_{BONNIE .}

                     a  sigh  of  relief  is  exasperated  out ,   _{the  familiar  childlike  face  sends  a  crushing  wave  of  comfort  over  the  newly  deceased  witch.  tiny  arms  are  thrown  around  her  &  she  can’t  help  but  embrace  back.  yet ,  the  moment  she  pulls  away ,  eyebrows  bumped  together  &  her  forehead  puckered.  she  was}   too  young   ,   _{too  young  to  be  trapped  between  heaven  &  whatever  else  was  out  there.  her  story}   couldn’t   _{have  already  come  to  an  abrupt  ending.}

                  “  _{it  happened  so  quick ,  y’know ?}  ”   _{shoulders  shrug  upwards ,  lips  pulling  together  to  the  side  of  her  face ,}   sorrow   _{beginning  to  settle  over  soft  features.  her  chest  extends  out  as  she}   attempts   _{to  gain  hold  of  her  breathing  before  tears  could  fall  once  again.  a  raspy  cough  is  taken  as  she  clears  her  throat ,  attention  going  back  to  the}   young   _witch.   “  _{davina  —————  what  are}   you   _{doing  here ?   you}   shouldn’t  _{be  here.     not  you.}   not  now.  ”

          EMBRACE   IS   CUT   FAR   TOO   SHORT .          _{a   moment   on   this   side   feels   like   a   lifetime ,   familiar   faces   rare ,   if   any .}          stone - weight      _{sorrow   strikes   delicate   features   with   every   word   from   the   other’s   lips    ;    she   wasn’t   meant   to}   be   here .          _{neither   were   meant   to   be   here .          eyes   are   glazed   with   ready   mist ,   fingers   rising   to   sweep   at   the   corners   before   any   can   fall .} 

_{❛     ───     um  …   ❜          words   slip   shakily ,   an   exhale   punctuating   silence .          ❛     ───     it   was   an   accident .          the   ancestors   hate   me .          everything   that   happened   last   time ,   they}     hate   me .          _{they   made   him   lose}     control .   ❜          _{hair   is   swept   behind   her   ear ,   countenance   cracking   under   the   words .          and   still ,   steeled   control   forces   a   halt .          she   won’t   cry .}