As the willow droops

As the willow wilts

"We're heading out for some shopping, Willow. Will you be alright on your own?" A gentle voice called out in the hall, where two adults- a couple, wearing heavy winter jackets were preparing to go out into the Winter rain. It was a rainy Winter, there had been no snow, and only a hint of frost, yet they were still wrapped up as if they were going out to the Arctic. "Yes, I'll be fine," Called back Willow from a room upstairs, "I have the list of chores you set out for me here.." There was a rummaging from her room, where she was flipping through papers, probably on her study desk. "Okay Willow. Make sure to lock the door and take out the key. If you get cold, turn on the heating." Her mother replied. She turned to the door, opened it to the sound of rain lashing out of the heavens, where she followed her husband out to their car. The door shut, and Willow dashed to the front bedroom, their bedroom, where she looked out at them leaving, her mother looking up through the windshield, smiling, her whole face was smiling, her icy blue eyes crinkled at the corners, and her lips were pulled up at the corners. She adjusted her chestnut brown hair in the mirror near her head, before waving, and finally disappearing as the car drove off. Willow sighed. She did not have her mother's features, rather she had her Biological father's. That was brown hair, which when it caught the light had slivers of dirty blonde, and which naturally waved when it was slightly ruffled. She had green eyes, which weren't too stark, yet when one saw them they got the impression of Moss on a grey castle wall in the sunlight. She was not slender, she was average in height and she had a slightly round face, not in an overweight sort of way, but in the way that she had the face of a young child. Even though she was turning seventeen in the Spring, she still was conscious of her flat chest and thick thighs. She prayed that maybe she would lose some babyfat soon, because most people mistake her for a tween, which was sometimes a blessing and sometimes a curse.

She got through her chores a little while later, was settling down to her pottery set, when she heard the doorbell chime. It was slightly unusual for someone to call at this time of the evening, glancing at her digital clock she noticed it was 20:37, slowly she realised it had gotten dark ages ago, but she did not worry about her mother and step-father, they usually left early and returned very late. But today was strange, she saw the flicker of police lights through the windows, and voices outside her house. She lived in a small housing estate with fourteen houses, with everyone on the street having different backgrounds, and often bickering but mostly just living in harmony. Willow rushed to open the door, and she saw two policemen, one holding a plastic sandwich bag holding a few things, a leather banded watch, two wedding rings, a drivers license and a purse. She suddenly felt a wave of nausea, she had only read of such things in stories and in the news, she had never thought she would ever witness it, let alone it happening to her. But here they were, sullen faced, surrounded by the flashes of their car and a crowd of people, peering at her with eyes filled with pity. "Hello there. We are so sorry to bother you this evening, but are you Willow? Willow Stevens?" The voice of One of the policemen snapped Willow back into reality. "Yes, please, come in" she stuttered, stepping aside to allow the police to enter the small hallway. She lead them to the kitchen, where they sat down at the cheap wooden table. "Willow, you are old enough now to hear this straight out. But would you feel better if one of your neighbours or a close adult were here with you?" One of them asked. They were both very pale, but one had sandy blonde hair, while the others was ginger. Sam being the blonde and Jim being the ginger. She hesitated, before shaking her head. She did not want any of them here, they all were outsiders to her, the neighbours, and she didn't have any family or close adults she knew she could call. "No, I'm fine. What happened? Has there been an accident? Is my mother okay?" She asked these questions in a calm, collected manner. They looked at each other, Sam rose his eyebrows at Jim, before looking back at her. "Your parents have been in a road collision. They were driving at the correct speed, but there was a drunk driver speeding towards them. The car seemed to have collided, and other cars also crashed, which was as a result of the weather, the rain was hard to see through. There are a few witnesses to the crash, and an investigation has been put into place on the exact details of the accident. Your parents are now Road Collision victims, and their case will be detailed in court for you and close friends to hear in a few months time. But for now, you will have to pack bags and stay with someone, as you cannot be alone. We are filing a case to see in who's custody you will be put. But for now, we will leave these belongings with you here, and will speak with some of the neighbours." Sam cleared his throat, carefully placing the belongings bag before her. Jim nodded at her. "We are very sorry for your loss, Willow." They stood up, and retreated to the doorway, where they left her, sitting numbly. She stared at the wall of the kitchen, processing everything she had just been told. Dead. Gone, her sweet mother. She felt tears pricking to her eyes, her throat swelling and hands becoming sweaty, as she clenched them against the wood table. A quiet sob escaped her lips.