"Don't cry, my Lexie." Said the man as he wiped away her tears and pinched her cheek.
Alexa looked up at the handsome face hugging her. Warmth. That's what she felt. She couldn't hide her sadness this time. Even though she was mostly happy, Alexa was still sad because she was afraid of losing the brother who always looked after her.
Alexa is afraid that her relationship with the man is growing more distant than it used to be. Alexa is afraid of losing her closeness with him. The man she always contacted when she had problems, now Alexa doesn't know who to contact. Alexa doesn't know who can accept her spoiled nature. Alexa knows that when the man decided to get married, it meant he had to put himself first. The man's priorities have changed. His role has grown, becoming a husband and perhaps soon a father. The man now has his new family. His focus is there. Alexa is not part of it.
The sadness Alexa feels doesn't mean that she is not happy to see the man get married. What Alexa feels is valid. Sadness and happiness can coexist. Alexa can be very loving and happy for him, but still feel sad because she has lost a small part of their memories.
Between sobs, Alexa hugged Steven again. Alexa considered Steven like her own brother.
Flashback
When she saw Sterling's name on the invitation, Alexa's body suddenly stiffened and felt very cold. Sean's words filled her head at that moment. "I'll marry her as soon as possible."
Alexa's mind wandered at that moment, this letter must be Sean and Liora's wedding invitation. Her hands trembled as she mustered the courage to open the invitation. She felt relieved when she saw that the name on the invitation was not Ocean Sterling but Steven Sterling.
Steven Sterling is the son of James Sterling and Sarah Sterling. Steven is the nephew of Nathalia and Alaric. Nathalia was very sad to see Steven become more quiet after his 9th birthday. Steven, who was still a child at the time, had to accept the bitter reality that his parents would not be with him in his future life and achievements. His world was no longer colorful. The departure of his parents left a wound that would never heal. A wound that could never be healed.
People always say that something lost will be replaced with something more beautiful. But what could be more beautiful than parents? Nothing. In reality, no matter how wonderful the people around him were, Steven still needed his parents. After his parents passed away, Nathalia and Alaric took care of Steven as if he were their first child. Nathalia already considered Steven as her first child. The first baby to bond with Nathalia. Nathalia would even give her life for Steven. Nathalia loves him very much.
Twenty years ago
Nathalia was sitting on a checkered mat in the middle of a green lawn, under the shade of trees. She smiled softly, finding her nephew lying on her lap. Her fingers moved slowly, gently stroking the child's hair. Not far away, laughter could be heard echoing. Her son was running across the grass, his shouts mingling with the sound of his father chasing after him.
"Yay, Mommy and Daddy are coming home," said Steven, looking at Nathalia's beautiful face, the happiness clearly visible on his face. Nathalia, feeling affectionate, pinched his cheek. Steven had been staying at her mansion for a week. His parents were on a business trip. They were supposed to come home in four days, but since it was Steven's birthday tomorrow, they decided to come home early. They were going to surprise their son.
That afternoon, the sky looked gray, as if it too sensed the bad feeling that had been hanging over Nathalia. The sound of Alaric's cell phone caught her attention, there was a call from an unknown number. Nathalia picked up the phone and heard a voice on the other end.
"We are deeply sorry to report that the private jet belonging to the Sterling family, carrying Mr. James Sterling and Mrs. Sarah Sterling, crashed while attempting to land." Nathalia's body froze, as if refusing to accept the fact she had just heard. Her breath caught in her throat. From a distance, Alaric, noticing his wife's distress, walked over. Alaric took her phone, and Nathalia looked at him as if asking for confirmation that they were safe, but he only shook his head. Seeing this, Nathalia burst into tears.
"Steven, from now on, call me mommy, okay? Mommy will do anything to make Steven happy. Mommy would even give up her life for your happiness." With tears in her eyes, Nathalia hugged the small body that no longer had a world to live in. Seeing Nathalia cry, Steven cried too.
He didn't really understand what loss was yet, but Steven could already feel the emptiness in his heart and he knew that some things had changed. There was no more food made by his mother, no more father taking him to school. No more playing with his parents. No more sleeping with his parents. No more father's mischief that always annoyed him. No more mother who would always defend him.
As the years passed, the loss became more and more painful. Slowly, Steven began to forget the voices of his parents. But the emptiness in his heart was somewhat eased by the presence of Mommy Nathalia and Daddy Alaric. He found parental figures in both of them. Steven was very grateful for Nathalia and Alaric, who loved him dearly.
After that incident, Steven's presence brought positive changes to Alaric. Alaric began to change his lifestyle to a healthier one. He quit smoking, got enough sleep, maintained a healthy diet, exercised, and stopped drinking alcohol. He couldn't be sure how long he would live, but one thing was certain, Alaric wanted to live a long life. Alaric realized that a child doesn't need parents who are willing to sacrifice their lives or die for their child. All children need parents who are healthy and live long lives. Though death is a mystery that cannot be predicted, at least he had tried to live a better life.
***
A hand is holding a cup of coffee, Alexa is on her balcony. Offering a view of the city lights. It looks beautiful. The lights complement the darkness of the night. Neither one stands out or is sacrificed, instead they both seem to blend together perfectly. The lights complement the darkness perfectly. The moon looks very beautiful tonight.
"Do you prefer the sun or the moon?" Becca followed Alexa's gaze, which was now fixed on the moon.
"What about you?" Alexa asked back, her gaze still fixed on the moon.
"The sun," said Becca.
"Why?" Alexa's question caught Becca's attention. She looked at Alexa.
"The sun provides warmth and is a source of life. It's a source of vitamin D for our bones. Its light allows us to see the earth clearly. That's why I prefer the sun. Do you prefer the sun or the moon?" said Becca.
"What you explained earlier is indeed correct. The sun is a turning point because after darkness there will be bright light. However, not everyone can enjoy the sun, for example, people who are sensitive to sunlight. This sensitivity can be caused by immune system disorders such as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, genetic disorders such as Xeroderma Pigmentosum and Albinism, metabolic or enzyme disorders such as Porphyria, allergies or skin reactions to sunlight such as Polymorphic Light Eruption, and for people with skin conditions that are prone to inflammation such as Rosacea. People with this disease must protect themselves from the sun, which we consider warm. Not for them. In my opinion, the moon appears as a light in the darkness. Its light is calming and beautiful. The transition from day to night is like the cycle of life, where everything has its own phase and time. The existence of the sun and the moon shows us that there is a bigger picture out there. Where we are just a small dot among all of His creations. When we know that the sun and the moon have their own functions. Shouldn't that not be an option? Because we can't live with just one of them. We need both." explained Alexa, who was currently sipping her coffee.
" OH MY GOD. I never thought of it that way. It's true that both go hand in hand, complementing each other every day. They have their own meaning." Hearing Alexa's explanation made Becca a little more grateful that she could still enjoy both. She couldn't imagine if she had one of the diseases Alexa mentioned earlier. Also, Becca couldn't imagine if the moon didn't exist the night would feel emptier, like darkness without a soul.