Anger And Grace

Chapter 3: Who Is Celeste Raven?

✩ C E L E S T E   R A V E N ✩
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The next morning, the sound of birds chirping outside the window woke me up. I rubbed my eyes, the events of the day replayed in my mind like a broken record. Despite everything, I missed my mother. I missed the familiarity of my old life, as harsh and cruel as it had been.

I got up and headed to the guest bathroom that Emily had told me I could use the night before. Inside, I found a toothbrush and toothpaste neatly set out for me. I brushed my teeth, the minty freshness a stark contrast to the stale taste I was used to. As I rinsed my mouth, I caught my reflection in the mirror. My raven-colored hair was a tangled mess, and my green eyes looked back at me, filled with uncertainty. My pale skin was painted with bruises—faded greens, purples, and ugly yellows that stood out starkly against the whiteness.

After tidying myself up as best as I could, I made my way downstairs. The smell of breakfast greeted me as I shuffled into the kitchen. I hesitated in the doorway, my eyes widening at the sight of the table set with pancakes, eggs, and bacon. It felt surreal, almost like a dream.

"Good morning, Celeste," Emily said with a warm smile. She was flipping pancakes, her movements graceful and practiced. "I hope you're hungry."

I nodded, my stomach growling despite my nerves. I wasn't used to eating this early, or eating much at all, really. The sight of so much food made my mouth water, but a part of me held back, remembering the times I got screamed at and hit for eating without permission.

"Come sit down, sweetie," Emily encouraged, patting the chair beside her. "We made plenty."

I sat down cautiously, my hands fidgeting in my lap. Emily placed a plate of pancakes in front of me, along with a small pitcher of syrup. "Go ahead, dig in," she said softly, her smile never faltering.

I hesitated, my fingers trembling as I reached for the fork. The memories of harsh words and slaps echoed in my mind. I glanced at Jamie, who was reading the newspaper at the other end of the table. He looked up and gave me a reassuring nod.

"It's okay, Celeste," he said gently. "You're safe here."

I took a deep breath and picked up the fork, cutting into the pancake. The first bite was like heaven, the warm, fluffy texture melting in my mouth. I couldn't help but take another bite, and then another. I savored each bite, afraid that I might not get another meal like this. But soon, I realized I couldn't eat much more. My stomach wasn't used to large amounts of food, and I barely ate half of my plate.

Emily sat down next to me, her own plate filled with food. "Do you like it?" she asked.

I nodded, swallowing another bite. "It's really good," I mumbled, my voice barely above a whisper.

"I'm glad," she said, her eyes soft with kindness. "There's plenty more, so eat as much as you want."

I couldn't remember the last time someone had been this nice to me. It felt strange and a little uncomfortable, but also nice. I ate slowly, savoring each bite, while Emily and Jamie chatted about their plans for the day. They included me in their conversations, asking me questions about what I liked to do and my favorite subjects in school. It was nice to talk about normal things, even if it felt a bit overwhelming.

Jamie and Emily exchanged concerned glances when they noticed how little I ate. I saw the worry in their eyes, but they didn't push me to eat more, for which I was grateful.

After breakfast, Jamie looked at me with a serious expression. "Celeste, we're going to go back to your house today to get your things. I know it will be hard, but we need to do it. Are you okay with that?"