Happiness And Sadness

Nervously Katie immediately opened the letter envelope and read its contents. Then...

"KYAAAAAAAAA!!" Katie shouted with delight. "I was accepted at Trinity. I will go to school there. I was accepted there, mama, papa." explained Katie with a lot of excitement.

The joy was so infectious as the Morse couple joined Katie bouncing with excitement laugh.

The three of them danced merrily around the room like children. Not far from there, Umbra smiled at the scene from the glass window.

"Umbra! Umbra! Take a look! I'm accepted at Trinity." Katie immediately ran to find the man while showing the letter she had just read.

Outside her house, there was still a snowbank, and the temperature in the air was still cold, with a temperature of five degrees. But Katie could survive only by wearing a thick jacket. For the first time in her life, she did not fall ill, and her voice did not disappear.

"Hm. I heard that earlier. Congratulations."

Katie opened her hands to the Umbra as she had done when she was little.

Umbra cleared his throat awkwardly, trying to avoid it.

"You're a big girl now. We don't have to do it."

"But, I want to do it," whined Katie, shaking her hands. "Aw, come on,"

Umbra sighed in surrender and approached her. He leaned slightly so that Katie could hug his neck. Then Katie gave a long kiss on the cheek.

"Muach... I love you very much, Umbra," Katie continued with her eyes glowing.

For the first time, the Umbra saw bright eyes filled with hope and happiness in Katie's beautiful eyes. Without getting away, the Umbra raised one hand behind Katie's head. Then...

Kiss!

Umbra gave a short kiss on Katie's forehead affectionately.

"I love you too, Kei," Umbra said with a big smile.

Katie's smile was as broad as Umbra. This is the first time Umbra kissed her. Katie was delighted that day, as many good things happened.

She became a normal girl and transformed into her new appearance. She got word that she was accepted at Trinity, and got a kiss from her Umbra who were like her own brother.

Today was the happiest day in her memory.

***

At night, Katie could not sleep at all. Maybe because she had slept more than twenty hours before, she did not feel sleepy at all.

This afternoon when she returned and received a notice from Trinity, she was thrilled. So happy that she believes today was the day that makes her on top of the world.

She was still dancing happily after talking to Umbra. She even planned what she would do in her new school later.

Trinity School was different from elite schools in Iowa. Trinity was indeed elite, but there were still many poverty struck students also attend Trinity school. There might be differences in social levels, and there might even be people who look down on them and oppress them.

But this time, it would be different. She would have many friends who were in the same boat as him. Someone would defend her, and she would also help those who were abused.

She felt enthusiastic and impatient, waiting for the new school year to immediately move to New York and start school at Trinity.

It's just... her happiness disappeared in an instant replaced with sadness. Many things made Katie sad.

First, her parents decided to stay in Iowa because they did not like the crowd. Of course, they could still meet each other when they come to visit or when Katie came home every weekend. Moreover, the distance between Iowa and New York only takes two hours by train. Because her parents did not move, Katie would stay in the dormitory that Trinity provided.

Even though they could meet whenever they wanted, it still felt different if they don't live together. Katie could no longer ask for cuddling or sleeping with her parents when she was having a nightmare. She had to get used to sleeping alone every night in her school's dorm room.

Then the second thing that made her sad when her Umbra said goodbye to her. From the time she moved to New York, Umbra would rarely appear before her because he was no longer needed. But Umbra will still watch over her and protect her quietly. Even though Katie couldn't see the man, her Umbra would always be able to see Katie and look after her.

"What if I miss you? What if I want to meet you?" Katie sulked at the man.

Umbra whistled, followed by the arrival of a red Macau bird and landed on his shoulders. Umbra touched its beak before stroking the top of its head.

"Take care of her while I'm not around, will you?"

'Take care of Kei! Take care of Kei! ' exclaimed the red Macaw bird as it flapped its wings and flew over Katie's shoulder.

Katie was amused by the feathers touching her ears, making her laugh and forgetting her sadness.

"If you miss me, you can tell him to call me. He can always find me."

Only then did Katie smile happily again and play with the macaw bird that now belonged to her.