She glanced at the clock and sighed. No time to think about it anymore or else she would be late. Pushing a strand of her hair behind her ear, Rei grabbed the white dove parasol umbrella and headed out the door.

Closing the gate behind her, she hesitantly took her first step. Rei opened the umbrella to shield her away from overwhelming sun. Everything was quiet and calm as she walked. Suddenly two small children happily zoomed passed the silent woman. She was startled for a moment and gripped the umbrella. Maybe she should head back home—

Their laughter. The children’s laughter echoed into her ears and it had been years since Rei heard such pure sounds. She thought it was forever lost from her memory. Slightly lifting the umbrella above her eyes, she caught their innocent legs fly away and the woman held a faint smile.

Her steps perked as she continued forward.

As she turned the corner, an old man stood outside his store. He carried a basket full of flowers and noticed the woman walking by. The old man waddled over and kindly gifted her with a blue hibiscus flower without saying a word. Rei was stunned by the lovely gesture that she didn’t have time to thank the man properly since he was gone.

The exquisite blossom in her hand called for her. She raised it to her nose and sniffed the sweet scent only Mother Earth could possess. Rei tucked it behind her left ear before peeking at the glass window to see her reflection again.

Something stirred inside her body.

It was a foreign, yet familiar feeling. A feeling that she thought had vanished many years ago. Through her silver locks, Rei realized she loved they way she looked. She loved the warm aura running through her veins as it made her feel…good.  

She felt lighter. Cheerful. Beautiful.  

A ghost smile appeared on her lips.

Rei welcomed the new surge of confidence electrifying her body. Her shoulders rolled back. Her steps were more poised, assertive and buoyant. She twirled the parasol umbrella and, unconsciously, started to tap her feet to a jolly rhythm.

A gentle laugh echoed into the air. Her playfulness was shining through the cracks.

She skipped.

She spun.

She felt alive.

Why did she ever allowed him to hide this from her? Why did she ever allowed him to hide her true self? Why did she ever allowed him to ruin her life?

Why?

No more, she decided.

After all those tears, all those painful years, it was now time for her to start over again. Rei never regretted taking that ring off and leaving him behind. She was breathing again. She was shining again and she was enjoying her new freedom again.

Freedom…

“Mom?”

Rei whipped around to face a very amused Shoto Todoroki.

“Shoto!” The embarrassed woman blurted out. Clutching the umbrella closer to her body, she shyly smiled at her son. “I didn’t see you there, sweetheart.”

“It’s okay,” he chuckled.

His heterochromia eyes glimmered with delight as he observed his mother’s new appearance. Despite being a successful hero, Shoto always scheduled weekly outings with his mom. He was never busy for her. He promised to be there for his mom, especially after his parents got divorced.

The nightmares were over. The dark days were a thing of the past and never to return. Rei made sure of this and Shoto supported her decision without hesitation. Staring at his mother, his hand clasped on her bicep and gave it a soft squeeze.

“You look…happy, mother,” he complimented and Rei’s gray eyes widen in astonishment. Seconds later, her shoulders relaxed. She closed the umbrella and looked at the young man with a tearful smile.

Hugging her son, she breathed out, “I know…”

That was all she ever wanted to feel once again.

~~~

This picture sums up how I feel right now: