to see. “Something keeps… blocking your existence,” she said slowly. “So I had to keep you all to myself until the time was right.”
She smiled through the sadness, her thumb brushing my face. “Your dad will come get you, sweetheart. He will find you.”
My cheeks puffed against her hand as I smiled back. “Will he find me and take me home?”
Her lips trembled, tears beginning to gloss her eyes. “Yes,” she breathed. “And love you, and give you everything you want. He’s a phenomenal man… you can trust Daddy.”
She took a shaky breath, voice growing fainter. “So until then, please don’t leave here. No matter what happens, stay where you are. It might take a while… we’re waiting for the rest of you.”
Tears began to slip down her cheeks. She leaned forward, pressing soft kisses over my face—my forehead, my nose, my cheeks—each one warmer than the last.
“I… am… so sorry,” she whispered, her voice breaking as she pulled me into a tight hug. My little six-year-old self clung to her, crying too, though I didn’t understand why.
Eventually, she quieted, rocking me gently, her chin resting on my hair. Then, in a broken murmur half-laugh, half-sob, she whispered, “Daddy’s going to be beyond mad at me…”
Her words echoed softly through the dream as the sunlight began to fade from the water’s surface.
Mom’s tears slowed, and soon her gentle sobs turned into a soft laugh. She brushed her hands over my wet cheeks. “No more crying, okay? We’re wasting the sunshine.”
I nodded, sniffling, and she splashed a handful of cool water toward me. I shrieked with laughter and splashed back, the stream filling with our giggles and ripples. For a while, it was just the two of us again—laughing, running, playing as if the world had never hurt us.
I ran as fast as my little legs could carry me, water spraying around me like glitter. Then I stopped suddenly, tilting my head. “But how can Daddy find me if he doesn’t know I’m here?”
Mom froze for a second—then smiled wide, her eyes bright with that same familiar spark. She ran up and scooped me into her arms, spinning me until I squealed.
“Daddy knows a lot,” she said between giggles. “He’ll know by your face, your mana, your attitude.” She dipped my head gently into the stream, the cool water rushing over my hair as I laughed.
“He’s a good man, Rena,” she added softly, still smiling. “Maybe you’ll marry a man just as good as mine someday.”
I wrinkled my nose, which only made her laugh harder. Then her laughter softened, the edges tinged with guilt. “Tell Daddy I’m sorry, sweetie… Kiss him. And hold him tight. He’s still not forgiving me,” she murmured, though she tried to laugh it off.
“But Daddy loves Mommy,” I said, puckering my lips into kissy faces that made her grin through her tears.
“I still get in trouble, you know,” she said with a playful pout. “Just because he loves me doesn’t mean I get out of punishment… not with him.”
I giggled, dripping water down my chin. “This was for me,” I said proudly, shaking my wet hair.
She smiled, brushing her thumb across my cheek. “Yes, baby… all of this was for you.”
The sunlight flickered through the trees, and for a brief, perfect moment, everything felt whole again.
A soft sniffle escaped me as I stirred awake. The room was dim, the steady patter of rain against the window faint in the distance. My face felt damp, and before I could move, I felt a cool cloth brush gently across my forehead.
My eyes fluttered open. Dad was sitting beside me, his expression lined with concern as he wiped away the tears that had dried on my cheeks.
“Are you in pain?” he asked softly.
Yes. loads of pain. It hurts everywhere. But he’s worried enough right now.
I shook my head. “No… I… think I had a dream,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. The images were already fading, slipping through my memory like mist. “Mom…” I paused, searching for the right words. “She said she was sorry… I was young, but… she did apologize.” My cheeks warmed as I pulled the covers closer to my chin, feeling oddly shy or embarrassed.
I'm not sure as to why I had that dream. That childhood memory. Even more so I do not understand why, it seems I am missing pieces. Parts are foggy. Dad’s brow lifted at my words, but then his face softened, the faintest shadow crossing his eyes. He sighed—long and deep—as if weighing something heavy before he finally said, “I understand.”
For a moment, silence hung between us, filled only by the rhythm of the rain. Then, gently, he added, “I wonder if your awakening is causing some memories to turn into dreams.”
“Memory dreams?” I asked, blinking up at him.
Are they just memories? Could they also be hints, clues, advice even?
He nodded slowly.
“Mana can trigger memories in the form of dreams,” I said, almost guessing, my curiosity fighting through the haze of sleep.
“Yes,” he replied with a faint smile. “There are some cases where people can remember everything—even from birth. But in most cases, people recall long-lost memories through dreams.”
My assumption is, it's like HSAM or Eidetic caused by mana. If that's the case, perfect memory might be common here instead of rare. I wonder if that's something that can be controlled?
He stayed quiet for a moment, watching me as if waiting for something more. Then, softly, he asked, “Is there anything else she said… or you remember?”
I swallowed, trying to hold onto the pieces before they faded. “This was for me. All of this, schemes, ”I said, my words uncertain, almost a question. “And… she loves you.”
His expression flickered. “I love her too,” he murmured. “At first, I thought her disappearance was a kidnapping. But then I realized… She knows me too well. She’s more than able to escape me easily. Especially if she got others to help.” He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “She was doing this on purpose.”
Mom it might be awhile before he forgives you. He still loves you….
He checked the towel resting on my forehead, replacing it with a cooler one before continuing, his voice lowering. “When that thought came, I knew it had to do with her trying to…” He hesitated—his throat tightening, words trembling. “…We were having issues with fertility, even though we were both in perfect health. Until the stress,.... The fear…” His eyes drifted away, heavy with memory.
“You don’t have to talk about it,” I whispered softly, my heart aching for him. “I think I can put those pieces together.”
He gave a small nod, but I could see the pain tightening his jaw.
They were struggling with childbearing. Mom left to find a way. The pain, depression and stress they must have gone through. And how it finally got to her… to him.
“She left to give birth to me… right?” I asked quietly.
He hesitated again before replying in a near whisper, “You appeared the exact same day as she disappeared. I knew that wasn’t a coincidence ….. I missed the whole process.”
He did. The birth. The first moments. Watching Rena grow. Developed. He was robbed of twenty three years of his daughter’s life.
The sadness in his voice made something inside me twist. Ignoring the ache in my body, I pushed myself up and reached for him, wrapping my arms around his shoulders. He froze for a second, then chuckled softly as I pressed a kiss to his cheek.
I can not apologize enough for my mom’s behavior. I don’t even think hearing it from my voice will carry the same weight.
“I love you,” I murmured, half-asleep against him. “She said you’d come get me.”
I’ll love him for Rena, for Mom, and for me. He won't have to question if he has family here for him or not.
His arms tightened around me, his voice a low hum near my ear. “And I did. I’m sorry it took so long”
“Thats fine. There’s nothing for you to apologize for.” I replied.
“I don’t think I can talk about this today,” he said finally, more to himself than to me.
“That’s okay,” I whispered, watching his shoulders sink a little with exhaustion. “What about Mary? Or Sabatian?”
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