Apologies to the willow tree

Day 2.

I felt something drop on my face but didn't open my eyes. It was slightly sharp but not sharp enough to majorly disturb me. It was followed by another one. And another. And another until I finally gave in and open my eyes. The first sight to meet them was Willow.

"Morning sleeping beauty," she chuckled.

"You think I'm a beauty. That's sweet."

"Shut up."

I pulled my body up. Leaves tumbled down my torso into my lap.

"Willow," I groaned.

"Yes?"

"Was that really necessary?"

"I have no idea what you are talking about."

I grabbed a handful of leaves from my lap and dropped them on her head. She shook them off in the same way a wet dog dries itself.

I suddenly became aware of something moving on Willow's forehead. It was black and had eight long legs.

"Willow."

"What now?"

"Spider." I couldn't form sentences longer than a word.

"Where?"

"Forehead. No. Hair." The spider was moving.

She shook her head again. The spider landed on the floor. She squealed.

"Max, get rid of it."

"No way. I am not touching that freaky thing."

We looked at each other then frantically clambered out of the fort. I remembered to grab my torch on the way out. We both ran across the grass to the car. I let out a sigh of relief as I sat down in the driver's seat. Making sure Willow was safely in the car first, I started up the ignition. The car started moving.

"Are you just going to leave the quilts and pillows there?"

"I never wanted to buy the things I'm the first place and they're all filthy now anyway."

"Fair enough. So what's the plan for today?"

"Well, I thought we'd go sightseeing as long as you're okay with that."

Willow's eyes lit up. I then knew that I had chosen the perfect thing to do.

As we drove along through the country to get to the spot where our first attraction would be, Willow looked sad.

"What's up?"

She turned to me and smiled sadly. "Why are we doing this? I'm going to die wether we do or not."

How could she say this with a smile on her face?

I looked down as far as I could while having to keep my eyes on the road. "To make up for what I did by making this good for you."

I tightened my grip on the steering wheel. Anger at what had just left my lips, flooding over me. Nothing I did could make up for basically killed her. Well, it was better than saying, "oh to make me feel better you know, having destroyed your chances of a full life and all."

"..over" she interrupted.

Huh? What? So engrossed in my thoughts, I hadn't heard willow talking but the next sentence I definitely heard.

She raised her voice and firmly said, "Max pull over."

I looked at her only to see her looking at her knees with her hair covering her face... 'I've mentally broken willow,' I thought.