Mara felt so alone, and she couldn't help but think, was she doing the right thing? Was it right to move away from it all? Away from the accident. . . The terrible accident that seemed to kill them all on the inside.
She found her father outside, practicing his Martial Arts, typically. Tears brimmed her eyes. "Father?" she asked, nearing break-down. "Yes, D-" he started, but turned and saw her face. "Aw, my precious daughter," he cooed.
He pulled her into his arms fondly, and breathed in her familiar perfume. "My sweet daughter, she still lives with you, in here. ." he said, pointing at her beating, aching heart. She pulled away from him, and wiped her watery eyes on her bare arm before looking deep into her father's wise chocolate eyes. "You always know what to say to cheer me up," she mumbled. "Shouldn't I?" he asked, chuckling. She smiled again, and turned as she heard her father clear his throat. She turned back to him. "Yes, Father?" He motioned for her to follow him, and she did.
Shing Hong, Mara's father, led her to a small little secluded place with a man, standing. Mara blinked, wondering why she'd been brought here, and soon it was answered. The man bowed to Mara. "I am Lee Kei, coming to you for a personal request." Mara was confused. What request? Her father must have noticed, because he spoke up. "Mara, Daughter, Lee and his family have presented Bride Price." Mara turned and glared at her father. He shrugged. But why would that have been his fault, it was a tradition. Mara sighed, thinking it over. She couldn't disgrace her Chinese-ancestors.
Lee raised a hand to her cheek and caressed it. She knew better than to pull away from him, and she she stayed frozen, but smiled nontheless. "You have gifts waiting for you at your home, Mara."
-Days Later-
Mara could hardly believe it was the day of her marriage. This marked an important part of her life, and even though she didn't get to pick the man she married, she was glad it was Lee and not some other Chinese men. Lee is actually pretty sweet, yet perfectly aware of his position as the traditional man. She was beginning to hope she was the perfect wife, and could give him many sons. Even still, she still wished to have a few daughters of her own, and couldn't fight that urge.
Lee's family was at her home that day, paying respects to each other and to the family deities, of course. Soon everyone was settled in, and Mara was excited to get to the next part of the marriage.
After a little while, the couple exchange rings, and stared at each other for a while after the ceremony. Mara's father cried, and looked shocked and happy. He was happy because his daughter seemed to have chemistry and love for her new husband, something that is sometimes hard to come by with arranged marriages.
Lastly, to conclude their Wedding Banquet (xǐ-jǐu), Mara offered tea to her husband's family. It was a small wedding, but that was the best of it for Mara. She preferred it that way, and her big day was a success.
-Later that night-
Mara and her husband were lying on their bed, talking. They both knew it was the time, Mara needed to be pregnant. For the Kei clan to exist, sons needed to be born. Mara blushed, and attempted to cover her face with her fan. Lee smiled, and Mara put it away.
Mara pulled her husband to her, a little embarrassed by their body touching for the first time. His body was oddly warm, a little too warm. Was it his first time too? She swallowed, and they began kissing before woohooing for both of their first times. They heard the lullaby, and it was then they both fell asleep to it still ringing in their ears.
That morning, Mara was sick. That was another sign, and she was sure her husband would be proud.
As she walked into the dining/tea room, the smell of breakfast fresh from the stove turned her stomach. Her hand went up to her mouth, as if she was to be nauseous again, but then suddenly stopped, and the smell turned into food again, edible food. Lee smiled at her as she ran over to get her plate and eagerly sat down. She waited for him to be seated before they ate their waffles together.
Mara worked on her wilting garden for a couple hours. She hoped to obtain more seedlings before too long, so she could watch them grow.
Then she started practicing the traditional Martial Arts. She wished she could start at her father's level and start up, but of course that's impossible. Either way, the whole time she thought about her mother Salline Trish's death. It was odd, and miserable. Nobody in the family expected it, and Mara became overwhelmed and stressed being in the same house her mother used to live in, and especially with Mara's step-father (Alex.) Her mind played out the events of the tragic day, and how Mara had contacted her father and arranged to come 'home' to China. She'd always had contact with her father, but never visited him in China. When she got to her homeland, she found it incredible and decided to stay there indefinitely.
The sound of her husband's slowed movements caught her attention, and she turned to face him. He was sporting a new belt, the white belt. (level 1) Mara giggled. "Very good." He did a ninja-like pose to show off even more, and Mara couldn't help but notice how handsome he looked doing it. She smiled at him before returning to her own practicing dummy.
Soon after her husband, Mara was able to show off her yellow belt! (level 2) She imitated the fearless pose of her husband, laughing. Then her nausea started again, and she hurried off.
Then she took a hot bath, literally scrubbing her skin. When she finished, she felt like a new person! It was so refreshing.
That night, Mara was awoken by an eccentric feeling in her stomach. Almost like a. . kick! Mara's mouth twisted in a prideful smile, and she rubbed her stomach fondly. Her first pregnancy! Slowly, her eyes turned icy as she faded out of the reality and into deep thought.
Her mother's horrific car accident replayed in her mind. . .
It was another normal day for the Trish family, or as usual as it could have been since Mara's mother's miscarriage of her brothers. Mara knew her mother had been acting odd since she was born, the only survivor, but never expected it to end like this.
Her and Alex were married, though had been arguing that day, and Salline took off in her SUV for some fresh air. She needed to cool down, and take her mind off of her dead children. The tears clouded her vision as she drove; she knew she needed to pay attention, but at the time she was worried about other things, and that was why it happened.
Salline hit a car head on, killing her in a matter of seconds.
Young Mara and the rest of the family heard the information on the news, and could instantly recognize their missing mother, and wife. The family wept for a long time, but Mara felt as if it hit her the hardest. It was her fault; if she hadn't had survived, would she never have to hear her mother asking why only Mara had to live, and not the boys? Or would they all have survived the second time around? Would Salline hadn't have took that drive along fate?
Mara's mother had 18 children, Mara being the last. She knew her mother had a challenge going to have 100. "If not for me, then for her honor," Mara said as she pledged to continue the challenge for her mother's sake.
Mara worked on her wilting garden for a couple hours. She hoped to obtain more seedlings before too long, so she could watch them grow.
Then she started practicing the traditional Martial Arts. She wished she could start at her father's level and start up, but of course that's impossible. Either way, the whole time she thought about her mother Salline Trish's death. It was odd, and miserable. Nobody in the family expected it, and Mara became overwhelmed and stressed being in the same house her mother used to live in, and especially with Mara's step-father (Alex.) Her mind played out the events of the tragic day, and how Mara had contacted her father and arranged to come 'home' to China. She'd always had contact with her father, but never visited him in China. When she got to her homeland, she found it incredible and decided to stay there indefinitely.
The sound of her husband's slowed movements caught her attention, and she turned to face him. He was sporting a new belt, the white belt. (level 1) Mara giggled. "Very good." He did a ninja-like pose to show off even more, and Mara couldn't help but notice how handsome he looked doing it. She smiled at him before returning to her own practicing dummy.
Soon after her husband, Mara was able to show off her yellow belt! (level 2) She imitated the fearless pose of her husband, laughing. Then her nausea started again, and she hurried off.
Then she took a hot bath, literally scrubbing her skin. When she finished, she felt like a new person! It was so refreshing.
That night, Mara was awoken by an eccentric feeling in her stomach. Almost like a. . kick! Mara's mouth twisted in a prideful smile, and she rubbed her stomach fondly. Her first pregnancy! Slowly, her eyes turned icy as she faded out of the reality and into deep thought.
Her mother's horrific car accident replayed in her mind. . .
It was another normal day for the Trish family, or as usual as it could have been since Mara's mother's miscarriage of her brothers. Mara knew her mother had been acting odd since she was born, the only survivor, but never expected it to end like this.
Her and Alex were married, though had been arguing that day, and Salline took off in her SUV for some fresh air. She needed to cool down, and take her mind off of her dead children. The tears clouded her vision as she drove; she knew she needed to pay attention, but at the time she was worried about other things, and that was why it happened.
Salline hit a car head on, killing her in a matter of seconds.
Young Mara and the rest of the family heard the information on the news, and could instantly recognize their missing mother, and wife. The family wept for a long time, but Mara felt as if it hit her the hardest. It was her fault; if she hadn't had survived, would she never have to hear her mother asking why only Mara had to live, and not the boys? Or would they all have survived the second time around? Would Salline hadn't have took that drive along fate?
~~~
Mara's mother had 18 children, Mara being the last. She knew her mother had a challenge going to have 100. "If not for me, then for her honor," Mara said as she pledged to continue the challenge for her mother's sake.
-Days later-
Mara welcomed Marri Trish to the family!
