Daughter of a Witch

Lifeline

The night was still and heavy, the oppressive quiet of the house pressing down on Y/n like a weight she couldn't shake off. The warm, familiar sounds of Westview-the wind through the trees, the distant murmur of neighbors, the occasional chirp of crickets-felt far away, muted by the storm that raged inside her. The soft glow of moonlight filtered through her curtains, casting long shadows across her room, but the comforting light couldn't pierce the darkness in her mind.

Her hands trembled slightly as she curled them into fists, her magic sputtering weakly. That familiar light purple glow, the blend of her mother's powers, flickered and faded as quickly as it appeared. She'd spent hours trying to harness it-trying to force control-but the harder she pushed, the more chaotic it became. Her books and notes lay scattered across the floor, magical texts interspersed with the prep work for her college applications. Everything was a mess, inside and out, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't seem to fix it.

Her frustration, her doubt, her fear-it all bubbled beneath the surface, simmering like a pot about to boil over. Y/n clenched her jaw, fighting the tears that stung her eyes, refusing to let them fall. She had to be strong. She had to figure this out. Her powers, her future-everything depended on her getting this under control. But the truth was, she didn't feel strong. She felt like she was drowning, and no matter how hard she kicked, she couldn't reach the surface.

The soft creak of her door opening barely registered at first. Y/n didn't look up, assuming it was Agatha, who had been giving her space the last few days. Her mother always knew when Y/n needed time alone to work through things, but tonight, the quiet footsteps approaching her bed weren't Agatha's. They were lighter, more hesitant.

"Y/n?" It was Rio's voice, soft and filled with concern.

Y/n bit the inside of her cheek, willing herself to keep it together. She didn't want to fall apart in front of her mother, not tonight. She hadn't even noticed Rio had been watching her closely these past few days, but of course, she had. Rio always knew when something was wrong, even if Y/n tried to hide it.

Without waiting for an invitation, Rio quietly stepped inside, her eyes scanning the mess of papers, books, and clothes strewn across the room. She didn't comment on the chaos; she just walked over and sat down beside Y/n on the edge of the bed. For a long time, neither of them spoke. The silence hung heavy between them, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It was the kind of silence that invited truth, the kind that said everything without words.

"You don't have to do this alone, you know," Rio finally said, her voice soft but firm.

Y/n squeezed her eyes shut, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill over. She didn't say anything, but the weight of those words settled in her chest. She had been trying to do everything on her own for so long-control her magic, get through school, figure out her future-that she hadn't realized how isolated she'd made herself.

Rio reached out, her hand warm and gentle on Y/n's back. "Sweetheart, I know you're struggling. I've seen it. And I'm not going to pretend to know exactly what you're going through, but you don't have to carry this by yourself."

That simple truth was like a crack in the dam Y/n had built around her emotions. Her vision blurred as tears finally slipped down her cheeks, and she angrily wiped them away. She hated crying. She hated feeling weak.

"I'm not... I'm not good at any of this," Y/n choked out, her voice breaking. "My magic, school, everything... I'm screwing it all up. I can't control anything anymore."

Rio pulled Y/n into a gentle embrace, her arms wrapping around her daughter like a protective cocoon. Y/n resisted at first, stiffening in her mother's arms, but the warmth, the unconditional love in Rio's touch, broke through the wall she'd built around herself. Slowly, she allowed herself to melt into the embrace, her sobs coming in quiet, broken gasps against Rio's shoulder.

Rio didn't say anything for a long while. She just held Y/n, rocking her gently as her tears soaked into the fabric of her shirt. When Y/n's sobs finally began to quiet, Rio spoke softly, her voice steady and calm. "You're not screwing anything up, Y/n. You're human. And being human means you don't have to have it all together all the time."

Y/n sniffled, pulling back slightly to wipe at her face. "But my magic... it's supposed to be a part of me. I'm supposed to be able to control it. I've been training with Agatha for years, and now it's like I'm back at square one."

Rio's hand gently stroked Y/n's hair, her fingers combing through the dark strands with a soothing rhythm. "Your magic is connected to your emotions," she said quietly. "When your emotions are all over the place, your powers will be too. It's not a failure, sweetheart. It's just a reflection of what you're going through."

Y/n let out a shaky breath, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I don't know what I'm doing anymore. Everyone else seems to have their lives figured out-mama with her magic, my friends with their futures... I don't even know if I'm ready for college."

Rio's heart ached to hear the uncertainty in her daughter's voice. She pulled Y/n closer, resting her chin on top of her head. "It's okay not to have everything figured out yet," Rio murmured. "No one expects you to be perfect. Life's not about having all the answers. It's about figuring things out as you go, and sometimes, that means stumbling along the way."

Y/n swallowed hard, her voice thick with emotion. "But I feel like I'm letting everyone down. You and Mama... you've both been so patient with me, and I don't want to disappoint you."

Rio gently pulled back, cupping Y/n's tear-streaked face in her hands, her gaze full of love and understanding. "You could never disappoint us," Rio said softly. "We're proud of you, Y/n. You've grown into such a strong, compassionate young woman. And the fact that you're struggling right now doesn't change that. It's okay to lean on the people who love you when things get tough."

Y/n stared into her mother's eyes, her heart swelling with a mixture of relief and vulnerability. Rio had always been a calming presence in her life, the one who could steady her when everything else felt like it was falling apart. At this moment, Y/n realized just how much she had come to rely on her.

"You're my lifeline, you know that?" Y/n whispered, her voice barely audible but full of raw emotion. "When everything feels like it's spinning out of control, you're the one who pulls me back."

Rio's eyes softened, and she smiled gently, brushing a strand of hair away from Y/n's face. "I'm always here for you, no matter what. You're never alone in this, Y/n."

For the first time in what felt like weeks, the tight knot of anxiety in Y/n's chest began to loosen. She wasn't alone. She didn't have to have everything figured out right now. She could stumble, she could fall, and her mothers would be there to catch her.

As the two of them sat together in the quiet of the room, the storm inside Y/n began to calm. The weight of her emotions hadn't vanished, but they no longer felt so unbearable. She had her family-Agatha and Rio-by her side. And for now, that was enough.

Rio kissed Y/n's forehead softly. "We'll figure it out together, okay?"

Y/n nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Okay."

They stayed like that for a while, the comforting silence between them filling the room. Outside, the wind had settled, the world around them still and peaceful. Y/n felt that same peace settling into her heart. She didn't know what tomorrow would bring, but for the first time in a long time, she wasn't scared of it.

With Rio by her side, she knew she could face whatever came next.