Chapter 27: Tears for a mother

"...he fought for his life that day...the best he could," Martha said weakly. "They overpowered us that day...we lost Py to them...even after we managed to get away, they still followed us. Your father wanted you to be safe in here...so he gave his life trying to buy us time to escape to Bay City..."

"D-dad did...all that...for me?" Owen said. He gazed at his mother as he started to cry.

"Stop crying, little one...be strong," Martha said with a weak smile. Owen's tears dried. His mother's hand felt colder than usual. Her head slowly rolled back as her breathing slowed. Her eyes closed and her grip loosened.

As soon as her last breathe came, so came her words. "I love you" as she drifted off into a cold slumber. Her hand lay cold and motionless in Owen's hands. His eyes swelled with tears. He held her hand close to his face as his tears started streaming down his face. The cold feel of his mothers hand against his warm cheek felt unreal. He couldnt believe that this had happened. There was so much he wanted to say to her. At least the chance to say goodbye. At least one more chance to hug her, but he can't and this freezing cold touch proved it. Her heart monitor slowed to a flatline. By this time he couldn't control himself. He knew he had to be strong but all he could do was cry. For the first time ever, he felt like he was truly alone. By himself. Without anyone to come home to.

He walked slowly out of the office as nurses rush in to see to her. He wanted to scream but couldn't. He sat on a chair outside of the room and buried his head in his hands. Once his tears started, it never seemed to stop. He lost the closest person to him.

As he sat there, he felt a hand that rested on his back. He quickly brought his head up and looked to see who it was.

There, sitting next to him, sat Mikka. He didnt know what to say to her. What is there to say? He is sure that she knew. He tried to push something...anything out of his mouth but he couldn't. He didn't want to go back to crying again, so he tried holding back his tears. He just stared at Mikka. Then, all of a sudden, Mikka came closer to him. She wrapped her arms around him to hold him in a long hug. Tears then fell all over her shirt as Owen was crying.

"There, there...slow the water works...," Mikka said.

Then Owen stopped for a second. He remembered what his mom told him to do...

...and then he returned Mikka's hug.