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Marcy had just come off her drawing shift.
Business was going well. It managed to get a third season approval from the company. Character designs were complete. She needed to get the draft script from Avery and check it over, but she wasn't sure she had the energy to do it that evening. She threw himself on the couch and leaned her head against the wall. If all went well, the season announcement could be made to the media earlier than planned. And then the fans wouldn't have to—
Marcy looked up at the sound of the bell. She wasn't expecting guest. She was even more surprised to see the figure in front of the door.
"Ruby?"
Water dripped from her light caramel-colored hair. Her school uniform was soaked and darkened. She was rubbing her hands on her biceps. She must have been cold.
"Heyyy, Auntie Mar-Mar..."
That's when Marcy noticed the tears in the girl's baby blue eyes.
"Oh sweetie, are you okay? C'mere..."
The girl clutched at her shirt and began to sob. Marcy closed the door and crouched next to her. They stayed like that until Ruby calmed down.
"I–I'm sorry."
"It's okay. What happened? Are you hurt? Why aren't you at school?"
"The teacher left us all early because of the picnic. I– I went home, but... I heard shouts. Of mom and mama. I–"
Her voice choked in her throat, and she buried her face in Marcy again. Of course, they weren't expecting her so soon.
"They... they're good, right? I've never heard them that loud before."
Marcy ran her hand through her wet hair. It would be nice if she brought a towel. And a comfortable outfit.
"They are good. But not everyone gets along well all the time. Don't you argue with your friends sometimes?"
"I think so?"
"Right? This is like that. Sometimes your mothers may not agree on something. And believe me, they wouldn't have raised their voices a little if they knew you were there."
"But they raise their voices against each other. Aren't they upset? After all, they love each other, right?"
"Of course they are upset. That's why they apologize. And they try not to do it again. Just like you don't repeat a harmful behavior."
Ruby wiped her tears and smiled.
“I see. Hi hi! Thank you, Auntie Mar-Mar. It's always good talking to you."
"Always, sweetie. Now, let's get that wet uniform off before you get sick. And let's see if your t-shirt and sweatpants from your last sleepover are here."
No, they didn't left it there. But Marcy had found a pair of pajamas that fit Ruby. She dried the girl's hair with a dryer and made a double braid. Standing in front of the mirror in her unicorn pajamas, Ruby giggled and hugged her. Her spirits were restored as Marcy took her hand and led her into the living room.
"Is it the same again?"
The girl nodded happily. Marcy turned on the TV and clicked My Little Pony. She let go of the remote and headed for the kitchen.
"Are you hungry, Ruby? There's leftover pizza for the afternoon but—"
"PIZZA!"
She smiled as she took the hot pizza from the microwave. It was good that her morale was kindled. She was startled by the sound of the phone. She knew who was calling before she even looked.
"Anne?"
"Oh, thank Guardian, Mar-Mar! I can't find Ruby anywhere. She left school early but she didn't let us know. She's not at home either. I was thinking about going to the playground or not. Do you think it could be—"
"Hey, hey Anne, relax. She's here."
"In your house? She knows she has to inform us before she goes to you or anywhere else."
"Yes, she was afraid to even enter the house when she heard your shouts."
"Wait, our shouts? We didn't shou–" There was a little silence on the other side of the phone. "Oh. Oh. She didn't..."
When she started to speak, her voice was trembling.
"I'm coming there. Thanks, Marcy."
"Wait, Anne! I know you guys don't fight so easily. Is something wrong?"
"W-we'll talk when I come." She hung up. Marcy put the phone down on the table and frowned while waiting for the pizza to warm up again.
2 month ago, Sasha, who stopped by her house every weekend, stopped coming. She thought it was because of the intensity of the work. After all, she knew that Sasha was going to conventions. But this? And without warning? It was weird.
Then Anne started dropping Ruby off for the night at Marcy's three or four times a week. Marcy was worried, too, as she became more and more nervous with each visit. Yes, her friends' married life was none of her business, but their health certainly was.
"Here it is. Enjoy your meal."
Ruby put a slice in her mouth as she watched a purple unicorn talking to a winged horse with rainbow hair.
"Is marriage that bad?"
"Of course not, sweetie. Why?"
"I heard grandmother was talking to mom when we visited her house last time. After that, we never went back. I wonder why? I loved Melanie's cookies. Not as good as mama's, of course, but the kitchen was very big and my room there was very–"
She was interrupted by the sound of the door. Marcy walked to the door and looked through the hole. Her expected company was here. When Ruby saw her mother coming, she ran into the hall.
"Mama!"
She threw herself into her mother's arms. Anne placed little kisses on her temples.
"Hey, sweetheart. I'm here. It'll be okay."
Ruby suddenly stepped back and looked at the door.
"Where's mom?"
Marcy could see Anne biting her lip and her shoulders tensing. Nothing was heard.
Just silence.
"Like the other times?"
"Yeah, like the other times."
"So I'm staying with auntie again?"
Anne lowered her gaze to the ground. "We're both staying."
"Huh? So mom's not? Or are you two sulking? Because of today's fight?"
"No, sweetheart. Just... your mom has other things to do. Just for tonight."
"Just tonight, huh?" She looked sad and it was pinching Marcy's chest.
"Okay. Good night!" She ran towards to stairs. "Auntie Mar-Mar, can I sleep in the big bed?"
"Of course sweetie." Her gaze was locked on Anne. "Good night to you."
They waited until the sound of the stairs going up and the door closing stopped. Marcy turned to her friend with a worried look. Anne had waited until her daughter left to cry. She sat her on the couch and started patting her back.
"Breathe, Anne. It's gonna be okay, I promise."
"I'm– I'm tired. I'm really tired Marcy. But I know she's more tired than I am."
His eyes were red. Her curly hair, the same color as her daughter's, was disheveled. Her elbows were resting on her leg and her hands were running through her messy hair.
"Where's Sasha? What happened?"
"Asset situation. Her father left all his property to Sasha in case he died. Her mother has known about it for 2 months and made her life miserable. She went to court, but you know they're always on the side of money. I had to keep Ruby away from everything and every time she came from the bar—"
"Wait, bar? Anne, you know what happened the last time Sasha was like this!"
"Yeah, but... I'm scared, Marcy. You know how unstable she gets at times like this, even though she studied psychology. If she does something to himself–" She sobbed. Marcy pulled her arms out of her hair and took her hands.
"Hey, hey... That's not gonna happen. I told you before, you should trust her. She's been through a lot in high school because of her parents' reunite. I can't imagine what she went through because of her mother. I know you don't have to deal with any of this. That's why–"
"I want to." A determined look settled in her eyes. "I love her, Marcy. I want to help her. But... she won't allow it. She keeps pushing us back."
"And will that stop you?"
"What?"
Marcy squeezed the hands she held.
"Anne, you are the woman who once fought against the big moon. Frog be damned if you don't bring Sasha to her senses."
She pressed her lips together and said nothing. Marcy realized that Anne had lost her insistence on certain situations after Amphibia. But not now. Not now, not with Sasha like that. She knew Anne wouldn't have the heart either.
Marcy grabbed the car keys and pulled Anne to her feet.
"Beach." She give the key to her. "We both know she's there."
"What about Ruby?"
"I've got her. Go."
Marcy hadn't seen her friend run like that in a long time. Everyone needs a push sometimes. Good luck, girls.
"Are they going to make peace?"
She was startled and turned to the stairs. Ruby was looking at her with her big blue eyes. She sighed ve walked to her.
"Yeah. Aren't you supposed to be asleep?"
"I want mom."
Her heart ached.
"Sweetie, I can guarantee you that mom and mama will be here later, okay? Come on, let's get you into the bed."
"Can we cuddle?"
She smiled and ruffled her hair.
"Of course."
~•~•~•~
There were lights.
Tiny sparkles. They were everywhere. She could feel nothing but the sand she was sitting on and the strong wind. It was all a blur. Had she come to heaven? She cackled. No, there was not even a shred of purity in her heart. But hell couldn't be so beautiful either.
She was calm for the first in a long time. There was no one to hurt. No one to hurt her either. There were no threats. No guilt. No despair. No fear. No miserableness. No weakness. Just lights and sparkles.
Didn't they look brighter on the other side?
Yes, it was brighter. Too bright for her to resist. The brighter it was, the more it faded, right? Her hands pushed up her body and her feet began to crawl towards the glow. If it was bright enough, she wouldn't feel it. She wouldn't see anyone either. If the sparkles surrounded her, everything would be fine.
Anne. Ruby. She shook her head from side to side. Hadn't they suffered the most? She had dragged down two of her favorite people in all the worlds with her. She had upset Anne. The tears she swore she would never let fall again stained her face again. Every promise and oath she had made had rotted around her. She knew she could never get rid of that bad smell. As long as she lived, the stench would persist. Why should anyone else have to endure that stench? Once she was off the stage, everything unraveled.
Especially Ruby. Oh that sweet, innocent Ruby. The thoughtful Ruby who doesn't even forget the birthday of the grandmother who hates her. She didn't deserve anything from her. What did she think? What had she thought and assumed she could take care of a child, her own child? She couldn't. Because miracles didn't find her. She'd fucked up her life too much for miracles to want to find her. Even the Guardian must have looked at her and laughed. But there were glimmers and sparkles. Maybe they were helping.
Wetness. She didn't stop to see what was happening. The coldness was coming up from her waist. After a while her eyes and her chest began to burn. She couldn't breathe. But she kept going. The lights were very close. Close enough to touch. One more step and—
A pair of arms pulled her back and made her sit back down on the sand. She blinked her eyes. Her dress was soaked. Water was dripping all over her. And where was the lights?
"–sh? Sasha!"
She was startled and turned away. Even at night, it was impossible not to recognize those curly waterfall hair and eyes as soft and gentle as chocolate. Those eyes were fixed on her with concern.
No! Why?
She struggled, but the arms holding her were strong. Hopeful. She hated it.
She was once powerful. She was brave, daring and never gave up. She went to the end with her pride. She was no longer that girl. She was just a shit.
Why am I still here? I had to leave. The farther away from them my fucked up soul was, the better. Please let me go. Do it for yourself. To protect yourself. So far, you've both suffered because of me. Take our daughter and go. If the lights won't accept me, why should you?
As fingers caressed her cheek, she realized she was crying. Her legs were like jelly, she couldn't stand up. Her body was trembling. She wasn't sure because of she was soaking wet or crying.
"Why are you here?" She whispered. She felt that if she spoke louder they would start shouting again. Like her parents. Couldn't you do anything properly?
Her hand reached out hers and intertwined. The other one was crawling on her mole.
"I'm sorry."
She felt her heart tighten. Her fingers closed on her shoulders and shook her. She didn't know if it was fast or slow. She didn't know anything.
"Why! Why would you even be here? Why should you rot yourself with me? Why would you fool yourself?"
"Sash..."
Tears were flowing faster now. She pulled herself back and buried her hands in her face. She was weak. She was pathetic. Her mother was right. She had bitten off more than she could swallow. And now she was paying for it.
When the warm body enveloped her, nothing else made sense. She was sobbing openly. Maybe she was screaming. She didn't know. Again. But Anne knew. Anne always knew. She always felt it. That's why she found the right words to comfort her even in the midst of her crying. As she always did.
"I don't want to argue anymore. I never wanted to."
She took her hands off her face and smiled with tears in her eyes. She was crying too.
"I apologize for knowing all this time and not taking action. I know you didn't mean to do it, Sasha. And I know how much it hurt you, so please..."
She put her forehead against her and cupped her cheeks.
"Please take your own advice for yourself too. Don't try to handle everything yourself."
Anne looked into broken eyes that looked gray in the moonlight. It hurt to see her like this. She knew that the more everything came at her, the worse she got. Even though you were chosen for the strength stone, like any human being, you had your limits. In the end, she had exploded too.
"Let me help."
Marcy was right. It wasn't always good to retreat. Sasha needed support. She had it all along. Even if she didn't act like it. Anne was too late to realize that. But now it was different. She wanted her to feel it too.
She pressed her lips to hers.
The clothes she had pressed against her body were soaked. She tasted beer in her mouth. She didn't smell of the perfume she always used. But Anne didn't care. She had tasted love enough to know that it ends in the heart. She wrapped her arms around her neck as her hands went around her waist and her lips closed in hunger.
Anne could feel it. Sasha was saying something, even if she wasn't uttering words. For weeks she had buried it all inside herself. She didn't even know she had stopped going to Marcy until Marcy told her a few days ago. She was doing it like when she was little.
When they were in primary school, their teacher said there would be a family introduction day. Anne was excited, thinking how happy her mom and dad would be. Sasha was strangely quiet all day.
The next day, when they arrived for the introduction day, Anne showed her parents around the school again. Marcy's mom was there too. According to Mrs. Wu, her husband couldn't come because of work. Then their family had a sweet conversation. Anne went with Marcy, who was shy, to the school swings. And there was Sasha. She was crying. They both went over and gave her a big hug. Anne asked where her parents were.
"I don't know. Melanie didn't say. They didn't know there was an event today."
When Anne came home, she thought about Sasha and how much she smiled during the day, even when she was sad.
"Mom, don't we cry when we're sad?"
"Of course sweetie, why?"
"Then why do people smile when they are sad?"
His mother looked at her. She was intrigued by the question.
"Sometimes people don't want to upset others. So they pretend they are not upset."
"But wouldn't that upset her more?"
Her mother sat next to her and held her hand.
"Are we talking about a specific person?"
"Umm..."
Anne lowered her eyes to her hands.
"Sasha's parents were absent today. She was crying when we came to the park, but when she saw us she started laughing and smiling all the time. Doesn't it hurt her too?"
Anne was too young to understand at that time, but her mother was also worried about Sasha.
"If you're so concerned about your friend, why don't we pay a little surprise visit to the Waybright family?"
Ann's eyes lit up. "Really?"
"Let's get ready."
They had called and suddenly gone to the Waybright mansion. Anne had never been to Sasha's house before. It was so big. They could play hide and seek there very well. Melanie opened the door.
"I'm so pleased. You're one of the friends Lady Alexandra told me about, aren't you? Her room is the last room on the third floor. Why don't you surprise her?"
Anne overheard the conversation as she was coming up the stairs.
"I'm so sorry, Mrs. Boonchuy. Unfortunately I wasn't informed where they were going, but Lady Alexandra is used to it."
Anne went up to the room and knocked on the door. Because when you came to a new place you couldn't enter without knocking.
"Melanie, how many times do I have to tell you? I don't want to do anyth— Anne?"
"Surprise!" Sasha closed the door and turned to her. Her eyes were red. Anne's smile froze on her face.
"What are you doing here?"
"Were you crying?"
They sat on the bed.
"No..."
"Sasha."
Sasha's eyes filled again. She buried her face in Anne's short-sleeved t-shirt and started sobbing. From then on, Sasha talked and Ann listened all evening. Her heart ached with every whine of her friend. When her mother came into the room and found Sasha asleep on her daughter's lap, she asked what had happened. Anne hid something from her mother for the first time that day.
She could feel all the pressure, the guilt, the wound, the fatigue on her lips. She was getting calmer and calmer. When her moans stopped, Anne pulled back to breathe. But not too much. Just enough for their noses to touch.
They were both panting. Sasha hadn't taken her hand off her waist. Her crystal-like eyes were in hers, full of tenderness, as if she was looking at something very precious. Anne felt her lips curl. Yes, only Sasha could make her feel that way.
"R-Ruby?"
"She's with Marcy. She was asking about you."
Her gentle gaze suddenly darkened.
"Of course she asked me. I'm no different from my mom."
"That's not true!"
She looked at her in surprise.
"You didn't abandon her. You never willingly left her alone. And more importantly... you really love her, Sash."
"Anne..."
"Ssh, it's 'kay, c'mere."
She exhaled as golden hair rested on her shoulders. She was relieved. For the first time in weeks.
Of course she wasn't going to believe this nonsense that everything was gonna be all right. Nothing could ever be perfect. But efforts could be made. After 2 months, they could make a different start. They would fight together no matter what. Just like before. And they had Ruby with them. Their sweet, positive girl. They had defeated the big amphibious venom robot, hadn't they? What was different this time?
Anne knew tomorrow was going to be different.