Mystia

Chapter 8: Motherly Love

Chapter 8: Motherly Love
Nerine would go back to the dark forest to visit her mothers grave once in a while. It always made Nerine so sad but she didn't want her mother to be alone there. Nerine often would sit by her grave and sing the songs her mother once sang to her when she was a little girl. She would also tell her mother about how her life was going. Nerine sensed that her mother was probably looking down above at her. Nerine still felt guilty for what happened but she knew her mother wouldn't have blamed her for what happened. If anything Doris would blame her husband Nereus for not being the one to go after Nerine. Even then Nerine still felt a weight of guilt on her shoulders. One day, as Nerine visited her mother's grave, she couldn't help but think back on all the memories they shared together. She remembered how her mother would brush her hair and sing her lullabies until she fell asleep. She even remembered the way her mother would hold her when she needed comfort, how her mother's embrace would make everything okay. As Nerine sat there, tears streaming down her face, she felt a sense of emptiness without her mother around. She wished that her mother was still here, that she could feel her mother's arms around her just one more time. She missed the warmth and safety her mother provided for her.  But as she thought about it more, she realized that the love her mother had for her was still present in her life. She had friends who cared for her, who were there for her when she needed it. Mylah, the queen fairy, had taken her in as her own and provided her with a home and a family. Even Norman, who she initially didn't get along with, had started to show her kindness and acceptance.
Nerine realized that motherly love doesn't always have to come from one person. It can come from anyone who cares for you, who supports you, who makes you feel loved and safe. And even though her mother was no longer physically with her, her spirit and her love lived on in Nerine's heart. As she stood up from the grave to head back to the castle, Nerine felt a sense of gratitude for the people in her life who had become like family to her. She knew she still had a lot to learn and a lot of growing to do, but she also knew that with the help of her newfound family, she could face any challenge that came her way. And as she walked back to the castle, she couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment knowing that she was loved and cared for.
As Nerine entered the castle, she was greeted by Mylah who had just returned from a meeting. Mylah noticed the sadness on Nerine's face and immediately knew what was on her mind. "It's okay to miss your mother, Nerine. She will always be with you in your heart," Mylah said comforting her. Nerine nodded, grateful for Mylah's understanding. "Thank you, Mylah. I know she's with me in spirit, but I just wish she was still here with me," Nerine said as she wiped away her tears. "I understand. But you know what? I think your mother would be proud of the person you've become and the family you've built here," Mylah said with a smile. Nerine smiled back, feeling a sense of warmth from Mylah's words. "Thank you, Mylah. I hope you're right," Nerine said. "I am," Mylah said confidently. "Now, let's go make some tea and we can sit and chat. I have some stories to share with you." Nerine's face lit up at the thought of spending time with Mylah. They spent the rest of the day sipping tea, sharing stories and laughing. Nerine felt grateful for the family she had found. As Nerine went to sleep that night, she knew that even though she missed her mother, she had found a new family who loved and cared for her just as much. She closed her eyes, feeling at peace, knowing that she wasn't alone and that she had a family to call her own. The next morning Nerine planned on spending time with Norman. They were really starting to get along quite well. Nerine made her way outside to the garden where she saw Norman tending to his flowers. She hesitated for a moment before approaching him, unsure what to say. Norman looked up and saw her and said softly, "Nerine, can we talk for a moment?" Nerine nodded and followed him to a bench in the garden. As they sat down, Nerine felt a sense of ease wash over her. "I just wanted to say that I relate to the pain you feel about losing your mom." Norman said, taking a deep breath. Nerine frowned but was glad he was finally opening up to her and they were becoming closer friends. "I understand how it feels to lose one you love. My wife died, I lost my kingdom, I lost my son." Norman said, looking down at his feet. Nerine could sense the sadness in his voice and wanted to cheer him up. "I'm very sorry you had to go though that but I'm glad that I have someone who understands how it feels. I'm always here if you want to talk about it." Said Nerine as she put a comforting hand on Norman's shoulder. "Thank you and I'll always be here for you." Norm said smiling, gratefully. They sat there in silence for a few moments, both lost in thought. Norman suddenly spoke up, "My wife was a nightmare. But I loved her. She was cold and distant and I never felt loved by her. But Mylah, she is the complete opposite. She is kind and caring and has always loved me as if I was her own." Nerine listened intently, sensing that Norman was opening up to her in a way he never had before. "But sometimes, I feel like maybe I don't love her in the way she loves me. That scared me because all I've ever wanted in life was love but everytime I either don't feel the same or they don't feel the same about me. I'm scared she will see through my facade and realize I am not the man she married. I don't want to lose her but maybe she's not the one for me." Norman said, his voice barely above a whisper. Nerine placed a hand on his shoulder, offering him comfort. "Norman, I understand that romantic love and being married seems very important but you shouldn't be with someone that you don't really feel love for. You should be honest about your feelings" Norman looked up at Nerine, "I know but I just don't want to hurt her." "Mylah is loving and understanding she'll forgive you. I mean she forgave you for killing her last husband." Nerine said. Norman laughed awkwardly. They both sat there for a while longer, lost in thought and conversation. Nerine realized in that moment that sometimes, the people who seemed distant or cold were simply trying to protect themselves from getting hurt or hurting others. It was a valuable lesson, one that she would carry with her into the future. As they parted ways, Nerine couldn't help but feel grateful for the unexpected conversation. She had a newfound respect for Norman and hoped that their relationship would continue to grow and strengthen over time. She also hoped that Norman could be honest to his wife about how he really feels.