A Mother's Promise

Today is a very important day for me, some time ago a contest was held by Jerald Creps. He would handpick a person who aspires to be a cryptid hunter and train them just to be as skilled as he is. Me being a cryptid hunting fanatic and my dream to become one. I would of course attempt to be that one person, the one trained by the legendary Jerald Creps!

To my luck, I was that one person, I’ve entered the contest and won. And today is when I’ll travel to the other side of the country to begin my training. My father was so proud of me, proud that my dreams would at last come true.

My mother never really liked for me to become a cryptid hunter, it’s not that she would force me to do anything else with my life. She would just worry that I would get hurt or that she could lose me. In a way, losing me is true but it will only be temporary. Even though I’ll be away, I’ll be missing them each passing second.

I started my day as usual, my alarm clock woke me up, I stretched my back, brushed my teeth, and went to greet my parents good morning.

My father was on the couch watching the news as he usually does, meanwhile my Mother was preparing breakfast. I go up to my father and hug him as I usually do.

“Good morning, dad!”

Marta’s father hugs her back.

“Good morning, Marta. Excited for your special day?”

“Oh! oh! oh! Hell yeah!”

I hop off my father as I say so.

“Alright, go help your mother make breakfast.”

Marta’s father points to the kitchen’s door through the hallway.

I nod my head with a smile and go over there, I find my mother slicing down tomatoes.

An idea has crossed my mind and I decide to put it into plan. I crouch down and approach her, slowly and steady…

When I’m close enough, I jump and poke her hips. She screams surprised by my tackle.

“AAAAAAH! MARTA! You almost gave me a heart attack…! God…”

After the scare, Marta’s mother puts the knife down, and places her hand over her chest where the heart is located so she can calm down.

“Pfffttt, Wahahahaha! I got you Mom!”

I burst out into laughter at her reaction. And after the moment, I give her a good morning hug.

“Good morning, Mom!”

“Wuuufff… good morning Marta.”

Even though she’s still a little shocked by my shenanigans, she hugs me back while I look down at the tomatoes she was cutting down.

“Anyways, do you need my help with breakfast?”

“Yeah, go toast some bread, will ya?”

She nods her head to the toaster.

“Hm! Hm!”

I nod my head with a wide smile and let go of her, then I crouch and open the cabinet where we store the bread and I pick up the whole loaf. I cut it in half and slice it so I have the two halves and then I put them in the toaster and turn down the switch.

I look over to my mother, she’s back to preparing breakfast.

“So…”

“Today is the day… uh? You’re going to train with that Jerald Creps right…?”

Marta’s mother says in a soft manner, her eyes watering down as words come out of her mouth.

“Oh… uh… Yeah… I’m very excited for it…!”

I unconsciously look away from my mother.

“Haha…”

“M-Marta… look at me.”

I can hear the knife being placed down again, and with my head down I move my eyes upwards.

Tears are running down from her face, hands on her chest, my heart can’t help but pound. Did I know this would happen? Yes, I knew we would have to talk about this some day. I just didn’t want to acknowledge it.

“Mom I…”

“Marta, you have to make me a promise…!”

She walks some steps up to me, and leans toward. I, again, unconsciously move my eyes out of her gaze.

“Uh…”

Marta’s mother moves her hand out of her chest, pinky finger sticking out.

“You have to promise to me… that you’ll come back, alright?”

“You will come back when the training is done… safe and sound… okey?”

She sniffs between words, This is making me feel terrible. I will still pursue my dream no matter the dangers that I have to go through.

I was planning on coming back home when the training was done, but if my mother wants to hear it from me and if it makes her feel better, I’ll tell her.

I move my head upwards, and hold her finger with mine.

“Mom, I promise to you. That when my training is done, I’ll come back home to visit… safe and sound…”

“I-I was planning on coming back when everything was done so… Y-you don’t worry one bit mom… alright…?”

My voice cracks as I force a smile, I wished my mother could let me more off the hook. But if this is her way of supporting me, so be it.

As I’m lost in my mind, I can feel her body against mine, she’s hugging me. I did not expect that, I’m normally the one to give out hugs. As she hugs me she pats my head.

“I love you Marta… I love you more than anything in this world… If anything happened to you.. I-...”

“Mom… I’ll be fine, don’t worry I-...”

“I love you too…”

She grabs me by my shoulders gently and gives me a good look. She pats my right shoulder and goes back to cooking.

After such an emotional moment, I continue my day as usual. I’d eat breakfast with my family, talking about my future, what I’ll do with Jerald and all that kind of stuff. My father supporting me all the way, my mother was slightly sad that I had to go but still supporting me.

After breakfast they would come with me to the train station, looking back, I’m melancholic that I have to leave them. But I’ll come back, don’t worry a thing mom.

“Well, now this is your chance to shine, Marta!”

My father exclamates with a smile.

“Remember to be careful, okay? Do you have everything on you? Need anything else before le-”

My mother leans forward as she tells me, I interrupt her in the middle of her ramblings.

“It will be fine, mom! Don’t worry alright? Dad, you have to make sure she doesn’t worry!”

“Heh, you got my word, Hunter!”

I giggle as he says that.

In the distance the train arrives at full speed. It’s my time to go, I’m nervous deep inside, this is what I’ve always dreamt of. And finally, finally it’s coming true, with my parent’s support there’s nothing that I have to worry about.

“Well, it looks like it’s time for us to go.”

“Take care, okay?”

Marta’s mother says with a somewhat forced smile

“Don’t worry mom… I promised.”

My parents wave me goodbye and they start to walk down the train platform. With a train in front of me, the doors open.

I step inside.