𝔸𝕤𝕤𝕒𝕤𝕤𝕚𝕟 ⟢ 𝔽𝕚𝕟𝕟𝕚𝕔𝕜 𝕆𝕕𝕒𝕚𝕣

- ռɨռɛ

June 4th. One more month until the Reaping, and today was Clover's birthday. Willa's heart ached, but she forced herself to smile. Every year, she thought of her sister, who shared this day, who should've been turning 17. Instead, Willa was left with faded memories and a bittersweet reminder that her sister would be forever 11, stuck in a time that changed Willa's life forever. When Clover came along, she brought a light Willa didn't know she needed. But today, Willa felt the familiar weight in her chest. It was a day of remembrance, stitched together with sorrow and gratitude. She'd do her best to keep her emotions buried, for Clover's sake.

Willa stirred as Katia's gentle movements roused her from sleep. For days now, Katia had been sleeping beside her, a quiet anchor through sleepless nights filled with memories of her family and the looming Reaping. Even if it didn't erase her anxieties, the soft presence of Katia nearby grounded her, a thread of calm she could hold onto. Katia turned, a warm smile in her eyes, her hand reaching to brush a strand of hair from Willa's face.

"Good morning, lovey," she murmured, voice soothing in the dim light. Willa's lips curved into a small smile as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

"G'morning," she mumbled, her voice thick with sleep and the undertone of what today meant to her. Katia looked at her, sensing the deeper emotions that lingered beneath the surface. She didn't press Willa to talk, instead wrapping her arms around her, giving her space to let the morning in slowly. They stayed that way for a while, wrapped in the quiet comfort of each other's presence. Willa sank into Katia's embrace, breathing in her familiar scent, a blend of lavender and something earthy, grounding. Today would be a hard one, and this gentle moment felt like a necessary piece of armor.

"Do you want to do something special today? Just you and me? The kids are with Fallon for the morning," Katia asked softly, her fingers tracing calming circles along Willa's back. Fallon was the kid's father. Him and Katia weren't together anymore but they did co-parent. Willa hesitated, her mind flickering back to memories of past birthdays, of her sister's beaming face and the laughter that filled their tiny home. The thought of celebrating felt almost wrong, but she knew that Katia's offer came from a place of understanding. Perhaps this could be a day to honor the memories in a way that didn't hurt as much.

"Maybe... Maybe we could go down to the river? She always loved it there," Willa murmured. The river had been her sister's favorite spot, a place where they'd wade in the shallow water, picking wildflowers that grew along the banks. She went every year. It was a place untouched by the sadness that came later, a place Willa could still feel her sister's spirit. Katia smiled, giving Willa a soft squeeze.

"I think that's perfect. We'll bring some flowers for her, maybe pack a little picnic if you're up for it?" Katia offered. The idea of it made Willa's heart swell, and a tiny flicker of warmth kindled in her chest. She nodded, leaning into Katia's shoulder.

"Yeah, she'd like that, I think," Willa whispered. They spent the morning in quiet preparation, gathering a small bouquet of wildflowers and some bits of bread and cheese from the pantry. Willa found herself picking blooms she knew her sister would have loved: small daisies, delicate asters, a few sprigs of lavender for its gentle, calming scent. The walk to the river was silent but peaceful, Katia's hand in hers the entire way. When they reached the bank, Willa paused, the water glinting under the sunlight, its gentle current whispering a soft, familiar melody. She knelt by the water, releasing the flowers, watching as they floated, weaving together like tiny islands, drifting downstream.

"She would've loved this," Willa said, barely above a whisper. Katia sat beside her, touching her hand.

"I'm sure she does, lovey," she replied, her voice filled with quiet certainty. They watched the flowers disappear into the distance, carried by the river, and for the first time in a long while, Willa felt the tiniest bit of peace. She always did something special to celebrate her family's birthdays. For Clover, she came to the river with flowers. For her parents, who happened to share a birthday in September, she took a walk in the woods. They always loved nature. And for Niko, who's birthday came in December, she would stargaze despite the cold temperatures. Her family would always have a special place in her heart.