Carly's Cosmic Quest: Growing into Self-Worth

Carly was the first to wake up.

In her sleepy state, she stumbled over to the window and looked out.

"Wow!" She exclaimed, not realizing how loud she had said it.

Her dad stirred, but didn't get up.

He was used to Carly waking up early in the morning, after all.

It's not like he ever got much sleep with a daughter who had a habit of sneaking into his bed every night.

Carly's mom had passed away when she was only four years old, and ever since then her dad had tried to be there for her as much as possible.

There had been times where he'd work late at the office just so he could spend some time with her before she went off to school.

They would spend their time together eating lunch every day, and he would read her a story or two every night before bedtime.

When she asked him why he never remarried, he simply replied that he couldn't find anyone that could take his wife's place in his heart.

He could never quite explain it to Carly, but he wanted to think that his love for his wife was so great that no one else could ever possibly fill the void she left behind in their family.

He knew that wasn't true, but it's what kept him going every day, because if it wasn't for him telling himself that his deceased wife would want nothing more than for him to take care of Carly and show her how much she meant to him, then who knows what would happen?

Carly loved her dad very much; she always made sure to tell him as much every day.

They were very close and they understood each other better than anyone else could possibly understand them.

That is why it tore them both apart when they lost their mother in the accident three years ago; they still haven't been able to move on from it yet...but they're trying their hardest to do so.

But enough about that!

It's now time for today's exciting adventure!

Carly was already heading down the hall towards the kitchen when suddenly a large orange object popped up from nowhere right in front of her face: Joseph!

"Hey!" He yelled playfully at Carly who jumped back away from him in fear. "You know I'm not actually an alien right?" He laughed while pointing at himself. "I mean...I'm pretty sure I've told you guys this before." He offered with a chuckle. "Oh well~" He shrugged as he put on the best smile he could muster up before turning around and walking away from Carly, who did nothing but stare at her friend dumbfounded by what had just happened.

* * * * *

"Joseph! What are you doing here? Mommy said we aren't supposed to let you inside our house again!" Shouted Carly angrily as she ran after Joseph, leaving nothing but a trail of dust behind from where she ran through.

She caught up with him quickly and skidded slightly as she managed to grab onto the back of his shirt collar, nearly falling over as she pulled back on it in anger until Joseph finally turned around and faced her head-on with a sigh. "Is this really how you want your sister-sansister bond end?" He asked rhetorically before turning around and walking away once again while squinting hard at his surroundings (noticing everything). "Ugh..." He groaned aloud while shaking his head side to side while muttering under his breath ("Damn asteroids..."). He continued walking until he reached the only door in sight: A big red door with a giant blue symbol painted on it curiously shaped like a pair of breasts with a nipple on them (more specifically--an inverted capital letter 'U' shape...with two dots on each side). Upon reaching out towards the door handle and grasping it tightly within his hand, he turned around as if motioning for Carly to follow behind him (as though she could resist such an offer). As soon as Carly reached out for the door handle herself however, Joseph smirked slyly at her and covered up the door handle with one of his hands, causing Carly's eyes to widen in shock before giving an annoyed grunt--"Joseph!"--and elbowing Joseph aside so she could reach out for the door herself (which was easier said than done). She yanked open the door with all her might before jumping into whatever room lied behind it without even looking back at Joseph first (which was definitely not recommended). As soon as Joseph heard footsteps running towards...somewhere inside the room behind him while shouting loudly something along the lines of "What were you thinking!?", he sighed heavily before slowly walking inside himself and shutting closed the door behind him. After looking around for any signs of Carly (or whatever else), all he saw was a small pinkish-red creature jumping into view before stopping dead in its tracks and staring at him directly in the eyes with an expressionless look on its face--a look which seemed almost familiar to Joseph? Anyways...the creature slowly approached him while tilting its head slowly back and forth until it had seemingly memorized Joseph's entire appearance carefully before finally wrapping itself around one of Joseph's legs while making loud purring noises slowly so that they wouldn't wake whatever else lied ahead within this mysterious room (at least...that's what Joseph assumed lately after dealing with these creatures longer than necessary). "So..." He spoke aloud hesitantly as though trying not scare off whatever lay ahead further than necessary; although ultimately failing miserably when even louder shrieking noises erupted forth from behind one of those dividing walls separating both sides of this room (in other words: screams). The little creature jumped off immediately from where it once rested itself atop Joseph's leg onto a nearby table next to where he stood motionlessly alongside one wall waiting patiently for something or someone--he didn't know which--to make an appearance and reveal themselves either by showing off or by shouting out threats (either way suited him fine). 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