Raven stepped out from among the trees as Aunt Mel's car pulled up.
"Are you ready for some pizza?" her aunt called out, smiling as she held up the pizzas in her hands.
They entered the house, the TV playing in the background as they sat in the kitchen; the clouds had disappeared as fast as they had come, and the sun hung low in the sky.
They sat eating in silence, and Raven could feel her aunt's stare piercing into the side of her face. It had been a couple of days after the funeral, and everything happened fast, including her move here; although her aunt had been by her side the whole time, she had not gotten used to her appearance.
"You need to tell me if you need to get another referral for the medication; how is your head?"
"I will; it still hurts, but it is bearable." She still had her stitches in.
"I know this is hard for you, so in any way I can to help you adapt to here, I am willing to do. I know that you love plants," Aunt Mel began as they placed their plates in the sink. "So your mother and I did something for you," she trailed off heading to the back door. Raven followed her aunt to the backyard, the ground wet from the rain; the smell of wet leaves filled the air. They ventured into the woods surrounding their house. "It is not far from the house, but it can be quite the hike," Aunt Mel told her niece as she trailed behind her. After walking for about fifteen minutes, a small green cabin appeared in front of them, the one she had seen on her walk earlier, with two windows on either side of the door and a step leading to a small porch. Her aunt opened the door; the smell of wood hit her nose, with windows on either side along with empty shelves. "Your mother bought the cabin when she suggested you come to finish high school here to make you feel more at home. It is not far from the house, and you will be safe." Raven stepped into the cabin; the wood creaked under her weight, studying her surroundings: a small couch in the corner of the cabin, shelves lining the walls along with a few plants, books, and a small table in the middle of the cabin.
"I got you some pots and seeds; I don't know much about plants, but I asked them at the place, and they told me to get them," the tools hung on a small shelf with soil and fertilizer on the ground.
"If you need anything, I am right here, okay?"
"Thank you, Aunt Mel," she told her aunt sincerely, stepping into the cabin as Melissant watched her niece look around.
Minutes had passed, and the plants she brought from home were already lined up in the cabin; at the sight of the familiarity, it felt as if a warm blanket were placed around her shoulders. Yet she never felt heavier.
***
Melissant flipped through her planner as a knock sounded in the air.
Quickly slipping from her chair, she headed toward her front door, opening it to see her friend.
"Hey," Melissant greeted her friend.
"Is she here?" her friend Danielle questioned. Looking behind her for her niece.
"Yes, she is out back," she whispered, not wanting to alert her niece to the newcomers. Danielle pushed the plate of brownies into her hands, rushing to the sink and peering out the windows for the girl. Melissant entered the kitchen behind her friend. Placing the plate of brownies on the counter.
Raven, oblivious to the peering eyes coming from the kitchen as the music played through her headphones, placed her appliances in a small box as she began walking on the trail back to the cabin. Placing it on the center table, she poured the soil inside, dropping the seed in before covering it and watering it.
***
"Poor girl, she is one strong girl," she said, staring at the bruise lining Raven's face. Danielle watched Raven head into the woods, following the trail.
"Yes, she is, but no one should be that strong at that age," Mellisant expressed emotionally.
"If I remember correctly, you were a bit younger at that age when your brother died," Danielle reminded her.
"Yes, I had many to support me through it; she only has me. I only want her to be okay; she has terrible nightmares," Mellisant sighed, her heart breaking for her niece.
***
The sun had gone down as Raven emerged from her bathroom. There was a plate of brownies on her nightstand. A small smile crossed her face as she headed to her bedroom door, stopping at the door.
"Good night, Aunt Mel," she called out to her aunt as Aunt Mel walked up the flight of stairs to her bedroom.
"Good night," she smiled at her before Raven went into her room, closing the door only ajar to her aunt's room across the hall.
Raven sat in her bed reading her book; her aunt's light had gone out long ago, but she continued reading her book until the sun peeked out from between the trees.