December 2, 2020 (day of Dexter's accident)

As Apple sits, her arms wrapped around Raven, tears soaking her shirt, she closes her eyes, swept back in time to two years ago.

February 18, 2019

She sits in a cold metal chair, her fingers twisting together in her lap. She holds hands with Darling, who is sitting in the chair next to her. Darling looks down at the white tile floor, her platinum blond hair covering her face like a curtain. Raven sits on her other side, Dexter's arms wrapped tightly around her. She lies on her head on his shoulder, still and silent. Her face is pale. Her eyes are bloodshot, ringed by purple circles. Apple glances at the clock overhead. The black numbers blur against the blinding white backdrop. She needs her glasses. Squinting, she can just barely make out the time. It's eight forty something.
"Eight forty three," Darling whispers to Apple.
"Thanks," Apple mutters.
She lets out a trembling breath. They've been waiting for over three hours now, and still no news. She's just about stood up to go talk to a nurse when Dr. Kent walks over, his silver spectacles reflecting the harsh fluorescent light.
"Raven," Dexter murmurs.
Raven's head shoots up. She jumps to her feet as Dr. Kent approaches. She walks across the mall to meet him. Dexter, Darling, and Apple quickly follow. They stand around him in a semi-circle as he nervously adjusts his glasses. He rearranges his clipboard before turning to Raven. His face is strained.
"Raven, dear," he says gently.
Apple's stomach contorts. Her breath goes still in her throat. She quickly glances over at Raven who is standing, stiff, her hands trembling at her sides.
"I'm so sorry," Dr. Kent says. "We've done everything we can, but your father isn't going to make it. He's got two hours at best."
Apple gasps. Her heart climbs into her throat, pounding hard. Raven immediately collapses to her knees. She hunches over, her fingernails digging into the tile floor. Dexter crouches down next to the girl, wrapping his arms around her.
"Would you like me to escort you to a more private area?" Dr. Kent asks softly.
"She's having a panic attack," Dexter worriedly announces.
"Thank you sir," Apple replies, taking a deep breath to calm herself. "I don't think we could get her there right now, though."
"Of course," he says. "I'll leave you guys alone."
He hurriedly walks away, his black shoes tapping against the floor.
Apple walks over to Dexter and Raven, her legs wobbly. She places a hand on Dexter's shoulder. He nods his head, moving out of the way so Apple can kneel down beside Raven.

"Hey, sweetheart," she murmurs in Raven's ear.

Apple presses her lips to the top of the girl's head. She closes her eyes,breathing in the scent of cinnamon.

"I'm right here. You're going to be okay."

Her voice is low and steady, as if coaxing a frightened animal out of hiding. Gently, she pries Raven's trembling hands away from her face and grips them firmly in her own.

She takes one look at the girl, the dark rings under her red, swollen eyes, the tears streaming down her soft, pale cheeks, the panic and fear contorting her features into an expression of pure agony that Apple has never seen on her friend before, or on anybody, really. It frightens her, turning her insides to ice. She feels helpless. There's nothing she can do to relieve Raven of the unbearable pain that she cannot only see in the girl's face, but can feel coming off her in thick, dark waves. She takes a deep breath, collecting herself. Raven needs her.

"Com'ere, baby," she whispers.

Momentarily unwrapping her arm from the girl's shoulders, she quickly re-situates herself, setting herself down beside Raven. Her heart pounds against her ribcage, as she delicately encircles her arms around the girl's heaving shoulders, gathering her onto her lap. She handles her carefully, as if she might break, shatter under the impact. Raven does, and it's far more devastating than broken glass. She immediately crumbles under Apple's hold, desperately throwing her arms around the blonde's middle, holding onto her tightly, as if the girl is an anchor, the only thing within this raging sea that will keep her afloat. She seems to shrink into Apple's arms, sinking deeper into the embrace like quicksand, until she's curled in a fetal position, her face pressed against Apple's chest. She grips Apple's blouse like a lifeline, her fingernails digging into the soft, red fabric. Apple holds the girl close, as a cacophony of sons resound from her, ringing in Apple's ears, reverberating through her 're slightly muffled by Apple's shirt, but are just as impactful as if they'd been yelled in an echoing cavern. Each strangled cry stabs more painfully at Apple's heart, the white hot knife twisting into the tender muscle deeper and deeper. Raven's frame quivers like a lone leaf mercilessly blown by gusts of wind. Her breath comes out in sharp, unarticulated gasps. And all Apple can do is squeeze her tighter and tighter against her own body, terrified that she'll somehow shake apart. Crumble into dust-no different than the ashes her father will soon become.

Apple's trembling hands caress Raven's back. Up, down, up down, side to side, rubbing circles across her spine. Her lips lightly brush against the top of her head, peppering soft kisses along her scalp. She can taste the cinnamon. It dances along her tongue, a warm whiff of spice, her only pleasure in the midst of the carnage that surrounds her.

Raven gasps for air as the panic presses harder against her chest. She has never felt this level of fear before, the pure, unbridled terror coursing through her veins, turning her blood to ice. Her veins become numb, and the painfully sharp cold spreads throughout her body and into her chest. All she sees is darkness, inky hues of black, twisted and tangled together like vines. Thorny vines that relentlessly rip away layer upon layer of reality until she's submerged under an icy current, blind, deaf, numb.
A painfully sharp wail the girl emits pricks Apple's heart like a needle. Her maternal instincts kick in, and she begins to coo at the crying girl.

"Hey. Shhh, shhh. It's alright, baby. It's alright You're gonna be okay. I'm here. I'm right here. I've got you. Shhhh."

Like a mother soothing their newborn, she sways, slowly, side to side, side to side. She absently starts to hum, a low melody rising in the back of her throat, scarcely audible, but there. A tiny ripple on the surface of a dark expanse of ocean. Apple is barely aware of its presence, but some hidden nuance within the tone reaches the girl in her arms.

Raven's mind begins to buzz, like static on a radio. Gradually, her thoughts start to move as the current slowly resumes its flow. Most of the ice recedes. Darkness is still there, but it doesn't consume her anymore. She feels lighter, as if a leaden weight has been removed from her chest and has been replaced with light, fluffy air.
Smell is the first thing her hazy mind registers. Although her thoughts seem to be travelling through pools of syrup, she immediately identifies it. The smell of Apple. The scent of cherry blossoms, but also the girl's natural odor, the one that Raven had hungrily inhaled as they lay in bed side by side one day in high school.

November 12, 2016

Apple's eyes were closed. Light puffs of air exhaled from her pink lips. Raven lied next to her, flush against Apple's warm body, breathing in the scent that seemed to emanate from the fair girl's very pores. Apple mumbled sleepily. Her eyes fluttered slightly. Her brow furrowed. She must be dreaming, Raven mused. I wonder if it's about me. The thought surprised her. She blinked, shaking her head slightly. I'm sure she's dreaming about Daring, her Prince Charming, she reasoned with herself. Why would she be dreaming about me? I'm not her true love. Daring is. She glanced down at the sleeping girl. Her face drew Raven in like a magnet. She couldn't look away. She stared, her eyes wide, her mouth agape, at the round, pale face, the plump, pink lips, the thick, dark lashes framing the closed eyelids. A rosy hue covered her snowy white cheeks. She looks like a rose, Raven thought dreamily. Not an apple. A rose. Absolutely beautiful. Gorgeous. Flawless, even. The only thing obstructing the perfect image was a blond ringlet that framed the girl's face. Raven had a sudden urge to move it. Before she could wonder why, her hand reached out, slowly moving forwards. Her breath caught in her throat as it tentatively rested upon Apple's cheek. She tucked the lock of hair behind the girl's ear, but her hand lingered. She stroked the girl's cheekbone, a soft, white petal against her thumb. It's smoother than she ever could have imagined it would be, like white silk, the most exquisite fabric money could buy. Unconsciously, Raven's head moved forward until Apple's breath was hot upon her face. A scent wafted up her nostrils. She paused, trying to decipher it. It's cherry, she realized. Cherry blossoms. This girl is something else. She's an apple, a rose, and a cherry blossom all in one.

It wasn't until a few minutes later, when Apple stirred, that Raven was able to figure out the girl's real scent, though. Not just the smell of her shampoo. Apple's eyes fluttered open. The sudden presence of her bright blue irises was startling to Raven. She backed away slightly. Apple blearily gazed at her. She yawned.
"Raven," she murmured sleepily. "What are you-" She yawned again, her hand instinctively rising to cover her mouth-"doing?"
She blinked languidly. Raven opened her mouth to reply, but her suddenly tight throat could emit no decipherable sound. Apple gave the girl a soft smile.
"Com'ere," she mumbled, her arms motioning for Raven to lie down.
Raven blinked, pulling herself out of her stupor. Apple smiled, pulling the blanket aside to make room for the girl. Raven flopped down, slowly scooting herself over to lie a considerable distance from Apple. Not enough to be considered weird, but not close enough to be suitable for cuddling. Apple draped the blanket over Raven before snuggling closer to the girl. Before Raven knew what was happening, Apple wrapped her arms around Raven's shoulders, pulling the girl tightly against her body. This is definitely cuddling, Raven thought. Apple seemed to be enjoying it, though. She sighed contentedly, giving the girl a squeeze, tight, yet not suffocating. Raven found it to be perfect. She lied still for a few moments, stiff in the embrace, before finally deciding to give in. Apple's body radiated warmth, and she hadn't been held this way in so long. The last time anybody had cuddled her was when she was a little girl, no older than eight.

January 4, 2008

A thunderstorm had been raging outside, and Raven had cried out in fear. Panic had immediately coursed through her. What if her mother had heard her? She'd be outraged. Evil queens don't cry, she'd say. And especially not over something as silly as a storm. Thankfully, it was her father, the Good King, who had heard her yells and came to check on her. He'd entered Raven's room to find her a blubbering mess. He'd taken one look at his sobbing daughter before lowering himself onto her small bed, lying down beside her. He'd embraced her.
"It's okay," he'd murmured. "It's just a storm. Everything's alright. Daddy's right here."
Raven had snuggled close to her daddy, pressing her face against his chest. He'd smelled like the woods, she remembered. He'd held her in his arms until she fell asleep. She'd woken up the next morning alone. But the storm was over.

November 12, 2016

That's what Raven did now. She buried her face in Apple's chest, pressing herself as close to the girl as she could. Apple sighed appreciatively, squeezing her tighter. Raven closed her eyes, breathing in Apple's scent. It wasn't cherry blossoms anymore. She didn't know what it was. It was something that humans couldn't smell, she decided. Sunlight, rainbows, white, fluffy clouds. That's what Apple smelled like. Endless possibilities stretching on the horizon, like a never-fading sunset. She inhaled the scent, greedily, desperately trying to soak it in, so it would stay with her forever. Even if Apple couldn't.
Raven starts as she's pulled from the memory. As she begins to comprehend the meaning of her senses again, she blinks. Something soft is pressed against her face. It's preventing her from seeing, but her mind is still too fuzzy to possibly fathom what it could be. Sensation grows more and more acute as the moments pass. Arms are tightly holding her against something warm. A hand trails along her back, sending a slight shiver down her spine. Soft lips ghost along the top of her head, gently kissing her, again, again, again. Raven doesn't have to be in her right mind to know that the person is Apple. Nobody else can be so light and gentle, yet so warm and secure. Nobody else knows the exact right spot to rub her back. Nobody else would be humming in such a soft, sweet voice.

"A-Apple," Raven chokes out, her voice cracking. Her throat is raw. "A-Apple," Raven repeats.

"Shhh, Raven. I'm right here," Apple murmurs. "I'm not going anywhere."

Her voice is the most beautiful music Raven has ever heard. Raven squeezes her friend tightly, burying her face deeper into the fabric, where she can only smell the natural scent of the girl. No shampoo. No antiseptic. No death. Apple quickly reciprocates, giving the girl a tight squeeze. Her hand travels to Raven's hair, where she begins to stroke the thick, dark tresses, like black silk between her white fingers.

"I'm right here, Raven," she whispers into her ear. "I'm right here. You're gonna be okay. I've got you."
She speaks low and soothingly, but she can't quite hide the slight wobble in her voice.

Raven gasps. "P-please n-never l-leave m-me," she weeps.

She exhales, a ragged gasp that burns Apple's lungs, just from hearing it.

"J-just a-always b-be th-th-there t-to h-ho-hold m-m-me a-and-" She breaks off, as sobs again consume her.

Apple hugs Raven tighter, if even humanly possible.
"Hush now, baby, hush," she cooes. "I will always be there to hold you. I will never ever leave you. I promise." Her voice is thick with emotion, yet every word is enunciated with such conviction that Raven instantly feels a surge of reassurance rush through her.

Apple pauses, breathing heavily. A tear drips from her eyelid, slowly tracing its way down her cheek.
"I love you too much to leave you," she adds, her voice a hoarse whisper.
She leans down, pressing her lips to Raven's temple. She shakily exhales. Raven feels a sudden surge of panic.
"My dad! I need to see him!" she exclaims.
She jerks out of the embrace, rising shakily to her feet. Apple stands up, taking her hands.
"Stay calm, Raven," she soothes. "Dexter, can you go get Dr. Kent please?"
Without responding, he ran down the hallway.
"Come sit down for a moment," she gently instructs.
She leads Raven over to the row of metal chairs. Raven's legs wobble as she walks. Apple keeps her arm around the girl's shoulders, steadying her. Raven flops into the chair, sitting, stiff, her jaw clenched, her left foot tapping impatiently against the floor. Apple grips her hand, gently squeezing. Darling sits on her other side. She takes Raven's other hand. Her grip is stronger than Apple's, but just as warm, just as grounding. Dexter slides on the white tile as he returns. He bends over, placing his hands on his knees, breathing heavily.
"Dr. Kent will take you to your father's room," he pants. "Here he is."
Dr. Kent strides over. Raven stands, walking over to meet him. She turns around, slowly waving at her friends. They wave back. Just as she turns the corner, she thinks she hears a sob. She turns and sees Darling pulling Apple into her arms. She turns back around, continuing to follow Dr. Kent down the white-walled hallway. They come to a halt outside Room 224.
"Thank you," Raven mutters.
Dr. Kent nods sullenly before turning on his heels and stalking away. Raven breathes deeply before walking into dimly lit room. Scenes flash on a television screen, but no sound emits from the black box. Raven slowly approaches the bed where her father lies, disturbingly skinny, his sallow cheeks holding a greenish-gray hue. A mass of wires hooked to machines connects to him. A tube is trailing down his throat. Green lines rapidly move up and down on a black screen. A steady beeping rhythm fills the still air.
Raven moves forward, setting herself down in a gray chair beside the bed. Her father's bald head glistens in the moonlight pooling through the window. His eyes slowly open, twinkling blue orbs travelling around the room until they rest on her. He tries to speak through the tube in his throat, but all that he can emit is a garbled, strangled noise from deep within his throat. Raven reaches out, gripping her father's cold, bony hand. She scoots her chair closer.
"Shhhh. It's alright, daddy," she murmurs. "You don't have to talk. I'm here and I'm not going anywhere."
He relaxes, a faint smile gracing his gaunt face. Raven squeezes his hand. She clears her throat, swallowing down a sob.
"It's almost summer," she says, her voice low. "Four more months, and we can go visit Cedar and Pinnochio."
She pauses, reaching a hand up to swipe across her eyes. She can't cry right now. She sniffs.
"We'll take your boat and sail across the blue water together." She closes her eyes, envisioning her words. "We'll play card games together, like Canasta. I'll always try to go out concealed, and you'll always win."
A laugh bubbles in her throat, coming out more like a sob. Her father smiles warmly, squeezing her hand back weakly. Raven can feel his pulse slowly beating beneath his skin.
"And we'll play our guitars around the campfire together," she continues, her voice raw. "We'll play 'Stars Like You' as a duet together, and we'll sing, our voices melding together in perfect harmony." She shakes her head, squeezing her eyes shut. "You know we were made to sing together, right, Dad?" she asks. Her voice cracks.
He slowly nods, his head scarcely lifting off the white pillow, as his head lolls back and forth. Raven sniffs. Her eyes burn like flames, but her face is dry. She reaches down, stroking the pads of her thumbs over his cold, pale cheekbones. His eyes gaze at her, blue as forget-me-nots.
"I love you," she breathes, her hot breath washing over his face.
She leans over, brushing her lips against his forehead. Her lips linger, as she inhales his woodsy scent, for the last time. A high-pitched beeping pierces the air. Raven slowly opens her eyes. Her father's eyes are wide. His pulse is slowing beneath his skin. Raven's heart crashes in her chest.
"Dad!" A hoarse wail erupts from her chest. "Daddy!"
She leans down, kissing his forehead frantically, over and over again. Please, she thought desperately. Can true love's kiss work just this once? His pulse continues to lengthen, though. The numbers on the black screen lower. As a blue 0 lights up the screen, an alarm blares. Voices fill the room. Raven continues to pepper him with kisses, his temple, his nose, his cheeks. She doesn't know how much time passes before she feels a large, cold hand on her shoulder.
"Ms. Queen," a man murmurs. "He's gone."
The next moments register in flashes. She's guided back down the hallway, the reflection of fluorescent lights against white walls blinding. She feels warm arms folded around her. She can hear a heart rapidly beating, as she lies her head against somebody's chest. She smells apples. She hears the motor of a car start. She can't see a thing.

February 27, 2019

Raven sat, slumped, in the black chair before the computer. Her eyes ached from the glare of the screen. Se winced at a sudden burst of pain that radiated through her cramped neck. Resting an elbow upon the oak table, she allowed her eyelids to slip closed. She stroked her thumb in circles along her temple, silently willing the splitting headache to recede. Tiredness washed over her in fuzzy blackness before her shut eyelids. A wave of dizziness, bleary and white, overcame her. She could feel her head slowly slipping from its position in her hand, lower and lower and- just before it hit the table, she snapped her head up. She yawned, rubbing her knuckles across her eyes.
"I can sleep after the funeral," she murmured to herself.
She shook her head from side to side, hoping to relieve the heavy grogginess pressing against her skull, but to no avail. The sleepiness remained draped over her like a thick blanket.
"Okay," she muttered. "What do I need to do now?"
She clicked the mouse, exiting out of her e-mail. She'd just sent a message to a catering company, the same one that had catered at Rosabella and Daring's wedding.

"Alright, I need to get napkins and paper plates for the food."
She picked up a pen, scrawling it upon her list. No ink appeared upon the white paper. She furiously scratched, adding more and more pressure until the point of the pen stabbed a hole in the paper. She cursed, throwing the pen onto the floor. Her hands trembled.
"Calm down," she chided.
She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. She relaxed slightly, as her lungs filled with oxygen. Her head felt clearer now, like scribbles of ink had been removed, and it was now a blank slate. A sudden thought occurred to her.
"I should get the plates and napkins in Dad's favorite color, which is…"
Her voice trailed off. Wait a second...Dad's favorite color. The oxygen was sucked from her, like a flame had been lit within her lungs. Her heart began to pound, crashing against her ribcage. The computer blurred, the whiteness of the screen fading. All she could could see were the typed words becoming one large, black blob that swayed before her. Numbness seeped throughout her legs, all the way up her thighs. The only sound she could hear was her own shuddering breath gasping in her ears. She was unaware of any time passing before she felt a warm hand rest upon her shoulder, and everything zoomed back into focus.

Her head sluggishly turned to see Apple standing beside her, concern etched upon her delicate features.
"Raven," she breathed, her voice scarcely above a whisper. "Why don't you come lie down?"
Raven opened her mouth to speak, but her throat closed up. All she could emit was a strangled sound that seemed to worry Apple even more. She slid an arm around Raven's shoulders.
"Breathe, Raven," she urged gently.
Raven stared at Apple, gazing intently into her cerulean orbs. They're so beautiful, she thought, her voice distantly echoing in her head. The blue evoked a sense of peacefulness, yet strength. She focused more and more closely on the eyes until all she could see was blue. Until she was floating on an expanse of glittering sea, her eyes closed, her chest rising and falling in rhythm with the gentle waves.
"Raven."
The softly uttered word sweeped Raven back to the present. She could suddenly see all of Apple again, the mane of curly blond hair tumbling over her shoulders, her round, pale face, her rosy cheeks, her light pink lips, her creased brow. Placing her hand on her chest, she realized she was breathing again. Her vision sharpened as the oxygen reached her brain. She looked up at Apple.
"I don't know my Dad's favorite color," she croaked.
She felt as if she'd been punched in the gut as the words left her mouth. She shakily exhaled. Apple reached out, gently tucking a stray lock of hair behind Raven's ear.
"Come lie down with me," said Apple, her voice calm and inviting.
She held out her hands. Renee allowed herself to be pulled to her feet. She nearly collapsed as she stood, her legs numb from hours of sitting. Apple wrapped her arm around Raven's shoulders, securely holding her in place. Slowly, she guided her to the bed across the room. Raven climbed in, Apple following right behind her. Apple set herself down, criss cross applesauce, next to the girl. She scooted, situating herself to sit against the wall. She patted her lap, smiling gently at Raven. Raven took the silent invitation. She lay on her side beside Apple, slowly resting her head upon the girl's lap. She shifted into a comfortable position, then lay still.
She sighed relievedly as Apple began to caress her forehead, her fingers gently massaging at the site of the headache. Raven closed her eyes, finally allowing herself to relax. Apple's fingers were soft and warm, and man-where had she learned to massage like this? Quiet minutes passed. The only audible sound was Raven's deep breathing as she relished the sensation of Apple's tender strokes. Gradually, the terrible throbbing in Raven''s head reduced to a mild twinge. She opened her eyes slightly, gazing blearily up at Apple, who stared straight ahead, a thoughtful expression on her face.
"I mean, I know your favorite color," Raven1 muttered, breaking the long-lasting stretch of silence that had enveloped the room.
Apple whipped her head around to look at Raven. She gave the girl a soft smile.

"Yeah, light green like a tasty sour Granny Smith apple" Apple said, her tone light.

She mentally cursed herself. Why would she use humor at a time like this? Raven was devastated. She needed to say something encouraging. She sighed. Her stomach swarmed with butterflies. Her heart thumped, pounding in her throat. Why was she so nervous?

Slowly, Raven's facial muscles turned up, a faint smile briefly replacing the sheen of darkness that had recently shrouded her pale features.

Apple shakily exhaled, releasing a breath she hadn't been aware she was holding. Raven had smiled for the first time in weeks. It was small, pained, fleeting, but it was a smile. The leaden weight that had been pressing gradually harder against Apple's stomach for the past three weeks suddenly lightened. She allowed herself to smile, too, if only for a moment. Raven's face quickly darkened again, though, the reality of her situation weighing her down again.

"No," she murmured. "I know your favorite color is red. Red like a Red Delicious apple. Cerise's is red, too. Dexter's favorite color is blue, as is Maddie's and Darling's."

She paused, sucking in a lungful of air. Apple gazed at her, her lips slightly parted. Raven's tangled hair surrounded her face like a silky, purple curtain. The girl released a tremulous sigh before continuing.

"Briar's favorite color is pink-hot pink, to be exact. Ashlynn's is green. And so is Hunter's. See? I know all the details of my friends' color preferences. I never bothered to learn my dad's, though." Her voice broke.

She bit down on her lower lip, kneading the flesh between her front teeth. Her brows furrowed. Tears welled in her eyes. Apple sat, frozen, her eyes glued to the girl. She stared as droplets of blood formed on Raven's lip, slowly dribbling onto her chin. Apple sighed, willing herself to move. She grabbed a tissue from the light blue box on the bedside table. Bending over, she dabbed at the spots of blood, gently applying pressure. After a few moments, she threw the bloodstained tissue to the end of the bed. She sighed softly, desperately racking her brain for something comforting to say.
"It's okay, Raven," she murmured. "You loved your dad so much. I mean, what his favorite color was is trivial in the grand scheme of things. You took care of your dad when he needed you most. You showed him so much love and compassion. You are an amazing daughter, Raven."
She gripped the girl's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. Raven smiled warmly, despite the tears pooling amongst the glowing purple in her eyes. She sniffled.
"Thanks, Apple," she whispered hoarsely. "That means a lot." She cleared her throat before continuing. "I know it doesn't mean I'm a bad daughter. I'm just really sad that I'll never get to know. I'll never ever get the chance to ask him."
Her voice grew gradually more hushed throughout the sentence until the last word was scarcely audible. Raven squeezed her eyes shut, knowing there was nothing she could do to block the flow of her tears. They burned, pressing painfully against her eyelids. A choked sob burst from her throat, followed by more hot tears that trailed down her cheeks like streams of hot lava. She threw her arms tightly around Apple's waist, weeping into her lap.
Apple's heart clenched. Tears pricked at her eyelids. Gently, she stroked Raven's hair, like black silk between her fingers. She stayed silent, forcing herself not to speak, as sobs continued to rack the girl's frame. She knew Raven had been withholding her emotions the past few days as she feverishly planned her dad's funeral, so she kept quiet, letting her cry without interference. She continued running her fingers through the cinnamon-scented tresses, breathing deeply as the smell wafted to her nose.
After about ten minutes, Raven's crying gradually began to cease. Her erratic breathing slowed to quiet gasps. The sobs reduced to hiccups and sniffles. She slowly rolled over to lie on her back. She gazed up at Apple, her face slick with tears. Apple thought the redness of her eyes was a beautiful contrast to the purple irises. As she blinked,her tear-laden lashes glistened, flashing nearly silver in the reflective beams of moonlight pouring through the window. Apple reached down, gently cupping Raven's wet cheeks. She stroked her thumbs across the cheekbones, wiping away the trails of tears. As she finished, she reached down, tenderly pressing her lips to Raven's forehead. They lingered, as she breathed in the warm scent of spice. She pulled away after a moment, slowly sliding her tongue across her chapped lips.
Raven, grabbing a fistful of Apple's wrinkled shirt, hoisted herself into a sitting position. Apple quickly reached over to the nightstand, grabbing a handful of tissues. She pressed them into Raven's hand. Raven blinked at the sudden contact, as if coming out of a trance. She shook her head.
"Thanks," she mumbled, her voice soft and hoarse.
"You're welcome," Apple replied sweetly, reaching out a hand to rub Raven's shoulder.
` Apple looked away as Raven blew her nose. She gazed across the room at the milky moonlight pooling on the tile floor. As silence fell over them, Apple turned her head. Raven sat, her shoulders hunched, her eyes glazed, the tissue limp in her hand. Apple winced with sympathy. The poor girl was exhausted. She reached down to grab the wastebasket at the foot of the bed. She held it in front of Raven.
"Here," she said softly.
Raven glanced up, the cloudiness fading from her eyes. She flicked her wrist, tossing the tissue into the can. Apple bent down, gently setting the wastebasket on the floor. She turned to see Raven sitting, her elbows resting upon her thighs, her cheeks cupped in her hands. Her eyes flickered, rapidly shifting between open and closed.
Apple placed her hands on Raven's shoulders.
"Come here," she murmured.
Sitting with her back against the wall again, she reached out, opening up her arms. Raven crawled across the bed towards Apple. Her body dropped, the girl slumping into Apple's arms. Apple encircled her arms around her, holding her tightly. With one hand, she cradled her head against her chest. With the other, she trailed her fingers along the girl's back. Apple closed her eyes, resting her cheek atop the girl's head.
Minutes of peaceful silence passed. Raven grew gradually heavier in Apple's arms, sinking deeper and deeper into the embrace. A sudden thought that popped into Apple's head was on the tip of her tongue before she could even process it.
"Raven, isn't your favorite color purple?" Apple asked quietly.
Raven shifted slightly in Apple's arms.
"No," she murmured against Apple's chest. "It used to be, but it changed. It's blue now."
"Really?" Apple asked, genuinely curious. "Wow. I always assumed it had stayed purple. What made it change?"
"Your eyes," Raven replied simply.
Apple's breath caught in her throat. Her stomach fluttered dizzyingly.
"My-my eyes?" Her voice was barely above a whisper.
Raven turned her head, gazing up at Apple.
"Yeah," she breathed. "They're beautiful. Absolutely gorgeous. Cerulean, I think the color is. They remind me of the ocean, calm and peaceful, but at the same time, mysterious and formidable."
Sweltering heat simmered in Apple's stomach, rising into her chest. Her head buzzed, like an emergency alert on the wondered fuzzily how Raven could still be so articulate when she was this exhausted. Her hands started to numb, but she held them tighter around the girl, refusing to let them fall. She let out a trembling sigh.
Raven buried her face in Apple's chest again. Apple squeezed the girl tightly, holding her close against her warm body. The silence returned, thicker this time, lingering with passion that hung heavily in the air. Moments transitioned to minutes before Apple finally opened her mouth, daring to convey what she thought to be true.
"You know, Raven," she said huskily, "I think your dad's favorite color was purple."
Her heart crashed like a cannon in her head, as the girl in her arms remained still and silent. Moments passed, and Apple felt that she ought to open her mouth and say more, when Raven shifted in her arms, turning her head around to look up at Apple. A wisp of a smile fluttered like fairy wings over her face. Her purple orbs glistened in the dim light.
"I think so, too, Apple. I really do."