Scorpio

The sun ebbed in through a raised window by my bed in the youth shelter, nudging me to wake up before the others to avoid any early-morning arguments. Upon my awakening from the coma, I was to go and stay with Libra as an emancipated minor (certified by Ms. Cole.) However, when we ceased to speak, I could no longer bring myself to show my face near her house, and so I was moved to a youth facility. Many of my shelter-mates had been toughened by their years in the system and did not take kindly to newer additions-not a single day had gone by on which I had not had to endure their rude remarks, and, at times, their hard blows.

I quickly changed into a pair of jeans and a crisp white tee, throwing on my olive green jacket over the ensemble to shelter against the cold February mornings. As I made my way out into the dining room, I heard the all-too-familiar sound of heels making contact with the floor. "Yes, I am Venus Cole. I believe you've had visits from my daughter, Libra?"

"Oh, right! Well, come right in, Mrs. Cole. Can I ask what brings you here?"

"I have come to collect Scorpio from this facility. While the boy was comatose, we signed an agreement to emancipate the boy upon his awakening, if he were still underage, under the condition that he stay in our home. He was, instead, sent to this home. It is time for him to come to where he rightfully belongs."

I heard papers rustling.

"Well, it appears that your paperwork is in order, Mrs. Cole. You may collect Mr. Costa when he was awoken. Until then, please, wait-"

"There's no need to wait." While Mrs. Cole had been conversing with the matron, I had already packed my meager belongings into a single bag and suitcase. Smiling, I stepped out of the darkness. Mrs. Cole smiled widely and wordlessly gestured toward the door, the sound of her heels echoing throughout the foyer as she walked out. I followed her out toward a black stretch limo. Mrs. Cole held the door for me, allowing me to get my luggage in before stepping in myself.

"My private limousine. Bought it when I made my first big buck."

"Wow... Thank you so much for coming to get me."

"Oh, don't thank me. Thank Libra. She was the one who asked me to go get you when you told her how horrible things were in the shelter."

"That's really nice of her. Anyways, I do have a question for you. I've heard about how you were sent to juvie as a teen. How did you bounce back? How'd you get successful?"

"Well, being sent to juvenile detention should have more or less guaranteed me a life of misery. But I was determined to turn things around. And, well, it didn't hurt to have one person there for me. My boyfriend, Ish. I remember meeting him the day I was released from juvie on the London streets. He took me in for the night since my parents had emancipated me and thrown me out into the world, meaning I had nowhere to go. Ish continued to support me, and eventually, I fell for him. We got together before long and when he inherited his mother's business, he was able to fund me with startup money to launch the first Venus boutique.

"Once I had my first boutique, I sat down and began to design. I crafted over 120 original items and had them mass produced before opening up. Even though business was slow to start with, my luck turned around when a famous fashion journalist walked in and took a liking to the boutique. Before long, the Venus brand had become designer, and my first runway show came about.

"The runway show meant business, so I locked myself in a room with enough food and water to last me a week in a fridge. And I worked tirelessly, day and night, to prepare twelve ravishing ensembles. I titled my collection 'Zodiac', and the masterpiece of my collection was the 'Libra' dress, a stunning gold-white gown, representing class and sass in an elegant, peaceful way, based on the Libra zodiac sign, of course. The collection was regarded as the best to be sent down the runway in a decade, and, of course, the 'Libra' dress was now the single most desired dress in the world. It was then that I found out that I was expecting.

"And when my daughter came into the world, I looked into her eyes, and I decided that a child as precious, as lovable, as gorgeous as her should only be named after a dress befitting such high praise. And so I named her Libra, after the dress I had kept from a myriad of buyers. And one day, I will unite my daughter with her long-lost twin made from fabric. Ever since the 'Zodiac' collection graced the runway, I became the new name in fashion... but this was after 5 years of consistent failure. So, I suppose my keys to success were determination, and, of course, someone to believe in me."

I immediately realised what Mrs. Cole was implying. She wanted me to see an 'Ish' in Libra. Almost as if she had read my mind, Mrs. Cole leaned over. "You have found your someone, Scorpio. Every time you walk into the room, she has eyes for you and only you. She might not do a good job of showing it, but she cares for you quite deeply. And I knwo that you feel the same way. Please, do not let her go. It will break both of your hearts." We had finally reached our destination. Libra stood at the door, and surely enough, the moment I stepped out of the car, she locked her gaze on me.

It was as if I were in a daze, Mrs. Cole's words echoing in my head. I took my luggage, walking toward the door where Libra stood, already in a cropped red tee and black-and-grey pleated skirt, her hair straightened and held back by a tennis headband. She wore black platform booties, looking as stylish as she always did. My mind unlinked from my body, I took her by the waist planting my lips on hers. Her eyes widened, her face turning redder. I stepped back, flushed with adrenaline. "Libra Cole... I love you."