EPISODE HUNDRED AND NINE
THEME: Parenting
MOON STONE FORTRESS
Meagan stared blankly into space as she sat at the edge of the bed without moving. Gabriella exchanged a pitiful stare with Mrs Swift. The both of them stared at Meagan with a worried look etched on their faces. Meagan has been quiet since she returned from Jaylen’s makeshift room and watched him leave.
Gabriella heaved sorrowfully, truly she had envisioned something going wrong. However, she seem to have predicted just a bit of the trouble they would be in. Losing her son and having her grandson swear to never return home is the most heart wrenching situation she had ever been in. But she could stand the pain compared to that of Meagan.
The Moon Goddess wasn’t so sympathetic towards Meagan. It was almost like she was paying for a sin she had committed in the past.
“Say something Meagan, please.” Mrs Swift cajoled. Her heart went out to her daughter, wishing she could take in Meagan’s pain.
“Meagan, you know we are here for you. Your silence would only make things worse, you can’t keep doing this to yourself.” Gabriella added.
Meagan hadn’t eaten anything not even water. All she had done was stay quiet with a blank look on her face. Soon Meagan sniffed and readjusted her sitting position. Her whole life played out in front of her and she wished things had been different. She almost wished she had never met Carl, or him not necessarily being an Alpha. Flashes of the day she had birthed the twins came to mind. If only she had birthed just one son, then there wouldn’t have been any problems. So much if only kept running through her mind.
Probably things would have been different if they hadn’t been so attentive towards Jayden. She hadn’t been sincere with the affection herself and what Carl had shown towards the twins. Jaylen had always been the more reserved and seem like he could handle himself. However, Jayden had always been so restless which made them pay him more attention.
The moment they clocked one, Jayden was the first of the twin to take his first step and that meant him getting a whole lot of trouble. He had almost drowned in the lake while they were outdoor. It had scared Meagan so much all her attention had been so fixed on Jayden. She thought one of her children would be dead that day. Jaylen had been the one who saved him, his little finger pointing towards the lake had made everyone aware of the bubbles in the water.
Jaylen was more of a protector than Jayden. Her mind recalled the first time they had, had their fatal fight. When Jaylen had come to her to report his brother, she had told him to rest on the matter and just ignore Jayden when she should have rebuked him for bullying his brother.
She and Carl had refused to teach Jayden that; You can’t always get all that you want out of life all the time and that’s just fine.
Throwing her head back Meagan sniffed as the tears fell off her face. Finally after twenty five years, she has admitted it to herself how awful her parenting was.
Mrs Swift heaved as she pat Meagan’s hands. “Don’t be so hard on your yourself baby. Please.”
Meagan lifted her head, fixing her gaze at her mother. “It’s all my fault mom. Jayden would have been a better version of himself, if we didn’t edge him on.”
Gabriella sat next to her. “There is no one with the best parenting skills. As a person we have all faulted at one point or the other in raising our children.”
“This is different, Gabriella.” Meagan argued. “There were two identical kids with different personalities, so what I should have done as a mother was make them embrace their strengths and weaknesses. I feel shattered that my sons hate each other. And over what? A mere Alpha position. This is all my fault.” She wailed.
Silence reigned in the whole room, the only sound being heard was Meagan’s cries and sniffs. A knock was heard on the door, Gabriella answered an order for whoever was out there to come in and it ushered in Hazel and Brianna.
“Hey.” They both whispered gently.
“Come sit with her.” Mrs Swift offered. “Myself and Gabriella would head downstairs for something to eat.”
Brianna was the first to speak after the older women left. “You need to freshen up, Meagan.”
Hazel glared at her in surprise. “Is that it?”
Brianna shrugged. “That’s what she need right now. And you ma’am would listen to me.” Not giving Meagan a chance to argue, she dragged her out of the bed towards the bathroom. They were back out after a long fifteen minutes.
“I was just about to check on you both.” Hazel said with her eyes lingering on Meagan. She spread out her arms wide. “You look a bit better now. Come here.”
Meagan didn’t argue. She walked into her friend’s embrace letting out all of the tears she had kept in store.
“There, there.” Brianna pat her back. “You have held it in for too long, let it out baby.”
“It’s all my fault. This situation wouldn’t be this messy. I failed as a mother.” Meagan lamented.
“No, you didn’t fail as a mother, Meagan. Fate is the one at fault here for messing with such a sweet soul as yours.” Hazel consoled with tears laced in her eyes too.
The three of them held onto each other, immersing their thoughts into consoling each other. Meagan sighed into their embraces as it felt like bliss being in their midst. She needed the affection so much, it felt like it was far out of her reach. It reminded her of how Carl would have held onto her in the face of any problem and they would have conquered it together. The thought of her husband being far away from her and out of reach made her tears mount.
Brianna rubbed at her arm and kissed her forehead. “I want to promise you, Meagan. Myself and Hazel would always be by your side till the very end. Don’t forget we are here for you. Till the end of time.” Brianna promised.
“She is right Meagan. We would always be here for you.” Hazel added.
“I love you both so much.” Meagan said.
“We love you more.” Hazel and Brianna replied in unison.
“Thank you very much.” Meagan sniffed with a small smile grading her lips.
“Good girl, now that’s better. We should get you something to eat now.” Brianna said, causing Hazel and Meagan to laugh lightly. Brianna was no different from a caregiver.