Summer break was finally upon me. I packed my things from my dorm room and found that I had many presents from Garett. I packed them all anyways and returned home with mixed feelings.
At the gate, I saw my beautiful mother alive and healthy-looking waiting outside with a Maid who held a parasol over her head. She had an oddly stiff expression while wearing a frilly peach colored dress.
"Greetings, Mother," I said as I formally greeted her with a curtsy.
"Greetings, Arielle," she said as she returned my greeting.
My mother and I had gotten close in our first lives because of her illness. Without the illness, we never really had any chance to talk to one another.
I know that she actually loves me a lot under her cold demure from our first lives, but I am unsure if she feels the same way now.
"I am glad that you look well," I said with a smile on my face.
"...Arielle, there seems to be a leaf on your neck," Mother said as she approached me.
"A leaf? Where?" I asked as I turned my head.
"I will get it for you," Mother said as she wrapped her arms around me and brought me into a hug.
I felt all warm inside.
"Mother?"
"Welcome home, Arielle," Mother said in a quiet voice.
I did not even need to ask whether or not she still loved me. She had always loved me from the very start...as awkward as she was at showing affection.
"I am home," I said as I hugged her back.
I missed her so much after her death and now she is back in my arms.
I am so happy to see her again.
"Let's go see your father," Mother said as she pulled me along by my hand.
She moves without skipping a beat when she is not ill...
I was soon alone and face to face with my father after my mother left the room.
Father opened up his arms wide with a stern face.
If I follow the pattern with my mother, he should be asking for a hug. If not, what could this action represent?
A stretch? Practice for being a conductor? Dear God...What if he wants to wrestle with me? Will I even be able to take him?
In the end, I decided to mimic Father by opening up my arms just like him.
He silently walked over to me and enclosed me in his embrace.
"Welcome home, Arielle," Father said as he warmly rubbed my head.
I closed my arms around him and rested my head against his chest.
"I am home, Father..."
All of this happiness should not belong to me but the person who made it all happen...
"You have been in the carriage for quite some time. Go rest in your room for now," Father said after he released me from a long hug.
"Yes, Father," I replied with a smile.
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