The sun peeked through the curtains like a nosy neighbor, warm and annoyingly cheerful. Keal threw off his blanket with a dramatic flair, arms wide as if greeting a cheering crowd.
"Ah! Good morning, world! Good morning, mysterious ceiling crack! And most importantly…"
He spun, striking a flamboyant pose at the doorway.
"Good morning, my beautiful gothic mother!"
Nylessa, mid-sip of her tea, choked slightly. "Keal, what did you just call me?"
"I said what needed to be said," Keal replied with a finger raised, eyes twinkling. "You're the dark mistress of charm and the shadowy queen of my heart."
Nylessa blinked. "You're too awake for someone your age."
"Blame the drama in my soul!"
She shook her head, smiling in spite of herself. "You were so quiet yesterday. I thought the bullying got to you. You're chipper again… what miracle happened overnight?"
Keal's face softened. He walked over to her and sat beside her on the worn wooden bench. "I forgave them."
Nylessa tilted her head. "Just like that?"
"I had a choice," Keal said quietly. "To burn in hatred or bloom in peace. If I held onto what they did… I'd turn into something I'm not. I'm Keal. And Keal doesn't rot in anger."
He smiled, but this time it wasn't mischievous or playful. It was warm. Real.
Nylessa placed a hand on his head, stroking his hair gently.
"That's more wisdom than most kings possess."
Keal immediately ruined the moment by throwing himself across her lap. "Well, I'll need a reward then! Perhaps a head pat! Or—oh wait! A kiss on the cheek from a beautiful elf lady?"
Nylessa rolled her eyes. "You're impossible."
"I'm lovable."
"You're exhausting."
"I'll take it."
He sat back up and looked out the window. The forest beyond their home shimmered with light, birds chirping in obnoxiously cheerful harmony.
"You know," he began with a grin, "I thought about writing a song about yesterday. Maybe call it: 'The Day They Tried to Break the Fabulous Me.'"
Nylessa arched a brow. "Catchy."
"Right?" Keal said, placing his hands dramatically over his chest. "Verse one: 'They mocked my hair and kicked my pride—but I rose again with style un-died.'"
"That's… not a word."
"It is now!"
She laughed, and for a moment the cottage felt like it floated above the clouds.
"You really okay?" she asked one last time.
Keal nodded. "I'm not broken. I'm just… refining my shine."
She kissed the top of his head.
He looked up. "Hey, Nylessa?"
"Hmm?"
"Thanks for being my gothic beautiful emotional-support-mother-figure."
She snorted. "You're ridiculous."
He grinned. "But I'm your ridiculous."
And somewhere deep inside, far below the jokes and winks and dramatic spins—Keal's heart mended just a little more.