She still remembered her mother's last words.

"I'm sorry."

She remembered her father's last words, too.

"Songbird.. when I die, I want you to do something for me."

"Sure, dad. What is it?"

"I need you to just sit by my grave and eat chocolate."

"Pffft, okay, weirdo." She was still trying not to cry. Her father had been battling cancer for two years now. Her vision began to get blurry as hot tears found their way to her eyes. No, not infront of him, she thought.

"Hey, Songbird?"

"Yeah, dad?"

"It's okay to cry..."

He died later that night.

Then.. her sister's last words. They were the most painful.

"My Songbird, take your time. I'll see you on the other side.."

And like that, she was out like a flame that went out too soon.

She knew she had to keep going, but, oh, God, she was waiting for so long. Too long.

For six years, she'd been separated from her father. For eleven years, her mother. And for eight years, her sister. Those were the most painful years for her. She had no family to comfort her, no friends to help her, and no shoulder to cry on.

The only thing that would calm her down during one of her break downs, was the piano. Her mother taught her how. She remembered how she would always change the line.

"Un, deux, trois, quatre, cinq, six, sept, huit, neuf," her mother sang.

"Un, deux, trois, quatre, cinq, six, sept, huit, neuf," Soya said quietly as she pressed the keys.

"Good!" Her mother exclaimed.

"Un, deux, trois, quatre, cinq, six, sept, huit, neuf," Soya's mother repeated.

"Un, deux, trois, quatre, cinq, six, sept, huit, neuf," Soya repeated, changing the tone at 'sept.'

"Sept, huit, neuf-"

"Sept, huit, neuf-"

"Sept, huit, neuf-"

"Sept, huit, neuf-"

"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine."

But even the happiest memories need to come to an end at some point...

It was time. She stepped out of her room wearing a grey jacket, navy blue jeans, and a black fedora. Soya walked over to her sister who's tear-stained cheeks were shining. Soya placed a gentle, comforting hand on her sister's shoulder. They weren't ready yet, she thought. They still needed to stay strong, though.. and so they did.

--

Mara parked her car outside of the cemetery. "I'll wait here.." she mumbled as Soya stepped out of the car without another word.

Soon, she was face to face with her father's tomb stone. She read what it had to say.

Iquoröx N. Tedéku

LOVING FATHER, BROTHER, SON, AND FRIEND.

1967 - 2007

"There are certain people who stay by your side even though it'll hurt them. Soya was my person."

She started to cry. Oh God, not him.. why did it have to be him.. anyone else but him..

She sat down, still sobbing, and began to do what he had wanted her to do. She sat in silence, eating a bar of chocolate. She had stopped crying, but a new wave of tears was slowly, but surely, approaching. Soya tried to hold them back. But in the silence, she swore she had heard a quiet voice say

"It's okay to cry..."

Then it was her sister..

She dropped to the floor, still clutching onto the family portrait.

Soya could do nothing but watch as her beloved sister fell to the ground, bleeding.

"I find it funny, you know.. how I didn't get to write a suicide note," Mara quietly whispered, but not quiet enough for Soya to not hear.

"Why did you do that.. Why?" She said as the tears she knew too well began to fight their way through to her eyes.

"I was scared.. I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry I didn't know.."

"Please, don't cry."

"Mara, you should have told m-" But she was cut off by sobbing.

"S.. I'm so sorry."

"Sorry means it won't happen again. But now, it really won't. You promised me."

"I'm sorry."

"Mara.."

"Y.. Yes?"

"Un, deux, trois, quatre, cinq, six-" soon, she was joined by her sister.

"Sept, huit, neuf."

"My Songbird, take your time. I'll see you on the other side.."

"N-No, Mara, sept, huit, neuf."

"Mara, sept, huit, neuf.."

"Sept, huit, neuf.."

"Sept, huit.."

And just like that, Soya's remaining thread of hope had been cut off like the rest of them.

Another light had disappeared from her life.

Everything became blank from then on. Soya would meet people who she could call 'friends.' Those people would be Liv Whinchester, Violet Jackson, Lilac Woods, and Ashley Cappini. They were tightly knit. And.. they would be like that.. until she moved. She would leave. She left. She left it all behind. She left everything behind. She had decided to move to Paris, so called 'City of Love.' Perhaps she'd meet her soulmate there? Who knew anymore.

Soya-Ae Tedéku. A girl who lives in a strange world. This is her story.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HOOOOO, MY GOD, THIS TOOK SO LONG, I AM SO SORRY.

Yeah, yeah, I know, it's cringy. Hope you all enjoyed it anyways.

I guess.. that's all I have to say.

Thank you all so, so much for reading it all the way to the end! I really appreciate it!!

Tarrii out!!

~ Tarrii & Chai

Words count: 885