Artist Comment:
February 8, 2022
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I have never felt so much joy and pain writing a bio. Although they probably won’t be mentioned again aside from a few illustrations, these characters are very special to me.
The couple you see above are the parents of Alba and Elliot- Pearla and Monty. I updated the GW Family tree several months back with them. If you take a look at it, you’ll unfortunately know they have passed away. They died when Alba and Elliot were quite young- Elliot had to be no more than 8 years old.
Below is some information about them if you want to see how they got together, their relationship with their kids, and eventually their passing.
WARNING! There will be distressing, upsetting content in the last section. I will mark it properly when it happens. It will contain the struggles of mental health, depression, and suicide . Please be weary when reading.
With all that out of the way, I hope you enjoy the story of Pearla and Monty.
February 8, 2022
-----------------
I have never felt so much joy and pain writing a bio. Although they probably won’t be mentioned again aside from a few illustrations, these characters are very special to me.
The couple you see above are the parents of Alba and Elliot- Pearla and Monty. I updated the GW Family tree several months back with them. If you take a look at it, you’ll unfortunately know they have passed away. They died when Alba and Elliot were quite young- Elliot had to be no more than 8 years old.
Below is some information about them if you want to see how they got together, their relationship with their kids, and eventually their passing.
WARNING! There will be distressing, upsetting content in the last section. I will mark it properly when it happens. It will contain the struggles of mental health, depression, and suicide . Please be weary when reading.
With all that out of the way, I hope you enjoy the story of Pearla and Monty.
Part 1
How Pearla and Monty first Met
We’ll start off with Pearla. Pearla grew up in a small beach cottage west of Kalmari Town- The Town of Klamar. Pearla’s childhood is one filled with bulling and teasing due to her appearance. She has vitiligo- which results in loss of skin color throughout her body, as well as heterochromia. While she's perfectly healthy, she’s been ridiculed by not only those in her age group, but some adults as well; name calling, strange looks, being discriminated while shopping, or eating out.
Pearla lost her ability to mingle with others over the years. She secludes herself in her home and would only leave at the dead of night where no one would see her. There’s not much to do during the late hours of the day, so she would spend her time walking on the beach to collect shells. It’s a calming little hobby that puts her at ease, so it’s no surprise she has a rather large collection of various shells decorating the outside of her beach cottage.
Normally the area where Pearla lives lacks tourists and visitors due to it being far away from town. Most residents only visit a small portion of the beach due to traveling conveniences. One day, however- during a full moon and high tide, a group of surfers from another town spent the late hours riding waves near her home. Pearla didn’t notice them since they were quite far away, but the same couldn’t be said for the group. Paddling to shore, they called out to her when they were close enough, and Pearla became frozen like a deer in headlights. She hasn’t properly interacted with anyone in years, so having a group of strangers race towards her caused her to have a mild panic attack.
Once the group got a good look at her, the teasing and heckling commenced. Pearla is no stranger to name calling- it’s something she’s gotten used to long ago. It wasn’t until they started grabbing her, and blocking her path to leave did she start to panic and fear for her life. She’s heard terrible stories of outsiders beating and severely injuring locals, and while she’s a Squishy just like them, they were much stronger than she was. Swinging her basket full of shells, she screamed for her life in hopes someone would help.
Her plea was answered moments later when a voice called out to the group. Curled up in ball on the sandy floor below, Pearla caught a glimpse at the one who saved her. Another surfer, a Squishy that was deep blue in color, used his surfboard to shield her from the others. He convinced the group to leave- which they finally did after several heated arguments and a few fist exchanges. She expected the other to leave soon after, but to her surprise, he kneeled down to help pick up her scattered shells.
Peala continued to hide behind his surfboard while she anxiously contemplated what to do. Should she talk? Should she leave? Maybe thank him and then leave? Maybe she shouldn’t say anything at all. While lost in thought, her bag was gently placed besides her. She looked up, and now kneeling besides her is the Squid.
She scurried several feet back, and clutched her bag close to her body to hide herself out of habit. Normally she would wear something to cover her markings during the day if she needed to go shopping, but never during her nightly strolls. She quickly thanked him for saving her, while doing her best to gain more distance between them.
He quietly waved it off and said it was no big deal. He then introduced himself as Monty- A drifter who settled down not too far from here to ride the waves for the next several days. He took a few steps closer and held out his hand to help her up. He told her he wasn’t going to harm her, and just wanted to make sure she wasn’t hurt from the incident. She politely refused his offer and said she was fine. She slowly stood back up, and backed away some more.
Monty could tell how frightened she was, and decided to give her the space she needed. He remained in the same spot, but tried to make small talk to calm her down. He asked about the shells, and what she was planning on doing with them. She meekly replied she crafts jewelry out of them, as she once again tries inching back some more. From her mantel, Monty could clearly see several pieces around it, and admired how gorgeous they are. Of course, that means Monty could also see why the surfers from before were heckling her. Unlike them, however, it didn’t affect him in the slightest. Traveling around the world, Monty has met many unique faces, with equally fascinating stories. Being different simply doesn’t bother him compared to the conservative and judgmental crowd of those living in the town of Klamar. Monty found himself complimenting Pearla, and tells her not to listen to what those thugs told her. Differences are what make each and every one of them unique, and she looks just as marvelous as everyone else.
Pearla has never received a compliment before, especially on her appearance. Hearing someone say something nice about her for the first time greatly took her by surprise. She slowly set aside her basket that was partially covering her arms and waited to see if he’d react differently towards her. When he didn’t, she slightly lowered her guard and finally introduced herself to him.
Humbled, Monty asks if she would like to meet up the next day in town so they could hang out. Pearla quickly refused his offer; telling him she doesn’t visit town often unless she really has to. She prefers to stay near her home, and away from others. Monty understands, and tells her they can stay on the beach if she wanted to- maybe she can teach him how to make something out of shells since he’s quite interested in her craftsmanship. Being a drifter can be lonely at times, so Monty has a habit of building all sorts of friendships on his travels. Having a handcrafted souvenir would be nice to remember his trip to Klamar, and a great way to remember his new friend.
Never has Pearla experience someone offer their friendship to her before. It was a feeling she’s never felt before. Nervous, but happy. Scared but excited. Joy and fear in a constant battle while she contemplates what she should do. Could she actually do this? Was this a good idea? She still has time; she could run away, head back home, and continue to live her life the way she has for the past several years. Or she can try something different- step away from the normality and comfort of her current lifestyle and try something new. Something she’s never done before. Something she secretly yearns for. To have a friend; Someone who doesn’t judge her, and someone who doesn’t see her the way everyone in towns sees her. She wants this more than anything, and the opportunity is right in front of her. Reaching her hand out moments later, she decides to finally take a chance.
Little did she know, her leap of faith would change both their lives forever.
Pearla lost her ability to mingle with others over the years. She secludes herself in her home and would only leave at the dead of night where no one would see her. There’s not much to do during the late hours of the day, so she would spend her time walking on the beach to collect shells. It’s a calming little hobby that puts her at ease, so it’s no surprise she has a rather large collection of various shells decorating the outside of her beach cottage.
Normally the area where Pearla lives lacks tourists and visitors due to it being far away from town. Most residents only visit a small portion of the beach due to traveling conveniences. One day, however- during a full moon and high tide, a group of surfers from another town spent the late hours riding waves near her home. Pearla didn’t notice them since they were quite far away, but the same couldn’t be said for the group. Paddling to shore, they called out to her when they were close enough, and Pearla became frozen like a deer in headlights. She hasn’t properly interacted with anyone in years, so having a group of strangers race towards her caused her to have a mild panic attack.
Once the group got a good look at her, the teasing and heckling commenced. Pearla is no stranger to name calling- it’s something she’s gotten used to long ago. It wasn’t until they started grabbing her, and blocking her path to leave did she start to panic and fear for her life. She’s heard terrible stories of outsiders beating and severely injuring locals, and while she’s a Squishy just like them, they were much stronger than she was. Swinging her basket full of shells, she screamed for her life in hopes someone would help.
Her plea was answered moments later when a voice called out to the group. Curled up in ball on the sandy floor below, Pearla caught a glimpse at the one who saved her. Another surfer, a Squishy that was deep blue in color, used his surfboard to shield her from the others. He convinced the group to leave- which they finally did after several heated arguments and a few fist exchanges. She expected the other to leave soon after, but to her surprise, he kneeled down to help pick up her scattered shells.
Peala continued to hide behind his surfboard while she anxiously contemplated what to do. Should she talk? Should she leave? Maybe thank him and then leave? Maybe she shouldn’t say anything at all. While lost in thought, her bag was gently placed besides her. She looked up, and now kneeling besides her is the Squid.
She scurried several feet back, and clutched her bag close to her body to hide herself out of habit. Normally she would wear something to cover her markings during the day if she needed to go shopping, but never during her nightly strolls. She quickly thanked him for saving her, while doing her best to gain more distance between them.
He quietly waved it off and said it was no big deal. He then introduced himself as Monty- A drifter who settled down not too far from here to ride the waves for the next several days. He took a few steps closer and held out his hand to help her up. He told her he wasn’t going to harm her, and just wanted to make sure she wasn’t hurt from the incident. She politely refused his offer and said she was fine. She slowly stood back up, and backed away some more.
Monty could tell how frightened she was, and decided to give her the space she needed. He remained in the same spot, but tried to make small talk to calm her down. He asked about the shells, and what she was planning on doing with them. She meekly replied she crafts jewelry out of them, as she once again tries inching back some more. From her mantel, Monty could clearly see several pieces around it, and admired how gorgeous they are. Of course, that means Monty could also see why the surfers from before were heckling her. Unlike them, however, it didn’t affect him in the slightest. Traveling around the world, Monty has met many unique faces, with equally fascinating stories. Being different simply doesn’t bother him compared to the conservative and judgmental crowd of those living in the town of Klamar. Monty found himself complimenting Pearla, and tells her not to listen to what those thugs told her. Differences are what make each and every one of them unique, and she looks just as marvelous as everyone else.
Pearla has never received a compliment before, especially on her appearance. Hearing someone say something nice about her for the first time greatly took her by surprise. She slowly set aside her basket that was partially covering her arms and waited to see if he’d react differently towards her. When he didn’t, she slightly lowered her guard and finally introduced herself to him.
Humbled, Monty asks if she would like to meet up the next day in town so they could hang out. Pearla quickly refused his offer; telling him she doesn’t visit town often unless she really has to. She prefers to stay near her home, and away from others. Monty understands, and tells her they can stay on the beach if she wanted to- maybe she can teach him how to make something out of shells since he’s quite interested in her craftsmanship. Being a drifter can be lonely at times, so Monty has a habit of building all sorts of friendships on his travels. Having a handcrafted souvenir would be nice to remember his trip to Klamar, and a great way to remember his new friend.
Never has Pearla experience someone offer their friendship to her before. It was a feeling she’s never felt before. Nervous, but happy. Scared but excited. Joy and fear in a constant battle while she contemplates what she should do. Could she actually do this? Was this a good idea? She still has time; she could run away, head back home, and continue to live her life the way she has for the past several years. Or she can try something different- step away from the normality and comfort of her current lifestyle and try something new. Something she’s never done before. Something she secretly yearns for. To have a friend; Someone who doesn’t judge her, and someone who doesn’t see her the way everyone in towns sees her. She wants this more than anything, and the opportunity is right in front of her. Reaching her hand out moments later, she decides to finally take a chance.
Little did she know, her leap of faith would change both their lives forever.
Part 2
How Pearla and Monty became a couple
Let’s talk about Monty now!
Monty is a drifter who originally came from a predominately wealthy family. Unhappy with his stale, sheltered, repetitive lifestyle, Monty left one day and began traveling to different areas in West Nova. In his travels, he found his passion and love for surfing after being taken in by a group of beach bums one summer. He traveled with them for a few months before going off on his own, and wound up in the Town of Klamar. He set up camp close where Pearla lives, and ended up meeting her when he saw a group of surfers heckling her.
After she accepted his hand in friendship, Pearla kept her promise and showed him how to craft several items from the shells they collected on their many strolls. While Monty enjoys being around his new friend, he knows Pearla needs her space at times. Hearing her story; knowing the type of secluded life she’s been living, Monty knows something like this takes much time. It’s not easy for her to constantly communicate and be around another, so Monty makes sure to keep their outings not too unbearably long, which she appreciates.
Several days pass, and it would normally be time for Monty to pack up and leave for another town. It’s strange, however- a part of him didn’t want to leave. Monty isn’t known to stay in one place for very long, but something about his new friend made him want to stay longer. And Monty did just that. He continued meeting up with her each day. As each day passed, his urge to move to another town began to dwindle and fade. Days turned to weeks, and weeks turned to months. Monty and Pearla ended up becoming the best of friends- an inseparable duo that is never seen apart. She later invited him to live with her, which he greatly accepted since camping out was starting to get rather uncomfortable.
Pearla’s usually reserved behavior started to change in time. She would eagerly await each morning to spend time with him out of the house. Little by little learn she learned to venture away from her home. Their short conversations and outings would span to hours- both couldn’t be seen without the other. As long as she had him by her side, she felt confident. She doesn’t feel embarrassed or ashamed about herself like she once did, and learned to embrace and love herself. Of course, there are days where she’d slip up due to a bad crowd, but Monty would always be there to help pick up the fallen pieces. He wants to be there for her, and although there are times where Pearla thinks he’d be much better off without her, he will deny it in a heartbeat, and tell her he can’t imagine a life without her by his side.
Years will pass before Monty would eventually propose to her. In his cheesy speech, he tells her he traveled the world only to find small, momentary feelings of bliss- lasting only a few days before the feeling of wanting something else caused him to travel once again. It wasn’t until he met her did he feel like his searching was finally over. He found the one he wants to spend his life with- Pearla. He presents her with a pink, handmade shell necklace for her mantle in hopes she’d feel the same. She happily embraces the other and tells him he just made her the happiest Squid in the world.
The wedding was small, just the two of them. Pearla doesn’t have any living relatives, and Monty cut ties with his. But it was okay, they enjoyed every moment of it, and couldn’t ask for a better wedding. Once settling down, Monty took a job as a diver to gather rare types of oysters. The job itself is quite dangerous, but it pays well since Pearla doesn’t work. (Aside from selling her jewelry from time to time at the local market.)
Monty’s parents ended up tracking him down several months later in hopes to patch things up and get him to move back with them. Once they found out he settled down and married without even informing them, a rather heated argument broke out between them. They insulted his home, his living situation, his job, but worst of all, they had the gall to insult his wife. Monty refused to let them speak another word, and told them to leave their home and NEVER come back. Monty hasn’t seen his parents since the outburst, but he doesn’t care. The only thing he cares about is Pearla….and unbeknownst to them, their daughter who will be born in several more months.
Monty is a drifter who originally came from a predominately wealthy family. Unhappy with his stale, sheltered, repetitive lifestyle, Monty left one day and began traveling to different areas in West Nova. In his travels, he found his passion and love for surfing after being taken in by a group of beach bums one summer. He traveled with them for a few months before going off on his own, and wound up in the Town of Klamar. He set up camp close where Pearla lives, and ended up meeting her when he saw a group of surfers heckling her.
After she accepted his hand in friendship, Pearla kept her promise and showed him how to craft several items from the shells they collected on their many strolls. While Monty enjoys being around his new friend, he knows Pearla needs her space at times. Hearing her story; knowing the type of secluded life she’s been living, Monty knows something like this takes much time. It’s not easy for her to constantly communicate and be around another, so Monty makes sure to keep their outings not too unbearably long, which she appreciates.
Several days pass, and it would normally be time for Monty to pack up and leave for another town. It’s strange, however- a part of him didn’t want to leave. Monty isn’t known to stay in one place for very long, but something about his new friend made him want to stay longer. And Monty did just that. He continued meeting up with her each day. As each day passed, his urge to move to another town began to dwindle and fade. Days turned to weeks, and weeks turned to months. Monty and Pearla ended up becoming the best of friends- an inseparable duo that is never seen apart. She later invited him to live with her, which he greatly accepted since camping out was starting to get rather uncomfortable.
Pearla’s usually reserved behavior started to change in time. She would eagerly await each morning to spend time with him out of the house. Little by little learn she learned to venture away from her home. Their short conversations and outings would span to hours- both couldn’t be seen without the other. As long as she had him by her side, she felt confident. She doesn’t feel embarrassed or ashamed about herself like she once did, and learned to embrace and love herself. Of course, there are days where she’d slip up due to a bad crowd, but Monty would always be there to help pick up the fallen pieces. He wants to be there for her, and although there are times where Pearla thinks he’d be much better off without her, he will deny it in a heartbeat, and tell her he can’t imagine a life without her by his side.
Years will pass before Monty would eventually propose to her. In his cheesy speech, he tells her he traveled the world only to find small, momentary feelings of bliss- lasting only a few days before the feeling of wanting something else caused him to travel once again. It wasn’t until he met her did he feel like his searching was finally over. He found the one he wants to spend his life with- Pearla. He presents her with a pink, handmade shell necklace for her mantle in hopes she’d feel the same. She happily embraces the other and tells him he just made her the happiest Squid in the world.
The wedding was small, just the two of them. Pearla doesn’t have any living relatives, and Monty cut ties with his. But it was okay, they enjoyed every moment of it, and couldn’t ask for a better wedding. Once settling down, Monty took a job as a diver to gather rare types of oysters. The job itself is quite dangerous, but it pays well since Pearla doesn’t work. (Aside from selling her jewelry from time to time at the local market.)
Monty’s parents ended up tracking him down several months later in hopes to patch things up and get him to move back with them. Once they found out he settled down and married without even informing them, a rather heated argument broke out between them. They insulted his home, his living situation, his job, but worst of all, they had the gall to insult his wife. Monty refused to let them speak another word, and told them to leave their home and NEVER come back. Monty hasn’t seen his parents since the outburst, but he doesn’t care. The only thing he cares about is Pearla….and unbeknownst to them, their daughter who will be born in several more months.
Part 3
Alba and Elliot & The Death of Monty
Pearla and Monty's small beach cottage got a whole lot smaller once their kids were born. The pair had two children- Alba and Elliot. The pair were Pearla and Monty’s pride and joy. Alba, the eldest, is just like Monty. Loves to go out and swim- a very adventurous child who fears nothing. And Elliot, the youngest; a bit of a momma’s boy. He loves being with her, and loves collecting shells while they watch Monty ride the waves with Alba on his shoulders. Their home was small, they didn’t have much money to spend, but they were truly one big happy family.
The sudden death of Monty hit their family hard. During his job, he was brutally attacked by a shark-like demon beast, and died while being transported to the hospital. Pearla felt like she lost everything that day. Monty- her rock, her pillar, her happiness, was gone. Pearla spiraled into a deep depression from the loss. Her confidence and self-esteem slowly started to revert back to self loathing. She began having trouble leaving the house, but eventually mustered up the strength to get a small bagging job at a grocery store to help support her, and her two kids.
Days were filled with ridicule- Pearla could see how they look at her. The stares, the mumbles; them heading to another checkout stand once they see she was handling their groceries. It was all too much for her, and most of the time she’d break down in tears once she got home. Without Monty to help her cope, she felt broken and lost. Elliot would always try to comfort her. He’d make shell necklaces in hopes to make her smile. Pearla would always thank him for it; telling him they make her feel much better.
As for Alba, she basically became the mother of the house. She took care of the chores, cooked, and raised Elliot. She greatly misses her father. She misses surfing and playing on the beach with him, and the laughter and happiness their family once had. She tries not to talk about him around her mother.
Part 4
Monty’s Parents & Pearla’s Decision
* * (WARNING!! Upsetting Content below) * *
Times were hard, and things were about to get a lot worse once Pearla lost her job. Barely getting by, Pearla did the only thing she could think of for the safety of her children, and contacted her in-laws for help. She knew they were incredibly wealthy, and she begged them for assistance until she could get back on her feet again. Clara, Monty’s mother, scoffed at the idea. Pearla is nothing to her, and yet here she is groveling and begging for money like some type of freeloader. She took their only son away, soiled the family name, “forced” him to live a life of peasantry, had kids with him!!!- ……and now she expects them to give her money?
Clara told Pearla flat out how she really felt about her. Her son, their kids, their lives…..everyone would’ve been better off if she were dead. Clara told her she will not help her, but her grand kids are innocent in all of this. IF she willingly gives them up, she and her husband will raise them as their own. They will take care of them, put them in school, give them a life of luxury to the point where they never have to worry about the burdens of poverty ever again. But in return, Pearla will never be able to see them again. Crushed after hearing what she had to say, Pearla collapsed on the floor in tears, but Clara was not affected in the slightest. She left the cottage and told her she has one week to decide.
A broken woman, left with the heartbreaking decision to give her kids a better life in exchange of never seeing them again. The thought of her kids going hungry while she struggles looking for work; the thought of them begging for money in town, and not getting the proper care they deserve. Was Clara was right? Would things have been better is the was gone? Would Alba and Elliot truly be happier if she was out of the picture? Tears filled her eyes as she broke down once more; the weight of leaving her kids became far too much to handle.
Several days later, the last day of the week, Alba rushed into the house to fetch bandages for Elliot. He got into a scuffle when some of the other kids were teasing their mother when they were in town. Pearla tries to calm Elliot down, and told him he doesn’t need to start unnecessary fights for her sake. Teary eyed, Elliot shook his head while she and Alba were dressing his wounds. He told them they deserved it; anyone who says mean things about his mom were gonna were going to regret it. Dad would’ve done the same, and now Elliot’s the man of the house. It’s his duty to protect his family, and he’s gonna make sure they’re always protected. Alba agrees, and says no one is going to hurt his little brother while she’s around.
Pearla couldn’t help but place a gentle hand on his and Alba's mantle and smile at the pair. She’s so proud of them, how much they’ve grown. She tells them to always look out for each other- that’s what family does. She loves them so much; their father loves them so much. And no matter what happens in the future, she wants them to remember how much they love them.
Feeling better, Elliot happily smiles back and asks if they can collect shells tonight. Much to his surprise, Pearla agrees to it. She takes him and Alba out on the beach, and the trio spends the rest of the day playing and having fun. The evening was filled with much laughter and happiness; Elliot says it was one of the best days he had in a long time. Once they arrive back home, Pearla made them their favorite meal, and even gave them extra dessert before carrying them both to bed. She stays with them until they fell asleep, and tells the pair she loves them so very much before heading back to the kitchen.
Pearla spent a good amount of time in the kitchen, thinking. The thought never left her mind once she talked to Clara; thoughts she once carried, but were long forgotten once she met Monty. They started to resurface again, and Pearla isn't able to escape it any longer. The love and respect she once had for herself long disappeared. Clara is right. Alba and Elliot deserves better. Her kids can never be truly happy while she's around. But if they leave with them, they will fight it. They will run away and come back here. As long as she's alive, there will always be chaos in their lives.
With Clara visiting tomorrow, Pearla's decision is set. She wrote a letter to them, and tied it with a thin fabric, wrapped around with one of the shells they collected that day. Leaving it on the kitchen table, she left to head back to her and Monty's room.
Rummaging around his nightstand to find what she was looking for, Pearla eventually found it and held Monty's hunting knife up to her chest. With tears stinging her eyes, and the image of her kids flashing in her mind one final time, she hopes her kids will one day forgive her.
Part 5
The Death of Pearla
** (WARNING!! VERY Upsetting Content below) **
Alba is the first to wake. She quietly gets out of bed and starts making breakfast. Setting the table, she calls out to her mom to get her up. Usually she would wake up around the same time as her, so when she didn’t respond, she went into her room to check on her.
Elliots wakes up shortly after, and fetches his basket and pale to spend the day shell collecting with his mom again. As he enters the kitchen, she sees Alba curled up and crying on one of the chairs. Elliots asks what’s wrong, but she doesn’t response. He glances towards his mother’s room, but before he could take another step, Alba jumps on him and tells him not to go in there. Elliot struggles, and calls out for his mom for help. He then hits Alba with his plastic shovel, and makes a dash to her room when Alba flinches back.
His mother….on the floor in a pool of her own blood caused the small squid to freeze up. He called and yelled out to her several times, but when she didn’t respond back he raced to Alba and cried in her arms. He couldn't understand why she wasn't waking up. Could they take her to a doctor? Could they get someone to help? Alba quietly hushes her brother. She tells him it's too late, and continues to comfort him.
Clara arrives in the afternoon to take custody of the children. She goes into Pearla's room and quietly eyes the figure on the floor. She had a feeling Pearla would do something like this; not really caring as she never liked her in the first place. A small, very weak groan snaps her attention back to Pearla, and she realizes she's still alive. Clara doesn't speak a word, and she calmly backs away and closes her door. She then ushers the two kids out of the home as quickly as possible. Alba and Elliot refuse to leave, but she and several servants forced them to go without saying one finally goodbye to their mother. Elliot screamed in their arms to let them go, but it fell on deaf ears.
Only a few of their belongings were brought along, and the rest were burnt when Clara ordered them to set the house on fire.
*Houses in the Town of Klamar are typically set on fire when it's time to move, or the house is too old. No one in town would think this is out of the ordinary.
Part 6
The fate of Alba and Elliot
Alba and Elliot moved to another part of Klamar. There, they were raised by their grandparents and enrolled in school to take over the family business as doctors. Once Alba hit 20, she ran away and moved to the Town of Kalmari. She always loathed her grandparents, specifically Clara, and wanted nothing to do with them. Elliot soon left as well to meet up with his sister. He became a nurse, and she a doctor. Eventually, Alba left the medical field and became a bartender. Elliot still worked in the hospital and would eventually make a friend named Ellie.
Elliot, due to his young age, had his beliefs changed while living with his Grandparents. His views are the opposite of what his parents taught him, and he’s become quite conserved and judgmental. Alba on the other hand retains the respect for others. Her views weren’t tainted like her bother, and she welcomes all travelers; old and new to her bar.
Alba has bitter thoughts about her mother. She hates that she left them without even saying a proper goodbye. She felt like her mother abandoned them, and she loathes her for it. Elliot still misses his parents dearly, but does his best not to dwell on it. It’s too painful to think about.
One of the VERY few times their parents were brought up was when Bate saw a photo of them while visiting Elliot's home. Elliot remembers the struggles and hardships his mother went through. How she was always picked on, and harassed because of her appearance. Elliot was about to snap at him if he dared say anything, but to his surprise- Bate complimented how beautiful she is. A part of Elliot broke that day. No one, not even his grandparents said nice things about her. And here was Bate, the Puffball he loathed, complimenting her. Elliot quietly thanks him, and agrees. She’s magnificent.
Part 7
The truth
Once Clara passed, a letter with a worn shell tied to it was given to them. Locked away for many years by Clara, Alba quickly realized it was a letter from their mother. Once reading it, she broke down in tears when she learned the truth. How Clara was willing to give them a better life in exchange for never seeing them again. Pearla's fear of them running away to look for her. Them living a life of poverty and struggles. And lastly, the decision she ultimately made for the sake of their happiness.
Realizing her mother made the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of them, the loathing she once had for her mother dispersed. She truly loved them. While her world was falling and crumbling around her, she made sure to keep a smile on her face on the last day; to give them the best day ever before her death.
Pearla was truly alone that day, stuck in a dark place with no help whatsoever. And Alba regrets not doing more to help. If she knew, maybe she'd still be alive. She'd still be in their lives, and everything would've turned out better than it is now. Gordon, who was with her at the time of reading the letter, comforts her and tells her there's nothing she could've done to prevent it. She was only a child when it happened, and it was not her responsibility, or burden to carry. While Alba doesn't agree, she thanks Gordon.
Several years later, once their Grandfather passed, another letter was given to them. This time, it was from Clara. In it, remorse and regret drenched the parchment in ruby ink. She painfully reveals her mother was alive the day she tried to kill herself. Years of guilt finally caught up to her, and she promised herself to tell them on her deathbed. Since Alba and Elliot cut all ties with them, she wrote a letter for them instead, and instructed it to be given to them only when she and her husband passed on. She knows nothing she writes will ever forgive her actions and cruelty she displayed that day.
Her actions alone caused Monty to leave as a teenager, as well as her two grandkids. Maybe if she opened up and showed kindness instead of being inhospitable, Monty would still be alive. Pearla would still be alive, and she'd have two amazing grand kids that admire and love her. It's something that's been haunting her since the death of Pearla.
She wishes the best life for Alba and Elliot, even though they aren't in their lives anymore. She knows they'll be okay.
They're strong and resilient, just like their parents.
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Every year Alba visits the spirit shrine to pay respects for her parents and brother. Being the last one in her family, Alba does her best to live her life to the fullest; being with Gordon and raising her two sons; Jr and Nonsurat.
-The End-
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If anyone read that entire thing, THANK YOU!!!! These characters mean so much to me, and if anyone took the time to read all of that, you have my appreciation.
Species © Nintendo/ HAL Laboratory
Interpreted characters created from said species © Rhylem
Interpreted characters created from said species © Rhylem
