Tomorrow meant today
The flight back to Piltover was tense and heavy with unspoken words. Vi sat silently, her gaze fixed on the view outside the window, refusing to make eye contact with Caitlyn. Caitlyn, on the other hand, stole glances at Vi, her heart aching. The silence between them was suffocating, each lost in their thoughts.
Once they landed, the familiar sight of Piltover's skyline brought a bittersweet feeling to Vi. As they disembarked, Tobias and Cassandra were waiting at the terminal, their faces lighting up with joy at the sight of their daughter.
"How was the trip?" Tobias asked, his voice warm and welcoming.
"It was good, Father," Caitlyn replied, forcing a smile to mask the turmoil inside her.
Without a word, Vi picked up her luggage and started walking away, her steps brisk and fast. Cassandra, sensing something was amiss, called out to her. "Violet, wait!"
"Mother, let her go," Caitlyn said, her voice laced with guilt.
But Cassandra, driven by concern, couldn't ignore the pain she saw in Vi's eyes. She and Tobias followed Vi, their footsteps echoing in the bustling terminal. "Violet, wait," Cassandra called again, her voice more urgent.
Vi stopped in her tracks, her shoulders slumping as she turned to face Cassandra. "Mrs. Kiramman, I'm sorry. You don’t have to pay me. I failed," Vi said, her voice breaking as tears welled up in her eyes.
At that moment, Cassandra's face paled, and she nearly collapsed, her legs trembling beneath her. Tobias quickly caught her, his strong arms providing support.
"What do you mean, Violet?" Cassandra asked, her voice trembling with concern.
"I couldn’t help her. I tried, but I couldn’t. I’m so sorry," Vi's tears flowed freely now, her heart breaking under the weight of her perceived failure.
Caitlyn watched from a distance, her own emotions threatening to overwhelm her. She glanced down at the bracelet Vi had given her. Holding back her tears, she felt a deep sense of sorrow and helplessness.
Vi walked away, each step feeling like a weight pressing down on her chest.
The first thing Vi did was head to her sister's dorm, her heart heavy. She knocked on the door, her hand trembling. It wasn't long before Powder opened the door, her eyes widening in shock as Vi practically fell into her arms, almost knocking her over.
"Vi, what’s wrong?" Powder asked, her voice filled with concern. She could feel Vi's body shaking with sobs.
Vi couldn't find the words to explain; she just kept crying, her tears flowing freely. Powder guided her inside, gently closing the door behind them. She led Vi to the small couch in her dorm room and sat her down, her own worry growing with each passing moment.
"Vi, talk to me," Powder pleaded, her voice soft and soothing. She could see the pain etched on her sister's face, and it broke her heart.
Vi's sobs only grew louder, her emotions overwhelming her. Powder took Vi’s face in her hands, forcing her to make eye contact. "Violet, what happened?" she asked, her voice trembling with fear and empathy.
"She’s doing it, I couldn’t change her mind," Vi choked out between sobs, tears streaming down her face.
"Oh, Vi," Powder whispered, her own eyes filling with tears. She pulled Vi into a tight embrace, holding her sister close as she cried.
Powder's heart ached for Vi, and she wished she could take away her sister's pain.
Vi clung to her sister, finding solace in Powder's support. The room was filled with the sound of Vi's sobs and Powder's gentle reassurances.
"I'm so sorry, Vi," Powder continued, her voice cracking with emotion.
Vi nodded, her sobs gradually subsiding as she drew strength from her sister's presence. "Thank you, Powder," she whispered, her voice still shaky. "I don't know what I would do without you."
"You'll never have to find out," Powder replied, her voice filled with love and resolve.
Vi stopped going to the Kiramman mansion after the trip, the weight of her emotions making it difficult to face Caitlyn and her family. Instead, she focused on finding other job opportunities, hoping to distract herself from the pain.
One day, she found herself walking towards Viktor's office, her mind swirling with thoughts. She knocked on the door and entered, finding Viktor engrossed in his work.
"Hey Viktor, got anything for me?" Vi asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
"Oh, hey Vi," Viktor replied, looking up from his desk. "I saw you submitted your resume again. What happened?"
"Well, it’s complicated," Vi said, her shoulders slumping.
"I see," Viktor said, his voice gentle. "You know you can talk to me, right?"
"Yeah, I know," Vi replied, taking a seat in front of Viktor. She felt a lump in her throat, the emotions threatening to spill over. Viktor handed her a bottle of water and some tissues, his eyes filled with concern.
Vi took a deep breath and began to explain the whole situation, her voice wavering as she recounted the events of the trip and the confrontation with Caitlyn. "And yeah, in two days, she’ll be gone," she finished, her tears flowing freely.
"I’m sorry to hear that, Vi," Viktor said softly, his heart aching for his friend. He got up from his chair, using his cane to steady himself, and headed towards the door, locking it behind him. "I’m going to show you something," he said, his voice taking on a serious tone.
Vi watched in confusion and curiosity as Viktor removed his gloves and began unbuttoning his shirt. "Uh, what are you doing?" Vi asked, surprised by his actions.
"You know I was a miner when I was a boy," Viktor began, his voice steady and calm.
"Uh, yeah," Vi replied, still unsure of where this was going.
"Well, there was a collapse in one of the mines, and I injured my spinal cord," Viktor explained, fully removing his shirt to reveal a complex mechanism that wrapped around his torso, arms and fingers. "I was also quadriplegic and was told I would never walk or move again. But look at me."
Vi's eyes widened in shock. "Viktor, how did you—?" she trailed off, pointing at his body, unable to find the words.
"I designed it myself after I underwent extensive therapy to regain mobility. It took a lot of work and determination, but here I am," Viktor said, a hint of pride in his voice. "Maybe it could help Caitlyn too."
Vi wiped her tears away, a spark of hope igniting in her heart. "Viktor, you’re a genius," she said, her voice filled with awe and gratitude. "I’ll go tomorrow morning to talk to her. She’s probably asleep right now."
"Yes, go, Vi. I’m willing to help her as much as I can”
The whole night Vi spend time talking to Viktor and discussing about the mechanism in his body.
When Vi arrived at the bar next morning, the familiar hum of conversation and the clinking of glasses greeted her. Vander, with his ever-watchful eyes, spotted her immediately and made his way through the crowd. In his hand was a sealed envelope bearing the prestigious Kiramman crest. As he handed it to her, she noticed the weight of the parchment—it was a message of importance.
“Thank you,” she said, curiosity flickering in her eyes.
Vander gave her a reassuring smile and gestured toward the back. “You can read it in my office,” he said, his voice gentle yet firm.
Vi nodded and made her way towards the office, navigating through the maze of tables and patrons with ease. The office door creaked softly as she pushed it open, stepping into the quiet sanctuary away from the bustling bar. She closed the door behind her and took a deep breath.
She carefully broke the wax seal and unfolded the letter, her eyes scanning the elegant handwriting. The letter read:
Violet,
I know you probably don't want to know about me, so I asked Jayce to write this instead. The weight of what I have to say is almost too much for me to bear, and I can barely find the words.
I'm sorry for giving you hope that we could have something. I'm sorry—I truly am. You deserve so much more than the uncertainty and pain I brought into your life. Thank you for putting up with me these past few months, despite everything. Your strength and resilience have left an indelible mark on my heart.
I'm sorry for treating you the way I did. You brought light back into my life when I thought all hope was lost. Thank you for making me feel love again—for showing me that there could be something beautiful in the midst of all the chaos. Your kindness and compassion have been a lifeline to me, and I will forever be grateful.
I want you to know that I paid for your sister’s college, so you don’t have to worry about it anymore. I also paid a full career at the same gym where Sevika is at and my family will become your official sponsor. This is my way of saying thank you and ensuring that you can focus on chasing your dreams. I want to see you become the incredible boxer I know you can be. Win for me, Violet.
I need you to keep going with your life and forget about me, I’m sorry for the emptiness I’m leaving behind. Tomorrow, I won't be here anymore, but don’t worry—I’ll always be by your side in your heart. I will carry the memories of our time together with me.
In another life, perhaps we will have the chance to be together, free from the shadows that haunt us now. Until then, please take care of yourself and know that my love for you will never fade.
Forever yours,
Caitlyn
Vi felt a heavy weight settle in her chest as she read the final lines. Her vision blurred with tears, and she struggled to keep her composure. Each word seemed to pierce her heart, leaving a trail of pain and sorrow. She folded the letter with trembling hands and held it close to her heart, letting the tears fall freely down her cheeks.
With a shaky breath, she reached for the envelope to ensure nothing was left inside. As she did, something slipped out and fell to the floor with a soft clink. It was the bracelet Vi had gifted Caitlyn. Alongside it lay a small, delicate white flower—a snowdrop-Caitlyn's favorite.
Vi's heart shattered further as she picked up the bracelet and the flower. She traced her fingers over the cool metal parts of the bracelet, memories flooding her mind. The times they spent laughing, sharing secrets, and dreaming of a future together seemed so distant now. The flower, once vibrant and full of life, now felt like a cruel symbol of what had been lost.
Unable to contain the overwhelming tide of grief, Vi collapsed against the wall, clutching the letter, bracelet, and flower to her chest. Sobs wracked her body as she cried desperately, her heart breaking with each passing moment. The room seemed to close in around her, the weight of her sorrow pressing down like an insurmountable burden.
In that moment, Vi felt utterly alone, her world crumbling before her eyes. The love she had cherished, the hope she had held onto, now felt like fragile illusions torn away by the harsh reality of their circumstances. The ache in her chest was unbearable, a constant reminder of the love she had lost and the future that would never be.
Vander came in and held her as she cried, his strong arms providing a safe haven in her moment of despair. He didn't say anything at first, just let her sob into his chest, her tears soaking through his shirt. The weight of her grief was palpable, and he could feel her trembling with each ragged breath.
"She’ll be gone tomorrow," Vi managed to say between sobs, her voice breaking with the pain of the revelation. "I’m sorry," Vander whispered, his heart aching for his daughter in his arms. He wished he could do more to ease her suffering, to take away the pain that seemed to consume her.
As the words sank in, Vi's sobs subsided slightly, and she pulled back to look at Vander, her eyes red and swollen. "Wait... tomorrow" she repeated, a sudden realization dawning on her. "Viktor..." she whispered, her mind racing. She had nearly forgotten
"I have to go," she said, her voice gaining strength as she wiped the tears from her face.
Vi stood up, her legs still shaky . She tucked the letter, bracelet, and flower safely into her pocket, holding them close to her heart. With one last look at Vander, she took a deep breath and left.
Tomorrow meant today. Vi's heart pounded in her chest as she realized the urgency of the situation. She ran as fast as she could, her legs burning with each step, but she didn’t care. She couldn't afford to slow down. The wind whipped through her hair as she sprinted through the streets, she had to make it.