((LATE BUT WHO GIVES A FUCK)) oh, that was a box he had. a simply decorated one, with a happy mother's day note on top. inside... inside were all the ribbons and trophies he'd earned during his years as a swimmer. all of the, but to have gotten these... huh. BEN faced something major for you this year.
She sighed slightly slipping out of the pool to do some testing with chlorine versus the lake’s natural self once again for the test didn’t seem to be enough for one attempt. No, she required more tests. There was a reason why she had chosen to be a Marine Biologist (who got ‘lucky’ of getting sent to a lake; not an ocean or sea.) and it wasn’t because she loved the animals (which she does) and wanted to save the ocean (which she also does) but it was a way of getting close to what took her son’s life. It was Howard but the water had betrayed him and allowed itself to be wrathful enough to drown him. The boy rejoiced every time he entered waters before his timely end.
Soaked like a wet dog and quickly began getting dried off for she had a surprise in her office. Once that was taken cared of she had marched to her lab,
“ Yes, yes, and yes. It’ll be taken care of but please let me have my break okay? I’ve worked seven hours straight. I need to eat as well.” Cecilia smiled sweetly up at her boss before closing the glass door and pulling the blinds shut. Sighing rather loudly (for as of late Cecilia has been sighing a lot more than usual.) Her worn out green eyes fixated onto a simple yet decorated box. It showed turtles and rather cute starfishes on it which was an odd pattern yet it was adorable. Delicate fingers danced upon its shaped before opening carefully quite afraid of hat could lurk inside such a lovely box. An animal was the first thought due to her love for creatures.
Yet, this gift was rather different. Breathtaking. A note. Mother’s Day...? “Huh, I forgot that I wasn’t really around for it... I guess he forgot too. It’s okay... Thank you- w...w-what?” Eyes widening when seeing the exact things that made her son once happy in his breathing life. Note gently placed aside while her free hand took the first trophy he had ever won as a swimmer. Second place.
“... I remember this one...”
“ Mom! Mom! Look- look! I did it!” The boy grinned as his mother had spun him around laughing loudly yelling how proud she was for him. Smooching his soft WARM cheek.
Nearly dropping it from sudden flashbacks she placed it on top of the note. Tears were already formed at first sight of those beautiful things BEN had slaved away to win. Next was a medal then two, then one, ribbons, and then more trophies that became from second to first place.
“Hey, mom, did you see that? I got first place! I was soooo fast. They were eating dust when I got done, huh?” Snickering as he talked with a side of light trash talking as Cecilia - or what was ONCE Cecilia smiled brightly yet the boy had failed to notice the first mark of their downfall. A bruise lightly covered with makeup.
Inhaling another breath Cecilia held the trophies and the note close to her trembling form weeping sliding down a wall. "I love you kid.” Laughing softly wondering how he had gotten things before realizing he had to enter that house that stayed still. She hasn’t been back there and her nightmares have actually decreased insanely. He went in that house. Her son. Who feared the same man that killed them the first time and might even do it again soon- perhaps. Ocean dressed as Cecilia’s tears became a tsunami.
“ I love you, I love you, I love you.” She began to repeat while sobbing onto everything she could hold onto. He did it all. He made her dark world bright. He brought happiness when Howard had struck. She failed him but she did everything she could have done to save Benjamin. But this wasn’t Benjamin. This was BEN. Her new and improved son that found his own happiness. He didn’t need her in his life but he chose to have her around and for that, she will do whatever it takes to keep him safe even if it meant leaving this world for another.
