Work Text:
A lone box sits open on the bed, half filled. Half filled with a few sets of clothing, a stationary set, dozens of letters from her children and a few from her ex-husband.
Rei runs her fingers over the half dozen books laying across her desk. She looks over to the flower delicately placed on the other end of the desk before picking it up.
The colours of the autumn bell flower are gentle, yet vibrant. The woman smiles before opening one of her books. The title page is in large, black lettering outlined in gold.
Fierce Fairytales by Nikita Gill. Rei sets the flower in the center of the title page before closing the book. She gathers the other books to place into her box. After closing the box, she looks out the window to see a little brown sparrow land on the windowsill. The tiny bird tilts her head and chirps before taking off once more, leaving Rei feeling lighter somehow. A small smile touched her lips as she sighs. The smile slowly falls back as she gets lost in thought.
It’s been so long…
Rei still hasn’t been able to face Enji, and she doesn’t think she’ll ever be ready to. That mansion. It was never home. She was just as trapped there as she has been here. Over two and a half decades of her life of never being able to go home. Halfway through, she started realizing that…
That she didn’t have a home to go back to...
“Hey Mom.” A low and kind voice draws Rei back to herself. “You ready to go?”
Rei turns to see Natsu stepping into the room, enthusiasm and excitement painted over his features.
“Yeah,” the woman sniffles before turning back to her bed, “I just finished packing.” Rei goes to reach for the box, but her son beats her to it.
“Lemme carry this for you, Mom.” Picking the box up with one arm, Natsu turns to his mother and offers her his other and a brilliant smile. “Shall we?”
Rei takes a moment to look at her son, the monumental realization setting in once again of the handsome young man Natsu is growing up to be. She wipes away a tear before giving him a bright smile.
“Yeah. Let’s go home.”