Grieve

Chapter 3

The curtains in my bedroom are closed, blocking all the sunlight that wants to invade the place this early in the morning. I woke up thirty minutes ago, and all I can do is watch the wall in front of me. I haven't been able to get up from bed, make some breakfast, or go to the bathroom. I stare at the peeling white wall and listen to the silence my apartment has been condemned to because I'm its tenant. My body feels numb and heavy, like there is a weight pressing me onto the bed. It's probably grief, paying me a visit again. I can't move, and I want so bad to cry, but nothing comes out of my eyes. So I sigh and swallow the lump in my throat because I'm unable to release the burning pain.

Thankfully, tomorrow, I go back to work. Even though I hate being a cashier, it keeps my mind off things. It prevents me from feeling like this because I'm busy. I don't have much time to think of Athena in the store, and Han distracts me as well when he talks to me, or better said, complains.

I change my position to face the opposite wall in my bedroom, only to find a little being sitting on top of my nightstand. I thought I had dreamt all those things that happened yesterday, but maybe not. Daia is right there, with her little legs dangling in the wood border. She is wearing a pink dress today, and her bright jewelry, and has a little notebook and pencil on her hand while she scribbles something on it. When she looks up again, she realizes I'm watching her.

"What are you doing?" I whisper. It's not like I want to talk right now, but I can't ignore her, I guess.

Her wings flap lazily, making bits of glitter scatter around the surface. She smiles softly at me.

"I'm watching you." Daia explains and writes down something else. I frown, but I don't have the energy to argue with her.

I close my eyes, trying to pretend I don't exist anymore.

"When are you going to eat?" She asks in a neutral tone, but when I open my eyes again, she's grimacing and looking at me through her white eyelashes.

I don't answer her. Instead, I close my eyes again. Pretend there is not a fairy protector in front of me.

"Are you not going to pee, at least?"

I sigh forcefully and keep silent.

"Aster, stop ignoring me. You should get up already." I think she's starting to lose her patience because she sounds irritated. Daia is probably a short-tempered fairy. Not probably, she is. I confirm this when she scoffs loudly.

Suddenly, the sheets I've been cuddling with so I can keep my body warm slide down my bed until they reach the floor.

"What is wrong with you?" I yell, angry, and sit up in the bed.

Daia puts her notebook and pencil on her side before focusing on me.

"I've got to get you out of bed one way or another," she shrugs calmly. Then, points at the bathroom. "Go ahead; wash up, then come back here while I'm asking nicely."

"I don't want to! Oh my god, you are so annoying. Can you let me be?" I stand up to quickly recover my bed sheets and hold them tight around me when I lay down again.

I clearly pissed her off. Her hands are suddenly covered by a black tone that makes its way through her usually pale blue skin. The blackness creeps up until it reaches her elbows, and it abruptly stops. Now I realize her eyes are a redish black, and she looks more scary than a pretty little fairy.

My TV starts turning on and off, the fan stops, and the curtains move like there is a strong breeze in the room when there is none. My eyes widen when she starts flying up and towards the center of the bedroom. Her expression is absent, like she's in a trance. Her arms, covered in gold bracelets, extend straight outside each side of her body, and her fists release a type of transparent energy that goes straight to the ground. I quickly get closer to my bed frame and wrap my arms around myself. I don't think I should have yelled at her. I didn't know she was capable of all of this.