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“I remember the night and the Tennessee Waltz,” she sang, picking up her son, humming the song she had heard in her childhood, since her grandparents were American, and had been singing ever since she got married. Rei grabbed his small and chubby hand and smiled, pretending to slow dance with her son. Shoto smiled, making babbling noises and repeating the only word he knew… ‘mama.’ Obviously enjoying semi dancing with his mom, even if he was stuck to her hip, a protective arm underneath Shoto, supporting him. “Now I know just how much I have lost,”
Rei looked sympathetically at her son, trying not to be too loud or to raise her voice at her son. It scared him and put him into a state of panic. She felt so strongly towards her youngest son because of his split hair and eyes; she thought she needed to protect him with every fiber of her being. She knew what Enji was capable of, and Shoto was so young and innocent, his smile wide and bright and giggles contagious.
As she spun, the grass tickled her feet, and she stepped on the beautiful weeds, golden dandelions. The garden was wilting, and the flowers were falling over much to her efforts of taking care of them. But she kept dancing, swaying her son as she hummed, and he leaned on her chest, his eyes bright and wide as he stared up at her. His hands were hung loosely around her neck, pulling at her necklace. And at that moment, she had never been happier. All her worries were gone away as she listened to Shoto trying to hum along to a song he did not know — babbling and trying to imitate Rei.
Those beautiful eyes, only one was resembling her own. Nonetheless, she loved looking into those beautiful orbs. Their innocence was gone, but Shoto’s eyes were full of hope and love for the world. They were gorgeous and wonderfully big, filled with light and filled with happiness, nonetheless the circumstances. They held so, so much light. She could not help but smile.
And in these few minutes dancing with her son, humming, listening to the giggles and laughs of her children playing in the courtyard, free from their father just for a few hours. In those few hours, they would get the chance to be children. Laughing, smiling and playing. And Rei would have the opportunity to be a mother — just for a little while.
The wind picked up speed, and it ran through her hair, hitting Shoto directly in his face. Rei laughed, brushed a finger over Shoto’s cheek and down to his chin. Shoto was confused by the action but grabbed her arm with his chubby fingers and rested his head in her hand, enjoying the coolness of her skin; he spoke in a high-pitched tone: “…mama?”. The wind continued the beautiful low hum as Rei teared up, her eyes becoming lidded and glossy as Shoto snuggled into her chest.
“Yes, I lost my little darlin’ the night they were playing,” she took a deep inhale and looked up into the sky, smiling. “The beautiful Tennessee Waltz.”
She so desperately hoped her son had an ice quirk.