Chapter Text
“Ember, please, hold on! Help is on the way!”
“Mom, please, you can’t die, please…”
…
“Mom? Mom! Mom, no, no this can’t be happening!”
“Mom…?”
“DAD! Dad, mom, she’s-”
“EMBER!”
That was a year ago. Mom got sick after touching a toxic plant in Waterfall. She shouldn’t have been there in the first place, but she always thought it was beautiful… even though it could kill her.
That’s what ended up happening. One of the plants she was looking at had poisonous sap, and she picked it, and the stuff got on her. We all thought it was fine.
Three days later, she was dust. Dad and I sprinkled her through Waterfall, with the help of people who could go there. After all, it was one of the places she loved the most.
Dad… didn’t take her death very well. He didn’t leave the house for a week, but neither did I. We both almost cried ourselves to ashes then, but he was closer to actually getting there.
If I hadn’t helped him, I would have lost both parents in one week. But we got through it together. His friend, Gaster, helped too, but he couldn’t do much. He was busy as the Royal Scientist, and he had his own kids to take care of.
So, for the next year, it was just Dad and I, living together in our little house in Snowdin…
Until I moved to Hotland.
Well, I left.
Dad… he wasn’t dealing well with any of it. His temper grew short, and he was overprotective and stifling. I know it was because he didn’t want to lose me, too, but… I couldn’t stand it! He was always telling me what not to do, where I couldn’t go- he was trying to tell me who to be!
I started dating a girl from Hotland. Asha. Dad thought she was a bad influence, and he didn’t want me going through Waterfall to go see her. I tried to explain that she was fine, she was just different and I loved her for it, but he practically forbade me from seeing her.
I couldn’t stand it. I couldn’t stand him.
“Asha, what do I do? He won’t listen, he-” Asha interrupted me by kissing me on the cheek.
“Hey, Louise, listen. We can figure this out,” she said gently. “If you want, you can move in with me, my parents are never home, anyways.” I was doubtful.
“I can’t just leave, he…” I looked down. He’d be really upset, wouldn’t he?
“Hey, it’ll be okay, sweetie. It’s your decision, I can’t make it for you, and neither can your dad,” she reassured as she took my hand. “Just know you’re welcome with me.”
I remembered those words as Dad and I were having another fight. I’d had my bags packed for days, knowing that I had an out. He’d found them in my room and now we were arguing… again.
“Louise Brook Flamesman!” he shouted from the second floor. I was in the kitchen, doing homework. Dad didn’t have much of a voice most of the time, but boy could he yell.
“What?!” I shouted back. I didn’t have time for this shit.
“Come upstairs right this second, young lady!” Oh for fuck’s sake. What now? I walked upstairs, grumbling. He was in my room, and he looked furious. Crap.
“What, may I ask, is this??” he demanded, pointing to an open duffel bag on the floor, full of clothes and important stuff for, well, running away. Fuck. He’d found it, he knew.
“None of your business!” I retorted, stepping between it and him. “What were you doing snooping around my room, anyways?”
“It’s such a mess all the time I thought I’d clean up a bit, but I found a bag full of clothes, supplies, and almost all your belongings! What’s going on?” I floundered to come up with an excuse.
“Why should I tell you?” I spat. “Since when have you cared what I do, besides to boss me around?”
“It’s for your own good, Louise! I’m trying to protect you!” I could hear his voice break a bit. I knew he didn’t want to lose me, but…
“Well maybe I don’t want you to protect me anymore!”
With that, I grabbed my bag and ran out of the room, down the stairs, and out of the house. Once I was a good distance away, I stopped to close the bag, and got my bearings. I was at the western edge of the town- the riverperson! I’d ask them for a ride.
I called them over and got to Hotland. As I stepped off the boat, my phone rang. It was my dad. I hung up on him and walked to Asha’s house.
“Louise!” she exclaimed when she saw me at her door. “What are you doing here?” I put my bag down and hugged her.
“My dad and I had another fight, and… I’ve made up my mind. I’m going to stay with you.” Asha grinned, then ushered me inside.
“Well, it sucks that things didn’t work out with your dad, but at least we can be together here.” She leaned forward and kissed me lightly, blushing. I smiled. I didn’t regret anything at all.