The Greedy Frog
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Marvel: Chapter 102
🕑 Added 2023-03-24 10:18:46 +0000 UTCChapter 102: Deaths
[1985]
[[Marcellus Hanley]]
Human life is a lot more fragile than we think. A person laughing a day prior might be resting in his grave the following day.
But something that is even more fragile than life— is a heart.
Humans tend to love and trust people easily, and us being the creatures of sin… cannot help but break that trust. We betray, we lie, we cheat… we break hearts.
But that fragile heart takes the worst hit when someone close to them passes away.
I felt my heart breaking into a million pieces looking at the woman resting on the bed. Her breathing was slow and pained with a complexion that seemed sickly.
She was old with wrinkles covering her once beautiful face. But despite that, for me she was still the most beautiful woman I had ever known.
From both her heart and soul— she is beautiful.
She is my mother.
Her smile that despite knowing she was on her deathbed— didn't leave her face.
"Why the sad look?" She asked. "We both knew this day was coming."
For the first time since coming here, I felt my heart bleeding.
"How is Magnus?"
Keeping her hand in mine, I showed her a smile.
"He is outside. He said that he needs some time alone."
He had spent the entire night taking care of her but at this moment, he knew that he wasn't strong enough to face her.
He was a lot more soft and kind than he seemed.
"Mother…" I squeezed her hand. "Please… please take the serum." I begged her but all I got from her was a smile.
"Marcellus, my son." She said softly. "After your father left, I promised to make you a person capable of withstanding the harshness of this world. I might not have been the best mother and maybe not even the best mentor, but I am glad that I have been here to see you rise on your own two feet— to see you become a man even greater than your father."
She gets out of breath fairly quickly and for the past few days… She had been able to breathe only with the help of oxygen masks.
"I have been with you even before you knew what anything meant, even before you could walk or talk. I have seen you grow up from a boy that would cry whenever a thunderstorm stroke to a man who is looked up to by countless." She smiled. "I have completed my responsibilities as a mother— I have achieved everything in my life, my son. And now… I want to be with your father."
All I ever wanted from her was to accept the immortality serum, but her love for my father is greater than I could ever comprehend. And I respect that…
"Marcel." She squeezed my hand. "You make me proud."
"Even though I lied to you all this time?"
She laughed. "You didn't lie, my son. You just kept a secret for a very long time." Tears didn't stop rolling down my cheeks. "But you told me the truth, that's all what matters."
"Without you… I might have lost my path a long time ago."
That was the truth. I kept myself in check mostly because of my mother.
She smiled. "I want to see Peggy and Magnus."
Both of us knew that she didn't have much time on her. I gave her a nod. "I will call them."
Going out, I informed Peggy and Magnus who rushed to see my mother while I sat outside. Today was the last day I had with my mother.
I checked her life force, in a few hours… She will be gone.
Forever.
Nine years ago I announced to the world the birth of my second son 'Markus' and thus even if I die, I will still be alive as Markus.
But my mother didn't want the same for her. If she dies… She is gone— forever.
.
.
.
And she was gone.
…
…
[A Next Night]
The world was in mourning.
People sobbed on the streets as the news of Sylvie Hanley's passing was made public.
Everyone was devastated by the news as people hold Sylvie in an even higher regard than Marcellus. And her death made the entire world weep.
If it was a normal event, Marcel would have used it to reap benefits— but he was in no mind to think of anything other than his lost mother.
He sat on his roof— staring at the city with Peggy sitting next to him. She didn't take the immortality serum either but had taken a serum to maintain her youthful appearance. She couldn't bring herself to look old in front of her forever-young husband.
"You will be cold if you stay here." She said, trying to get her husband to go inside the house. "Magnus said that he will leave for Indonesia once everything is settled in here."
"He had grown." He said, still staring at the beautiful view.
"Well, he takes after the both of us." Peggy smiled but Marcel gave her a dejected look.
"Will you still not reconsider your decision?" He asked and all he got as an answer was a soft smile. "I see…"
"You have Magnus, Marcel." She said. "I don't think that I can handle the burden of immortality. But as I said, you will not be alone— you will have Magnus beside you."
"But I will not have you…"
She leaned on his shoulder.
"When we were about to get married, I asked you… if you were sure about your decision. And I warned you that I am selfish— more than you could imagine. And you still accepted me." She smiled. "So, you know that this is one of my selfish requests from you."
Marcel remembered the promises he made, and he had already known how they would affect his life. Yet he decided to follow them despite knowing full well that they will haunt him later.
"And do you remember my second selfish request?"
Her question made Marcel look at her quizzically.
Looking at his confused face, she shook her head.
"I am selfish… I made you promise to never look at another woman." She hugged him. "Not as long as I am alive."
Yeah… She did make him promise that.
But he didn't require any other women, she was enough.
Peggy laughed. "I know what you are thinking, but immortality is an awfully long time. And you will need someone to be with you during that time."
"I—"
"Shuush!" She put a finger over his lips. "Just relax for now. You are shouldering enough of a burden right now."
She smiled. "So, for now… relax and let me take care of you."
That night, they enjoyed each other's company— reminiscing all the memories that they had together.
.
.
.
And ten years from then, Peggy left him.
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