Willow closed her mouth, blinking at Mrs. Ann in surprise at her harsh words as she quietly followed her into the house.
Soon, she found herself standing in the middle of a large living room, surrounded by unfamiliar faces.
Yet… they didn't feel unfamiliar.
They looked familiar—too familiar, like people she had known once… a long time ago.
Apart from Mrs. Ann, there were two elderly people—a man and a woman. Sitting beside them was a couple she assumed were the ones adopting her. Next to them sat a young girl, slightly younger than her, staring at her with cold, judging eyes.
"This is the girl," Mrs. Ann said, nudging Willow forward.
Willow stumbled slightly, nearly missing her step as confusion filled her eyes.
"This… is her?" the older woman asked, her tone almost pitiful.
Willow's heart skipped.
That voice…
Why did it sound so familiar?
Her gaze slowly moved around the room until it landed on a picture by the TV stand.
She froze.
That was her.
A picture of her… when she was six years old.
Her breath hitched as memories came rushing back all at once.
"No…" she whispered, stepping back.
"No… no…"
Before she could think, she turned and ran up the stairs.
Where's the bedroom? It has to be them…
She searched frantically, ignoring the angry voices calling her name and the hurried footsteps chasing after her, coming closer and closer.
Finally, she burst into a room and froze.
Without hesitation, she walked to the drawers, opening them one after another—her hands trembling.
Until the last one.
She stopped.
Her breath caught as tears slipped down her cheeks.
Inside were her toys… her books… even the little notes she had written years ago.
She remembered everything.
How could she forget… the life she once had before being abandoned at the orphanage?
Suddenly, her thoughts were cut short as someone grabbed her arm and yanked her up harshly, facing a very angry woman.
"What do you think you're doing?!" the woman yelled angrily.
Willow looked up, tears streaming down her face as stared at the woman before her.
"Mom…" she whispered, her voice breaking.
The woman's expression hardened instantly.
She shoved Willow away with disgust.
"Never call me that again," Lyraea said coldly, her voice sharp as a blade.
Willow trembled on the floor.
"You… you're my parents… Why did you leave me at the orphanage? Did I do something wrong? Was it because I was sick?" she cried.
Lyraea scoffed.
"Listen carefully. You are no longer my biological daughter. You are now nothing more than an adopted child of the Blackwood family. This—" she said, pulling the young girl forward—"is my real daughter, Olivia Blackwood. Know your place."
With that, she turned and walked out, dragging Olivia with her.
Willow sat frozen, her tears falling endlessly.
Slowly, she turned to the man who was supposed to be her father.
He stared at her blankly.
She opened her mouth to speak—
"Don't."
Valtor raised a hand, silencing her instantly.
"Consider us bringing you back here, to this family a favor. Stop making a scene," he said before walking away.
Willow watched helplessly as one by one, everyone left the room.
Leaving her with Mrs Ann the old woman who lingered for a moment, her eyes filled with pity, she wanted to step forward…
But Mrs. Ann's cold gaze stopped her.
She hesitated… then turned and left.
The door closed.
And Willow finally broke down.
Everything hurts.
____FLASHBACK ENDS_____
"Willow… Wi–llow!"
She snapped back to reality as someone shook her gently.
A finger brushed against her cheek, wiping away tears she hadn't realized were falling.
"Are you okay?" Thane asked softly.
Willow stared at him blankly for a moment…
Then stood up without a word and walked out of the classroom.
EIRAVYN;
I was walking down the hallway with Kaida talking endlessly beside me when the new girl suddenly walked past us.
Her face was blank. Empty.
"Is that Willow?" Kaida asked.
"Yeah… I guess," I replied.
"She just walked past us like we don't exist. She's just like you," Kaida giggled—then froze when I shot her a glare.
"Why am I even friends with you?" I muttered. Her smile dropped.
I shook my head before walking away following the direction Willow had gone.
KAIDA;
I don't get it…
What did I do wrong?
All I ever wanted was to be her
friend.
But no matter what I do, she doesn't seem to care. I call her my best friend… but I don't even know what I am to her.
All she's ever good at is always pushing people away. Always shutting them out and being rude.
Still… I followed her, quietly.
She was following Willow—taking every turn she took, stopping wherever she stopped—until we finally reached a quiet tree behind the school building.
"Hey," Eiravyn called.
Willow ignored her completely, not even sparing her a glance.
Eiravyn sighed and sat beside her.
"You don't have to talk right now. I'm guessing it's…because you're new here. But if you ever run into trouble, we've got your back."
I rolled my eyes.
"So… you finally acknowledge my presence?" I said sarcastically.
"Not now, Kaida!" she snapped before walking away.
I watched her leave, my chest tightening as tears threatened to fall.
"…Are you friends with her?"
I froze.
I turned to Willow in shock.
It was the first time I had heard her speak today.
"Who…?" I asked.
"The girl who just left," she said quietly.
"Oh… Eiravyn. I see her as my best friend… but I don't know what she sees me as," I admitted.
Willow raised a brow slightly.
"You're friends with someone who doesn't even acknowledge you as one?"
"Hey! It's not like that… she just hasn't said anything yet," I defended.
"Whatever helps you sleep," she muttered with a small shrug before standing up.
She began to walk away.
"Hey! Wait up!" I called, hurrying after her.
I walked beside her, trying to start small conversations…
And to my surprise—
She actually responded.