Papa Copia

The show was finally over. He finished the grand finale with Square Hammer and went backstage with his shimmery red jacket glinting in the dim lights. He hopped into the hot air balloon, the skull face printed onto the fabric. The workers waved - including a few ghouls. Copia flew up, out of the arena. He could see everything. Suddenly, it all flashed before him. It all became so clear. Sister Imperator, was his mother. He’s not an only child, he had a twin. The visions were fast and visually unclear, but he understood every single thing.

BOOM!

The cold stone floor was pressed against his cheek. His eyes opened, looking around. There was no balloon. No flying. It was an hallucination. The ghouls and other stage workers circled him, helping him up to sit. You were there as well, gently stroking his hair and making sure he was okay. He was quiet, calm, confused…

You followed his gaze to the hallway, and there she was.

Sister Imperator. His own mother. Lifeless on the cold floor. The young worker who was escorting her was kneeled down, trying to wake her. To no use. The ghouls quickly went over to gather around her as a paramedic came with a gurney and started CPR. Copia sat still, on the hard stone floor, compleatly calm and still. He looked a mix of shocked, calm, and accepting. But mostly, very sad. He watched from afar, seeing his own mother leave his world, leaving him.