Grief is the Price -- A Week Later, February 14

[Cytherea]

Olivia

"I'm so sorry, Sol." Olivia whispered. They stood together beside the coffin. Olivia bit her lip, trying not to cry for Sol's sake. "It was... such a shock to us all."

Sol didn't say anything. She embraced Olivia and cried into her shoulder, longing for comfort and love to fill the gap that had been so mercilessly ripped from her heart.

"Camri was..." Olivia's words caught in her throat. Tears streamed from her eyes and into Sol's unkempt hair.

"She's gone now." Sol sobbed. "But how can she be? She... Camri can't be gone..." she sank to the ground and sobbed uncontrollably. Olivia cried, feeling so useless. After the shooting in the streets just two days ago, their lives were changed so drastically. Camri and two other Subterrians became the victims of a crazed shooting, and Camri died before the medics arrived. How could it be real? How could such an unfair, terrible thing happen?

It can't be real. Olivia felt weak. It just can't.

[Cytherea]

Destiny

It was cold outside. Destiny pulled her jacket tighter around her, and hugged her knees to her chest, trying to preserve heat. Though the day was cold, the sun still shone resiliently, refusing to be blocked by the dismal grey clouds. She sat outside on a dry log under a canopy of willow branches. The river by her house was one of her favorite places to go, and the biting cold of the weather couldn't keep her from sitting by the water. She kicked her flats off and let the icy water trickle over her bare feet.

[Wylla]

    Gilbert sat on the cart, the produce behind him and Jerusalem running ahead of the horse pulled cart. He'd finished his work early enough to take a different route to the city.
    Jerusalem looked back at him from a few feet ahead of Lottie (the horse) and barked.
    "What is it boy?" Gilbert asked as they neared the river. 
    He looked across at the clear water then at the scenery surrounding it. Underneath a willow tree on the river bank sat the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.  

 

 

[Cytherea]

A cart slowly rolled by, and Destiny looked up. A handsome young man was seated upon the dusty buckboard, and he quickly reigned his horse in, stopping the cart. He stared at her, and a gentle blush colored her cheeks. Hesitantly, she raised her hand in greeting, smiling as she did so. His dog barked loudly at her, and, frightened, she quickly pulled her feet out of the water and slipped them back into her shoes.

[Wylla]

The girl look startled by Jerusalem and Gilbert quickly climbed off his cart. He walked to the riverbank and waved his hand unsure of whether or not he was startling her more. 
"Sorry!" He said. 
He glanced back at Jerusalem. 
"Heel boy" He said. 
Then he trudged across the water. 
"Um..." He stood there awkwardly, trying to remember what he was saying as he stared at her crystalline like eyes.   

[Cytherea]

Oh my word... he's coming over.

Destiny felt her heart flutter, suddenly feeling unsteady. He crossed the river, and stood right in front of her. He was so tall she felt intimidated just by his shadow. She felt his eyes looking over her, and she slowly convinced herself to search his. The eyes she looked into were unlike any she'd ever seen; the purest brown ever.

"H-Hi." she said quietly with a timid smile while pushing a strand of her hair behind her ear.

Should I go inside??

[Wylla]

Gilbert drew his gaze away and sat down across from her. He felt as if he were intruding. But it would be awkward to just leave without saying anything.
"Hi, I'm Gilbert" He said. "Are you from around here?" 
 

[Cytherea]

"U-uh... yes, I am." Destiny swallowed, trying to force her anxiety away. A fleeting smile kissed her rosy lips. "Do you live in this area?" She convinced herself to look up into his eyes. "My name is Destiny, by the way." she blushed, smiling, and looked down at her folded hands.

[Wylla]

Destiny, a beautiful name. 
"I live a while down that way" Gilbert managed as he caught a glimpse of her sweet smile before she looked down at her folded hands.   

[Cytherea]

He seems so nice! And Gilbert is a sweet name. I wonder if he knows Mama and Papa?

Destiny opened her mouth to ask him, but she suddenly felt sleepy. Within a moment of the exhaustion, her world blacked out, leaving her in darkness.

[Wylla]

Gilbert watched, stunned for a moment as Destiny fell off the log and into the water. Jerking and shaking as she fell in the water. He quickly pulled her out of the water and set her on the ground. What am I supposed to do? He thought frantically. She was jerking. The ground was hard and she was jerking her head against it. The head was important. Instinctively Gilbert pulled off his jacket and placed it under her head and stood there for a moment. It was some sort of medical condition and it took him a moment to remember the word. A seizure. Destiny was having a seizure.   

[Cytherea]

Destiny opened her eyes, immediately feeling vertigo. The trees she was staring up at were spinning around and around and around... she brought a small hand to her forehead, closing her eyes as she tried to fight down the bile rising in her throat.

Another seizure... she groaned lightly, forcing the nausea away. She blinked, slowly adjusting her vision.

[Wylla]

She stopped jerking and Gilbert sighed in relief. It felt like he'd stood there for hours. Now she was better, the seizure was over, and Gilbert crouched down beside her.
"Are you okay?" He asked, frowning as she let out a soft groan.  

  

[Cytherea]

"I- I'm so sorry." she moaned. With a weak gesture, she tried to sit up, but couldn't do it. "I have Epilepsy and I have seizures sometimes..." she swallowed, feeling uncomfortable. "I'm so sorry." she said again.

[Wylla]

"It's not your fault" Gilbert said. "I'm just glad you didn't hurt yourself. But we should probably get you back to your house so you can get dry."
Gilbert helped her up and and she leaned against him to keep standing. He grabbed his jacket and draped it over her wet shoulders.
"Which way?" He asked, looking down at her.   

[Cytherea]

"I live..."

Am I supposed to tell him where I live? Is it dangerous? Is he? She looked up into his beautiful eyes, trying to discern what she should do. Well, I do need help, and seeing as he's willing to do so, I guess I can't complain.

"It's this house." she points to the comfortably situated house beside the river. "I live there."

[Wylla]

"Right" Gilbert said, looking at the house. 
He helped her walk to the house than paused at the door. He'd have to talk to strangers. He frowned inwardly at his own hesitation then pressed the doorbell. He soon found himself looking back down at Destiny's slender form as she leaned against him.  

[Cytherea]

"Oh, I'm the only one who lives here right now." she breathed, feeling embarrassed. "My parents are currently away." pausing, she sneaked a quick look at his face. She'd never seen such an etched jaw. "We do have a cat..."

[Wylla]

"Oh, I'm the only one who lives here right now. My parents are currently away." Destiny said, her voice soft and sweet "We do have a cat..."
"Oh, Okay" Gilbert said awkwardly. "Do you need any help with anything after the seizure or are you going to be alright?"  



 

[Cytherea]

"Oh, I'll be fine." she hurriedly assured him.

Mom and Dad would not want him in the house, that's for sure. Not without them here. She bit her lower lip as she tried to come up with a good excuse.

"Er, I would invite you in for some coffee, but since my parents are away, I'm afraid it's not allowed." she looked down at her feet as she drew random lines in the dirt with the point of her shoe.