『⊹𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗺𝘀 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗺⊹』

✐ Chapter ~ 2

Zyon adjusted her backpack, glancing around the park to see if Lacey had arrived yet. She spotted her sitting on a bench under the sprawling cherry blossom tree, sketchpad in hand. As she approached her, the pink petals drifted down in the gentle breeze, adding a magical touch to the scene.

"Hey, Lacey,"

Zyon greeted, taking a seat beside her. "Ready to dive into our mural ideas?" Lacey looked up, a hint of a smile on her lips. "Yeah, I brought some sketches. What about you?" Zyon pulled out her own notebook, flipping through pages of doodles and notes. "I did some brainstorming too. We can combine our ideas and see what we can come up with." They spent the next hour collaborating, their ideas blending seamlessly.

Zyon found herself genuinely enjoying Lacey's company. There was something calming about her presence, a stark contrast to the chaos of Zyon's home life.

As they sketched, Zyon's thoughts wandered to her father. His anger had been more intense lately, the house feeling like a pressure cooker ready to explode. She shook her head, trying to push the dark thoughts away and focus on the present. "What do you think about adding a quote?" Lacey suggested, bringing Zyon back to the present. "Something about renewal or hope?" "I love that idea," Zyon agreed. "Maybe something like, 'In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.' "Lacey's eyes lit up. "That's beautiful. It fits perfectly with our theme."

As they continued to work, a comfortable silence settled between them. The sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the park. Zyon felt a sense of peace she hadn't experienced in a long time."Hey, Lacey," Zyon said softly, breaking the silence. "Thanks for doing this with me. It's been really nice."

Lacey looked at her, her expression softening. "It's been nice for me too. I usually keep to myself, but I'm glad we're working together."
They packed up their things and stood up, the cherry blossoms still falling around them like a gentle shower. As they walked out of the park, side by side, Zyon felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, this mural project was the start of something good.

The next few days were a blur of schoolwork and planning. Zyon and Lacey found themselves spending more time together, their bond growing stronger with each passing day. They discovered shared interests and laughed over inside jokes, their connection deepening. However, the world outside their blossoming friendship was not as kind. Lacey's parents grew more distant and cold, their arguments escalating. At home, Zyon's father became more volatile, his anger simmering beneath the surface. The safety they found in each other became their refuge from the storm raging in their personal lives.

The date of the spring festival was nearing.
As it approached, the mural started to take shape, a testament to their hard work and growing friendship. But lurking in the shadows were the challenges they would soon face, tests of their strength and resilience. Little did they know, their journey together had only just begun.

---

The next day at school, Zyon and Lacey met up in the art room after the classes ended. The room had a scent of paint and a hum of creativity. They layed down their sketches on a large table and began planning the final layout of the mural.

"Let's start with the background first." Lacey suggested, her fingers tracing the outline of the paper. "Yeah." Zyon agreed. "We can show the transition from winter to spring."

"And the snow melting away to reveal cherry blossom petals."

As they painted, their conversation flowed easily. They talked about their favourite movies, books and music. They got to know more about each other. Zyon genuinely felt that a weight had been lifted off her shoulders, even if it was just for a moment. She felt her heart racing when she looked at Lacey. Her smile, her voice, her personality, her laugh. It all made her so happy.

"Hey, Lace?" She exclaimed softly.

"Lace?"

"Yeah! It's like a nickname. I hope that's okay with you."

"It is. So what were you saying?"

Zyon questioned with a hint of nervousness in her voice. "Can we meet at the park tomorrow? Under the cherry blossom tree."

"Oh, why? It's a Saturday tomorrow." Lacey asked. "Well, I just wanted to hang out with you." Zyon replied.

"Okay then!" Lacey exclaimed.

She let out a sigh of relief.

"Also, it's getting pretty late, so we should leave." Lacey suggested. "Alright, I'll see you tomorrow!" Zyon beamed

---

Shit.
Shit.
Shit.
I'm so late, my dad is gonna kill me.

Zyon rushed to the door, opening it, hoping her father doesn't realize she's home. She tries to tiptoe to her room, however...

"Where the fuck have you been? Probably hooking up with some guy at school."

"Dad, it's not like that."

"I told you to not call me that! Just stop wasting my time and go make dinner."

---

Phone ringing...

Hey sis?
Hey Z.
How's college?
It's going good! Made some new friends. I think you'll like them, hope I get to introduce you to them someday.
Me too. I'm excited to meet them.
So why'd you call all of a sudden?
I just wanted to ask you when you'll be coming back.
Oh. Is dad getting worse?
I mean. No. Well, I just felt kinda lonely without you.
Well, It'll take a while. Probably about 2 or 3 months?
Oh. That's okay. I'll wait for you.
Is everything okay?
Yeah. I should go to sleep now. Good night, El.
Sweet dreams, Z.

---

Zyon layed in bed, replaying the words of her father again and again in her head. Trying to remind herself that she wasn't the person he painted her to be.
A new dread forms inside her. The storm brewing inside her father would soon pour over her sanctuary with Lacey.