The cool morning air shed it's breeze on Snow and Emma as they rode down the dirty forest road heading to town. Emma, on her brown horse, followed close behind her mother. Their journey was long, but Snow's mind kept alert on the road in front of them. She worked hard to keep her mind from wandering to worry. She had every right to worry. She had lost almost everything, and she still had to raise a teenage daughter. The entire way, Emma was silent, lost in her own thoughts.
Dry, crackling leaves crunch underneath the two horses heavy shoes and they walked along the fall ridden path of the forest. Snow had traveled this road twice on a horse. Every other time she was in a luxurious coach moving faster than she was now. Snow sighed, immediately regretting it. She just had to move forward, the days of luxury were over, but it was better than a life with Emma's father. Snow knew that Emma and her would go to counseling. Ever since the event, Emma rarely talked. Snow could hardly blame her.
The town was nearing in the distance as a wind gently blew up Snow's dress. Placing her hand over her skirt to keep it down, Snow clicked her tongue to hurry her horse. Behind her, Emma did the same.
Their cottage was small. Barely enough room for two people and a strange transition from a giant castle. Snow knew that she could make do. The cottage was a gentle brown color, just like the other cottages in the town. Snow wanted to be like everyone else, just another face in the street. She wasn't an ex-Queen here, nobody new her name in this town, nobody would taunt her.
Snow began to unpack the small amount of things that she had left. Emma was in her own room, unpacking her own things. The house had come fully furnished because it was being leased, so the only thing the two women had were personal belongings. Unpacking went by quickly. The mother and daughter couple sat down on the couches in the living room/ kitchen. Snow smiled at her daughter. Emma pulled her head down, ignoring the smile and putting her hair in front of her eyes, obscuring anything from her mother.
"I guess this is home," Snow tried.
Emma looked away, slightly nodding.
"Look Emma," Snow indulged, "I know you've been through I lot, but the Creator will see us through."
"Mom–"
"And I also think we should see a psychiatrist."
"NO! I'm not crazy mom, psychiatrists are for crazy people," Emma spoke loudly.
"Emma–" Snow said gently, touching her arm.
Emma threw Snow's hand off of her and stormed out of the room. Out of Snow's mouth a frustrated sigh escaped.