Dedication: Hotchpotch for the amazing cover! Thank you so much! <3

Goosebumps spread across my skin, making me rub my hands together.

The sun is slowly sinking into the horizon, leaving an orange-glow in its wake. Outside, it is warm and beautiful. Inside, the temperature is frosty, causing us to layer up our clothing.

"Is the heat not working?" Natalie questions for the fourth time since we've been here.

"I don't know," I reply, trying not to get frustrated, pushing my hand through my unruly, dark hair. "I can't seem to find the problem."

She let out a grunt, tightening the blanket around her.

"I'll go see if there is any wood we can use for the fire," I offer, just to give myself some space.

I pad out the door and welcome the warm, summer air. We tried sitting outside as the sun set, but the mass of bugs and mosquitos attacking us, drew us back inside.

I walk briskly, kneeling onto the soft, wet grass. I collect a series of sticks and small logs into my arms, the harsh bark digging through the thin fabric of my shirt. I grit my teeth as I carry them back to the house. As I step onto the porch, my foot falters.

Lying on the dark wood, is a crimson red bow. The bow that Olivia constantly had attached to the side of her head. I suck a harsh breath into my lungs, my limbs feeling stiff as I stand there, too shocked to move.

Thoughts and endless question whirl relentlessly in my mind.

How had I not seen it when we first arrived? How did it get here? She wore it many times after we returned from this trip. She could have had multiple bows, of course, but it still made me question what the hell is happening to me.

Surely, because it's the anniversary of her death, my mind is reeling with paranoia and I am overthinking this.

"Babe?" I hear Natalie call.

Shaking my head, I use my elbow to push down on the door handle. I nudge it open and wander inside. Wordlessly, I dump the wood into the fire place. I vaguely hear Natalie begin talking as I pile the left-over newspapers into the pit, before I reach for the match that resides above the fire place.

After four swipes, due to my shaky hands, I manage to finally get a spark. I toss a couple into the fire pit and watch the flames slowly begin to spread.

I lean my arms onto the over-piece and press my forehead against the cool marble. I watch the flames as I struggle blocking out more memories of Olivia.

As I feel the warmth begin to ooze from the fire, my mind instantly reels back to a not-so-pleasant time, during mine and Olivia's relationship.

"Are you even listening to me?" she shrieks, her brilliant-blue eyes narrowing into slits as she glowers at me.

"Yes, I just chose not to respond," I bite back, trying to keep my composure, but not being very successful.

I was never one to have a temper – until now.

"You told me you would come," she continues, her high-pitch voice ringing in my already-pulsing head.

"Well, after spending the night from hell with your parents, I changed my mind!" I argue back.

"The night from hell?" she spits, looking furious.

"Yes, it was torture being around them. I don't know how you can stand them."

"They're my parents!" she wails, her blue eyes turning to liquid as water pools in them.

"Don't cry, Liv." I sigh, my back tensing. "I just don't want to go, okay?"

"You're coming. You don't have a choice."

My fists clench into balls at my sides. "No."

Her face twists into an angry scowl as she ferociously adjusts her red bow on her head, ripping out some of her hair as she re-clips it.

"You know what?" she asks me, her voice eerie calm as she meets my eyes. "Good, I'll have a better time without you there, anyway."

My stomach clenches at her words. She silently gets to her feet, before she stalks from the room, swinging my bedroom door shut with a definite slam.

A hand touches my shoulder and I jerk suddenly, a disgruntled yelp tearing from my throat.

"Woah," Natalie said, holding her hands in the air, as if surrendering, a startled look on her face. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."

I rub my hands across my face roughly. "I was thinking. Sorry."

She nods, chewing at her bottom lip. "Are you okay? You don't seem yourself."

"I'm tired. I think the stress of..." Olivia's death date, "The exams have caught up to me."

She nods in understanding. "Why don't we have an early night? We have plenty of time to spend with each other, in the next few days."

I nod with a deep sigh through my nose.

Let's hope tomorrow will be better than today.

🥀🥀🥀