GLIMMER AND DECAY [COMPLETED]

CHAPTER 17

I KEPT PASCAL'S LIFELESS body in the small box and hid it under my bed. I couldn't just throw him away, like how mother wanted.

My days went on as usual. But I wasn't that happy anymore. I think something died in me that day.

"Flower, come over here," mother called.

I was in the middle of doing the dishes when she came out of her room. Mother sat on the small couch in the living room. I noticed her thin arms as I watched her as she took out the brush she always uses for my hair.

Was she always this thin? Her hair seems to be turning grayer, too.

"Flower?" She called me again. I wonder why mother liked calling me by that nickname.

I must have been zoning out again. I dried my hands with my skirt and smiled as I went to her. "I'm sorry, mother. I was too immersed in cleaning the dishes."

"It's alright, dearie." Mother's voice was as gentle as Pascal's soft skin. She began brushing my hair, threading my long locks carefully.

I knew why she wanted to brush my hair, and so I started singing. I sang the lullaby in a painfully slow tune, as if I was grieving for something I have lost and could not bring back.

Mother must have noticed it, too. She called my name as if to stop me from singing, "Rapunzel. Cut that out."

I couldn't stop. The song reminded me of my dearest friend, and it was painful having to sing it again for someone else.

She's your mother. A voice in my head reminded me.

Mother hit my head with the brush to pull me back to my senses. It was painful, but nothing could beat the aching in my heart.

"I told you to stop. Why weren't you listening?" Mother seemed angry.

I turned to look at her. "Mother. . ." I was appalled to see her hair becoming white, and the bones in her arms were much more visible than earlier.

"Look what you did to your mother. Are you trying to kill me, flower?" Her voice came out like a low, rough tone.

Did I want to kill her? Was I trying to kill my own mother?

I shook my head. "I'm sorry, mother."

I know she wanted to hit me again with the way the anger seethed in her eyes, but she seemed to be very patient today. "Let's do it again, flower."

I felt sad knowing that my mother was hurt because of me, but the pain was still there. Still, I didn't want to kill her, I think.

I turned around again, allowing her to brush my hair again. I sang the song with all my heart, pushing the bitterness away.

"Good girl," she said. I should be happy knowing that she's happy. But why can't I?

Mother kissed my hair before she went back to her room. I stayed seated for a couple more minutes, taking my time to arrange myself. I went back to my chores afterwards.

"Rapunzel."

I turned my head to look at mother who was standing at the door of the kitchen. She seemed furious.

"Yes, mother?" I answered, eyes focusing back on the dishes.

I heard her click her tongue before she spoke again. "You've been washing the dishes for the last hour, and you're still not done?"

My hands paused, as if it was the only time I realized what I have been doing for the last hour.

"Look, dearie," she said. I felt her walking closer to me. "If it was about your little friend, I apologize." Mother stood behind me, her hands on my shoulders. "If he didn't barge in my room, I wouldn't have been scared by him."

Right. It was my fault I let Pascal roam around the tower. I should have kept him locked in my room when mother arrived.

"If I knew who that little thing was, I wouldn't have hit him. I'm sorry for getting scared of your little friend, my dear," Mother apologized.

I sighed inwardly. It was my fault I lost someone dear to me. I should have taken care of Pascal. I should have introduced him to mother. He'll be alive if it wasn't because of me.

"I'm sorry, mother." The sob I was trying to bury erupted from my lips. I started crying in front of her. The sadness just kicked in and I couldn't hold myself anymore.

I felt mother's arms around me, pulling me close to her. "It was my fault he died. I'm sorry, Pascal, I'm sorry," I cried my eyes out on her arms.

And even after running out of tears, the pain still stuck on my heart like a sore thumb.

Mother allowed me to spend the day in my room. I wrapped myself with my blanket as I continued to cry my heart out. The heavy feeling on my chest was still there, but being allowed to cry in my room was enough for me.

I soon fell asleep and I'm glad that Pascal visited me in my dreams.

It was nighttime when I opened my eyes. I didn't have the energy to wake up, but the feeling of someone pressing on my chest woke me up.

My eyes widened and I almost screamed when I saw Pascal sitting on my chest. He looked the same, except there was that bandage stuck around his head.

"Pascal? You're alive!" I exclaimed as I scooped him off my chest. I abruptly sat down and gave my dearest friend a hug.

Pascal didn't squeak, nor did he make any sound, but he moved and pressed his head on my cheek. He probably lost his tongue when mother hit him, but that's okay.

That's okay.

It's okay even if he can't speak anymore. The most important thing was that he's back. I won't let him leave me anymore. I'll keep him locked in my room, so he won't get hurt again.

"I'll take extra care of you from now on, my dearest friend," I promised as I kissed his head.

The next day was different. Mother was surprised to see me smiling again, but I didn't let her know about Pascal.

"Thank you, mother," I said as I hugged her.

Mother just gave me a pat on the head. "Good thing you're not crying over your little friend anymore. It saddens me to see you in despair, my dear."

I only smiled at her. I silently made a vow to myself as we shared the breakfast I made.

I won't let you see Pascal again. I won't let you hurt him again, mother.

THIRD P.O.V.

RAPUNZEL SLIPPED IN HER bed after changing to her sleepwear. Her mother was fast asleep, and she just finished with her chores. She was a little tired from all the things she did today, but despite that, Rapunzel still felt happy.

She pulled her pillow close to her.

"Did you miss me, Pascal?" She whispered. Rapunzel let out a giggle as she looked at her little friend. "I missed you, too. I'm sorry I couldn't bring you outside. Mother was around today, and I couldn't let her see you again."

Rapunzel shared more about her day to her little friend, a way for her to pass time. "Did you know? I also decided to bring up going outside once I turn 18. We'll go outside once I'm 18, Pascal."

She yawned as she felt sleepy.

"Let's sleep now, Pascal. We have a long day tomorrow," she whispered softly. Rapunzel smiled as she kissed Pascal's head. It was still covered in bandages. "Goodnight to you, too."

She slowly drifted off to sleep as she hugged the pillow where Pascal's dead body was resting. And Rapunzel dreamt of them playing outside the forest again.