Chapter Text
Anne reached a hand out to the sky, it was wet. Soft droplets of water pooled in her palm, warm to the touch. The rain was nice, it reminded her of warm days and sipping a bowl of Khao Tom. She took a deep breath, the smell of the water was calming and therapeutic in a way, as odd as that sounded. The smells of cooking food from the street market just on the other side of the gate greeted her. The day was perfect. She removed her shoes and stepped out into the small patio at the front of the house. Anne smiled in bliss as her blue sundress darkened with the staggered fall of rain drops. She walked around the small area mindlessly, smiling at the countless plants that had been collected over the years.
She admired the beauty of the flowers, even if she couldn’t recognize what each one was called. Marcy was always good with that, remembering little details about everything. She should have asked what each flower was, and what they meant, earlier. If she could now, Marcy would go on one of her little rants that Anne found most endearing.
After Amphibia, none of them had remained the same. Marcy lost that bright spark that never failed to make Anne happy. She kept a happy front but her eyes looked dead and detached from the world.
Sasha had turned cold and sad. She looked small and pitiful and dark bags sagged under her eyes from many restless guilt-ridden nights. Her eyes were wide and forever filled with fear, unable to expel the demons that plagued her mind. She hadn’t spoken since they came back to earth.
Anne, kind, sweet, compassionate Anne, could only helplessly watch their slow descent into the abyss of self destruction, as her two girls deteriorated into a frail husk of the people she once knew.
Sasha was the first to go, it was bound to happen. Anne remembered it vividly. It wasn’t long after they had returned: She remembered waking up to an empty bed and hearing the creak of an opening door. Eerie footfalls echoed in the halls of Anne’s home. A ghost of Sasha riddled the halls of Anne’s childhood home, pictures of her smiling face littered the walls in disgusting reminder of what they had lost. No one believed she had gone missing. Anne’s own parents, always kind and trusting, only looked at her with tear filled eyes and a somber smile. Her mother would run her fingers through Anne’s hair comfortingly and kiss her forehead. This happened often.
Anne and Marcy searched for their lost friend for years, not getting anywhere and too greif stricken to accept reality, before eventually giving up and accepting that Sasha simply did not want to be found. Anne thought she had seen Sasha some months ago, briefly, on a somber day and wearing all black.
Marcy was next, her body had deteriorated into near nothingness. It had been years since Anne heard her talk about something that interested her. Most days, Marcy would just sit there, staring at nothing in particular with eyes glazed over with tears. And yet, Anne was the only thing to ever bring a smile to her face. Anne was determined to keep it that way.
She stared at the wooden ring on her finger, fiddling with it gently. It was beautifully carved and housed a small blue diamond in the center. The precious gem glinted in the small patches of sunlight that greeted her through the clouds. She smiled softly, despite the corrupted memories filling her mind. It was a kind reminder of what she still had. A worn matching emerald ring adorned her other hand.
“Hey, you,” said a familiar voice, the words echoed all around her: kind and welcoming as always. Anne turned around swiftly, her heart filled with joy. A smile spread across Anne's face, bright enough to light up the sky and bring the morning sunshine back. The voice came from a shorter woman standing in the doorway just a few meters away. She looked exhausted and visibly uncomfortable, but the smile across her face was made of pure ecstasy. She leaned against a decorated cane for support. “Morning Marcy!” Anne made a move to walk back to the doorway and help her but was stopped when Marcy raised her hand in protest. Anne stood there nervously while Marcy scrambled down the rain-slicked steps. She wore loose yoga pants decorated with intricate lotus flower designs, the flowy cloth swished against her legs with each step. Eventually the two were face to face on the patio, each sporting a ridiculous grin on their faces.
Marcy looked beautiful in the summer rain. The few rays of sun peeking out from under the clouds shrouded Marcy in an ethereal glow. She took Anne’s bejeweled hand into her own and kissed Anne’s palms gently, her lips and hands were icy and felt like nothing. Anne would have thought she was a ghost if she didn’t know any better. And, she didn’t know any better.