Chapter Text
Helen used to have a have a younger sister.
Her name is Hillary, Hillary Willow.
Hillary is best to be described as a bundle of joy, where her strawberry blonde hair would bounce with her every move and she always has this wide grin on her face.
No one can easily ignore her presence when she's around, and Hillary knows these for she soaks in the attention she was given.
Even though it once bothers her, Helen will always love her sister.
Yes, Hillary may have her moments where she annoys her to insanity or where she thrashes and destroy her own things out of frustration or anger.
These still doesn't stop her from being a big sister and she swore to always be at her side.
So, she was scared when her mother made the two of them sit down and told them her plans to leave their father.
"Your father..." , she paused before continuing, "your father is starting to hurt me."
No words is needed to say for Helen understood. She could only hug her sister as their mother continues to explain. When Helen looked down to her, the younger girl doesn't seem to look confused or anything at all. She thought that maybe she was just young and doesn't understand it yet.
However, she was proven wrong for later night, Hillary came to her room and asked.
"What will happen to us?"
She asked this as tears falls from her eyes and her trembling hands hold on to her stuff toy tightly. She was scared, Helen realized and she doesn't know the answer to calm her younger sister.
She could only bring her in to her arms and gently wipe her tears away. She looked straight into her eyes and said.
"i don't know to be honest... But" She hooked her pinky finger to Hillary's own pinky finger and smiled at her.
"No matter what happens, we'll always be together."
Under the cold night, she made that promise.
But fate seemed to have other plans for on the next week, her damn bastard of a father run off, taking a crying Hillary with him.
Upon hearing those news, she dropped whatever she was doing at that time and run to her home where she found her mother bruised and dazed. Helen remembered sobbing and begging on what have happened but her poor mother could only answer an incoherent "I didn't know."
And she guessed that was it.
They heal, they rebuild, and continue living.
Her mother did try pressing charges against her father but it was unsuccessful. No one was able to contact him or saw him at least. It was like him and Hillary disappeared like a wind. Just never to be seen again.
Helen still hold on to the hope of seeing her though and she would spent countless days hoping for her safe return.
She just hope
Just hope
And hope
Until she reaches the age of late teen hood and realized Hillary isn't coming back.
It was a terrible realization for her and it took her awhile before finally accepting it.
Thus, she would say that she used to have a younger sister named Hillary Willow, and that she moved on from her.
Within a span of 10 years, she met and married Clinton Oakley, a wonderful farmer full of dedication and hard work. Together, they bought a spacious land where they built a cozy cottage and their farm. They have built themselves a simple but beautiful life there, and Helen Oakley couldn't ask for more.
Now, here she is, in the hospital, looking down at her firstborn after a year of restless nights and endless worries. Looking at her son, who is so small and vulnerable, reminded her of Hillary.
Hillary who she described to be a bundle of joy.
A girl who soaks in the attention she was given.
A girl crying for she is scared of what will happen to their family.
A girl she swore to be with always yet failed to fulfill it.
Her son reminded her of Hillary Willow and Helen swore that this time she will be there for him.
But fate has other plans as there was a knock on the door.
Her mother who sat beside her asked her husband if he was expecting any guest today and he shooked his head. He stood up and say that it might be a midwife checking on them. Clinton was wrong though for the moment he opened a door, a man entered with 2 guards.
The man was old with wrinkles and stood with a stiff posture. He dusted maroon robes before introducing himself as Clark Dashing, a member of an unfamiliar organization called Association of Fairytale Archiving and Recording. He stated that he is here for a private matter and nothing else.
The room went tense as he sat down and said that he will start explaining.
First of all, he said that Hillary Match, not Willow, have passed away, freezed to death at the front of her own house.
She chocked at what she heard, not sure if what he said is right. To just find out that your missing sister is just gone? Passed away without her other family knowing?
Mr. Dashing, on the other hand, continued to talk, not sparing a moment for them to process such information. He only stopped when asked if he was only here to share the last will and testament. He scoffed and said that this is more than what ever they were thinking.
He said that her father was born from a disgraced line of the the Match family. Somewhere deep within her, Helen could feel it becoming more uncomfortable as the nature of her hidden ancestry is revealed.
The Match family is a noble family who is the descendant of the Little Match Girl, one of the lesser known fairytale that she heard as a child. Due to the nature of the fixed destiny of dying, the Match Family are considered to be a endangered, meaning the fairytale is on the verge of disappearing.
"Your father." Dashing paused before continuing. " Must have known this and may have used it as an advantage. He gave his daughter Hillary to the main branch in exchange of money. He disappeared after receiving the cash though but we tracked him down after the death of ms. Hillary, for we thought that if he has anymore offsprings to fit in the role of the Little Match Girl. He doesn't have at the moment, however, he did point us to you, mrs, Oakley. "
Instead of looking at her, the man looked at the bundle she was holding. She now knows on why they're here.
"You're here for my son then."
"Yes, since Ms. Hillary wasn't able to conceive a child, you're our only option left. The preservation of the fairytale is our top priority."
"Is it more important than the life of child then?"
"Visiting you says it all."
Then everything went into a daze. Helen doesn't know what happened next.
Her husband was held down by the security guards, screaming about the inhumanity of their actions and other profanities.
Mr. Dashing held his bruised face before walking off.
Her mother blocked the doorway, refusing to let anyone to leave.
Helen could only sit at the bed looking down on her first born.
Crying at the loud screams he hears.
Unaware that he will live a short life.
So, she could only cry too.
Cry for the sister she lost.
Cry for her child
And cry for the doomed fate of her future family.