ALONA_

The silhouette took the form of a familiar being. I could make out the angular features of his face, his shining blue glacier eyes; which seemed ice cold at a glance, as if they knew no warmth and never shared love. But I knew better. The hottest fire always burns blue. His delicate light blond hair was unruly and fell over his brow, skin so pale it rendered his stark against the dreary morn.

He stared at mom for a moment too long and I heard him utter.

"Norah!"

Even though I had heard Rhiam's voice a thousand times before when I saw his memories, his voice still managed to astound me. His voice was like nothing I had heard before. It was low and deep. The baritone of his voice reverberated through my skin. When he took my mother's name it seemed as if he was uttering a sea of unspoken emotions.

It brought tears to my eyes.

So did to my mother's. She looked like a motionless piece of ragged doll, unable to do anything but sob from where she stood. Her hands over her mouth, shock...and something else written all over her face. I had never seen anyone wear such an expression.

His eyes rested upon her for an instant and then he took a playful sigh. "Are you gonna keep on crying the whole time, not exactly how I remembered you," A small smile played on his lips.

In a swift movement she jumped at him and when I thought they were finally going to hug each other and reconcile ...Well, that was not what my mom had in mind I suppose; she slapped him. Hard. When I say hard, I mean, like really really hard. Like a slap that makes a sound as loud as a clap and one that leaves a red welt behind. Oh, and you stop to see black dots covering your vision for a while. Yeah! That kind of slap.

No wonder I pitied the man at that moment.

"You arrogant little selfish brat!" Mom yelled at the top of her lungs, "Just 'cause you couldn't accept the fact that I might have been in love with another guy you decided to stealthily take off leaving everything behind. Believing you are doing me a favor by sacrificing yourself! For what? Had you ever stopped to ask what I wanted? If I wanted this life for myself or not? This was my life Rhiam. I had every right to it. And you dared to take my choices away from me. Who are you to interfere in my life? Who gave you the right?" Mom just burst. She was this emotional volcano who didn't show any signs of cooling down.

Rhiam looked more than surprised for a second, then he smiled a sad smile and said in a hushed tone, "I am sorry." I heard Rhiam's small voice of regret. His shoulders were slumped and his eyes were casted down in a mournful gaze. His mouth was set in a semi-pout as he voiced the words she was dying to hear, "It was because I love you."

Her eyes shifted to the side and became glazed with another glassy layer of tears. As she blinked, they dripped from her eyelids and slid down her cheeks. She bit her lip tightly in an attempt to hide any sound that wanted to escape from her mouth; Her lower lip quivered as words slowly made their way out of her mouth. "I..." She began, yet what followed was engulfed in the tremors, "I love you too idiot."

He leaned in, so his forehead rested against her. Then he closed his eyes. "You really mean that?" he said in barely more than a whisper.

She merely nodded her head as she was certain she would burst into another feat of hystarics if she were to speak anymore. Rhiam looked into her eyes, his blond lashes brimmed heavy with tears. But he refused to look away as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close, gently rubbing her arms. She sunk into the warmth of his side, appreciative of the simple gesture. Yet I could tell that it meant so much to her.

"Thank you Rhiam." I heard her mutter, "For all this love...All this love you have for me. So much so that I don't know anymore where to put it all."

His lips just played one silent smile as he kissed her, softly, beautifully. It was the most alluring yet the most innocent kiss of all.

She pulled away slowly and said, "Take me with you Rhiam. I can't bare to be separated from you any longer. Please!" Her tone was a desperate plea.

Rhiam finally took his eyes off her to look at me. His gaze was soft yet kind of piercing. He did not speak but I knew what he wanted to convey.

"It's okay Rhiam. All I want is for mom to be happy. Now that I know that her heart belongs with you, you guys needn't worry about me or dad." Then I looked at mom through my tears and smiled at her, "I just want to see you smile once mom, before you leave with your beloved."

She slowly walked to me and enveloped me into her frail arms and I was safe again; all my worries disappeared like rain on summer earth. In that embrace I was cocooned better than any butterfly-to-be. I felt her soft skin and the gentle squeeze of her arms. I bathed in her warmth and the smell of freshly laundered clothes as she spoke, "Looney. I love you, so much!"

I blinked my tears away and said, "I know. I do too. I love you mom; and I wish you all the happiness in the world." She smiled her sweet warm smile one last time as she took Rhiam's hand and walked away into the light.

Her body layed there on the floor, right before my eyes. But I knew she was gone for when she left she took away all the warmth in the room and that familiar whiff of her motherly smell no longer lingered in the air.

My mom had left for the other realm.

But I took solace in the knowledge that she was in a better place. And was finally happy.

******

~ CLOTHO'S SONG OF STARS ~

'There were two old souls since time unknown,

Before the sun was known or the moon stole light.

They were stars that fell from glittering skies

To find each other within the timeless binds.'

******

~THE END~