Chapter Eight: Broken Walls
"Aww!"
"Not. A. Word."
Zip stared at herself in her bedroom mirror with a twitching gaze. For the last three weeks, Glimmer had begged for her to try out different clothing, but she refused it every single time. However, after being subjected to non-stop big sister loving mixed with pleading sparkle filled eyes the day before, she finally relented. Now, instead of her typical Briar Glen wear, she sported a light blue top with sleeves that came right above her elbows. With it, she wore purple shorts, white and baby blue boots, and a purple cape that hung loosely behind her.
"I look disgustingly colorful."
"You look precious!" Glimmer squealed. "You were always adorable, but this just makes you look- "
"Don't you dare finish that sentence," she half spat.
"Are you guys done yet?"
Catra's voice came from outside the door. Before anyone could answer, the woman slammed it open and came pounding inside, Adora right behind her. Thankfully, Bow was visiting his dads. The less to see her like this, the better.
"Look at you, Zip!" Adora grinned. "You look awesome. It suits you!"
"It sure does," Catra added. "Cute little Zippy all dressed up."
"Shush!"
"Such an adorable sparkly little princess!"
"Grawr!"
Zip launched a large pink cushion from her window and right towards Catra, but the other was too quick and dodged, hiding behind Adora with her tongue sticking out.
"Missed!"
Zip stuck her tongue out in return before facing her sister with a pout.
"I want out."
"Aww, you have to at least show mom first," she giggled. "And you should totally wear it when we go out shopping!"
"What? Show it to Angella and the public?" She had to admit that she kind of liked the outfit. It made her feel cute, but she also felt shy at the prospect of anyone else seeing her like this. "No way. Angella's gonna call me adorable and everyone else will think I look weird. People already think I'm strange as it is. They call me 'the princess who came back from the dead.' They don't need to see me like this."
That was the other thing she was still adjusting to. Word had gotten around the city of her return, and when Bright Moon residents outside of the palace saw her, they either whispered or cheered in her presence. She wasn't used to all that attention, or to being called Princess Rose.
"They won't look at you weird." Glimmer reached out to fix her shirt. "Yes, people are a little shocked to see you. Everyone thought you were gone, but they don't think you're weird, and they won't find you odd in this clothing either."
She felt her sister brush some hair away from her face, Zip's pout still present.
"Zip, you have nothing to worry about. I promise you look wonderful. You don't have to wear this if you really don't want to, but if you give it a try, you might find you like it. What do you say?"
Glimmer's look and warmth were filled with genuine care, so much that it melted Zip's heart. These heart-melting moments were happening more often than not now, and she was finding it harder to fight them off.
"Pleaaaase?"
Glimmer's eyes flickered both playfully and lovingly. How could she say no to that face?
"Uuuugh. Fine. I'll do it just so you'll leave me be."
"Daw, what a good little sister you are Zippy," Catra teased, eliciting another small scowl from the child.
"And now we're off," Adora cut in as she pulled her girlfriend away. "We have errands that need running. You two have fun today though, okay? Maybe we can catch up later."
"Okay!" Glimmer replied. "See you!"
"And Zip?" Adora continued. "You look perfect."
"Perfectly princessy."
"Yeah, we're gone now." Adora tugged Catra out of the room. "See ya."
Zip stuck her tongue out at the feline yet again right before the door closed, Glimmer shaking her head at the antics.
"Don't pay attention to that Catra. She's just messing with you."
Zip knew Catra never meant any harm with the teases, but she still couldn't help but get all worked up. They were always snarking at each other about something. It was both amusing and exasperating.
"There you go." Glimmer flicked off a piece of lint from Zip's shoulder. "Pretty as a present. Come on! Let's go see mom."
Zip looked at the extended hand and rolled her eyes before grabbing it, and soon enough they shifted from her bedroom and into their mothers, the woman just heading for the door.
"Oh, I was just coming for you two," Angella said with a smile. "All you both all set?"
Glimmer gently shoved Zip in front of her, the young girl already blushing.
"Mhm! Take a peek at Zip's new look!"
Angella's eyes lit up like lights, the biggest grin decorating her face. Zip, on the other hand, felt overly exposed all over again.
"Aww, my little Rose!"
Angella picked up her youngest, the girl having to hug her mother's neck slightly for balance.
"W-woah. Hey!"
"Look at how beautiful you are. You're absolutely lovely."
"Angella…" She muttered as heat rose in her face, her eyes darting away out of embarrassment. "You're teasing again."
"I am not," she giggled out. "I mean it. You're my beautiful baby girl. Come here."
Zip felt Angella squeeze her close. She tensed up at first, but eventually, she was able to relax and fell right into the hug. She was getting better with the affection, though there was still much she couldn't bring herself to do. Snuggling for instance. She noticed Glimmer and her mother doing that a couple weeks back, and while everything in her wanted a good long mom snuggle, she could never pursue it. Hugging was hard enough. Snuggling meant she'd have to stay vulnerable for a longer period of time.
As the hug continued, her gaze fell upon the pendant around Angella's neck. Zip and her sister held the other pieces that made the star whole, but she had yet to show them hers still existed. She wanted to, but there was still a wall that kept her from fully embracing her place here, a wall created by a single question that had often been asked prior to her arrival.
"What's the worst that can happen?"
It was a fear she had yet to let go of.
"Just ignore it. If I pretend it's not there, it'll eventually go away, right? No one needs to know what really scares me. Today's about fun."
"You know I love you, right?"
She shifted at her mother's words, half believing them, half uncertain. Angella's reply to this was a deeper embrace followed by an affectionate kiss on the cheek. When that happened, Zip twitched. She could tolerate the hugs, but the kisses were a whole other story.
"Kyaa! What did I tell you about that?"
She wiped her cheek with feigned annoyance, but Angella wasn't letting her go that easily.
"Hey! You know what happens when you wipe away my kisses, right? It means I have to give you more."
Despite her scowling and slightly squealy protests, a kiss attack ensued, Zip squirming until she was able to slip back to the ground.
"Gah! You're mean!"
Angella could only chuckle and wink.
"I love you, too, darling. Are we ready to go?"
Glimmer tackle hugged Zip from behind.
"We are! We're walking instead of teleporting, right?"
Angella nodded.
"I thought it would be nice to walk together. Extra family time."
Zip groaned and pushed Glimmer off.
"You two and all this, blah."
"You love it!" Glimmer snuck back and added her own kiss to the young girl's cheek, Zip naturally blushing.
"Glimmer!"
Angella grinned at the scene before opening the door and beckoning them over.
"All right, you two. Come on."
"Yeah, come on Zip!" Glimmer called as she playfully pulled the girl by her wrist. "Let's go!"
"Ugh." She groaned loudly as she was strung along like a ragdoll. She had no idea if she was ready for what the day would bring. "Why me?"
"Don't the cooks usually do the food shopping?"
The three of them were crossing the stone bridge that led to a small town within Bright Moon, Zip ahead of the others as she spoke. Previously, family outings were a struggle for her to enjoy, but they were getting a little bit easier every day. She was finding them more likable, and although there were still some worries trailing along in her mind that mid-morning, she was determined to make today a good one, so she kept herself distracted with the passing scenery. Currently, she was balancing on top of the bridge wall, having climbed it to get a better look at the river below.
"Rose, dear. Do be careful," Angella gently warned. "You don't want to fall off."
She hopped back down with a little hum, Angella continuing once Zip was safely on the ground.
"Normally they do the shopping, yes, but since we're cooking the meal ourselves, I thought it would be fun to shop for the ingredients as well."
Zip liked the idea of cooking. Cal had taught her a thing or two about it while living in the Briar.
"What are we making?"
"Veggie and meat buns," Glimmer answered. "They're delicious, and it used to be your favorite meal, too. We've already got the meat and dough for the buns back at home, but we still need the vegetables."
Her mind tried to recall anything about the aforementioned food, but as usual, she was greeted with a sharp headache. That always happened when she tried remembering things.
"Like the night I thought of Rabby."
She could still picture that stuffed animal in her mind, all muddied up and wet, but that's all she could remember about it.
"I wonder if it's even a memory I'm seeing. It feels more like a dream."
"Here we are."
They exited the bridge and went right into town. Almost instantly people took notice. Some waved and bowed while others called out polite greetings. There were also those who stared at Zip, a few whispering at her presence while others smiled. It was the whispering that made her freeze in place. She didn't like it when people did that. She didn't like being the center of attention. It made her uncomfortable.
"Hey Zip? Don't worry, all right?"
She peered up when Glimmer comforted, both her and Angella looking back with an extended hand.
"We've got you."
A light pink color tinged her cheeks, and she was unsure of what to do. She was afraid of giving in, but she wanted to feel safe at the same time.
"What's the worst that can happen?"
She shot that question and the pain that came along with it right down as soon as it hit. She had promised to suppress it until it was a bother no more. She wanted today to go smoothly. With that in mind, she allowed herself to pursue her desire, one hand slipping into Glimmers and the other into her mothers. They both gave her own a gentle squeeze before walking again, Zip feeling slightly safer already. Fear or not, this is what she needed at the moment. She'd be protected.
People continued greeting them as they headed over to the market area. She wished they could move a bit faster, but the townsfolk seemed quite excited to see them. It wasn't overly crowded, but there were still enough people around to make Zip want to shy away.
"Good morning, your majesty, and to you as well princesses."
"Oh, it's lovely to see you out as a family today. You look amazing together."
"Good morning, Princess Rose. I don't know if I've said this before, but I'll say it again. I'm so happy to see you home."
Zip never knew what to say to these comments and honestly wished people would stop raving about her return. She knew they meant no harm, but their excitement still bugged her, especially since her memory was gone.
"I get that my return is odd, guys. I don't need you to remind me."
What was also odd was how her family learned she was still alive in the first place. Apparently, a portal had been opened a few years back and everything went into chaos. Glimmer and Angella saw her in an alternate reality that was created, although Zip had no recollection of seeing either of them. That's what gave them the clue. She also learned that Angella had sacrificed herself to close the portal, and her return was only made possible because of a princess named Entrapta and her boyfriend Hordak.
"I still can't wrap my head around that story. Briar Glen really is cut off from the world."
"Look, there's the vegetable stand right there."
Zip followed where Glimmer was pointing. Luckily, there weren't a ton of people near it, giving her enough courage to slip away and run over. Her eyes scanned the goods with quiet anticipation, excitement tickling at her tummy. She loved vegetables more than a normal kid probably should have, and she really loved the fact that she and her family were going to create a meal with them. It would her first family cooked meal since her arrival.
"See anything you like?" Angella asked.
Zip shrugged in reply, too shy to answer.
"Well, how about carrots?" Glimmer suggested. "And maybe some beans."
"I like those," Zip replied. "I'll eat anything really. What about…"
She was apprehensive about sharing her thought. She didn't want to sound stupid or suggest something they didn't like.
"Go on," Glimmer said encouragingly.
"What about green onions? They taste good."
"Of course!" Her sister exclaimed. "Excellent choice. I'll go get the carrots and beans, and you can pick out the onions."
Zip nodded with a little proud smile.
"Be right back!"
When Glimmer left, Zip looked around the table for the vegetable she needed. Eventually, she found them hanging on a pole in a basket, but they were too high for her to reach.
"Up you go!"
She was suddenly lifted into the air by her mother and was now able to get the items.
"Go ahead and pick a few. There you go, good girl."
When Zip had them in hand, Angella put her down and placed the onions in a basket.
"All right then. One more vegetable will do. You know what I think it should be?"
Zip shook her head.
"I'll give you one guess. It's your absolute favorite vegetable in the whole world."
Her eyes lit up instantly, a huge grin gracing her face.
"Leeks!"
"That's right," Angella chuckled. "Your leeks! They're down there. Want to go pick some out?"
"Yes! Please!"
"All right, but be careful. I'll be right here when you finish. Oh, and Rose?"
Zip was just about to head off when Angella stopped her.
"After we finish buying things, maybe we can look around the market a little more, just for fun. What do you think? Would you like that?"
The girl fiddled with her shirt shyly and nodded her head. She definitely wanted some more family time.
"Excellent. Go on then, I'll meet you right here."
Zip then turned and jetted towards her favorite vegetable.
"Leeks, leeks, leeks," she thought happily as she reached them and picked a few. Oh yes, nothing was good unless leeks were involved. This was going to be the best meal ever. On top of that, it felt like it was going to be the best day ever, too. Happiness flooded her, and she found herself excited at the prospect of more special family moments.
"Mommy!"
Pulling her from her thoughts was a little girl and her mother, the two of them sitting at a nearby bench.
"Mommy, look!"
"I see!" The mom replied. "Those berries are your favorite."
"Aww, she looks so happy." Zip smiled at the scene, a familiar needy ache suddenly plaguing her heart. "They must be close."
"Can I have some when we get home?"
"You sure can. Let's leave now so you can start snacking."
"Wait!"
The child placed the berries on the bench and crawled into her mother's lap.
"Can we snuggle for a moment first?"
"Of course my love. I always have time for that."
Whatever ache that was growing began flooding her system now, a sadness mixing in with the happiness she had just been feeling. Watching made Zip think of when Glimmer and Angella had snuggled. It made her think about how much she wanted to snuggle, too, how much she wanted that motherly safety net to surround her. She wanted to know what it felt like to sink into Angella arms without fear.
"You could do it you know," said a voice in the back of her mind. "I bet if you asked, Angella would happily snuggle you up. It'd be scary at first, yes, but once you do it, it's won't be so scary anymore."
Zip could feel her eyes welling up at the thought. She knew how wonderful it would feel, and yet there was still something holding her back.
"What's the worst that can happen?"
Once those words played again, her heart nearly broke, the worries she had been trying so hard to suppress that day spilling through her mind.
"Too many things could happen. What if Camilla was right? What if I am useless and worthless? What if I do nothing but cause trouble? What if they aren't really happy with me? I was a burden to Camilla for so many years. What's to say I won't become a burden to Angella and Glimmer, too?"
Her hand clenched over her heart, a pit now in her stomach instead of excitement.
"What if I finally give in and something happens? What if something bad takes place? What if I let them get close and I screw up? What if I lose them all over again?"
Even though she couldn't say it, she loved them. She loved them with all her heart. So much that it hurt.
"What if I give them all this love that's inside me and lose everything?"
"Zip? Are you all right?"
The girl looked behind to see her mother and Glimmer, her heart heavy and her mind dazed. Suddenly she was scared to be with them.
"U-um, yeah, sorry. Leeks. I have three leeks. Is that okay?"
They both eyed her with concern but made no mention of it.
"Yes," Angella answered. "Three's perfect."
Glimmer took the items and placed them in the basket their mother was carrying.
"You guys wait here," their mother told them. "I'll go pay and then we can explore a bit more. Sound good?"
"Y-yeah."
"All right then. I'll be right back."
The woman turned to leave, but right before she did, she flashed both of her daughters a look filled with the deepest warmth.
"I'm glad we're doing this today. I love spending time with both of you. I love you two dearly."
Yep. That did Zip in. She had heard those words before, but doubt had clouded both her mind and her heart all over again, leaving her a mess, and since she was feeling that way, she couldn't handle what was going on. The day was perfect. Too perfect. There was no way she would be allowed a life filled with this much kindness, not without things going bad in the end.
"I'm sorry."
The two looked at Zip with confusion.
"You're sorry? For what?" Glimmer questioned.
"I h-have to go. I mean, I'll join you both later, but right now I need to leave."
"Now?" Her mother's concern grew. "Why now?"
"I have to. It's important. I need to leave."
"But the rest of the trip," Glimmer told her. "Did something happen? Why g- "
"I'm sorry. I'll see you back at the palace."
"Zip wait! Zip!"
Zip had no intention of running off. She didn't mean to leave them behind, but running was something she was good at. Running was all she ever knew, and run she did. She went right back to her home and hid in a tree by the large still lake that lay not too far from the castle. She felt incredibly bad for leaving on what was supposed to be a perfect family filled day, but she had to go. The one question that had haunted her since she left the Briar had gotten the best of her, and she needed time to think.
"Too many things could happen, and I don't know what to do. I'm so happy here, happier than I've ever been, but Camilla says I always mess things up. What if I ruin things here, too?"
Even though Angella and Glimmer said she was perfectly fine, she still had trouble fully believing them. She couldn't understand why they would be okay with her snarky comments, her resistance, and the fact that she still couldn't use the word mother. How was that not trouble?
With a small stretch, Zip shifted from the branch and climbed down from her hiding spot. Once she was on the ground, she walked to the edge of the lake and sat. She could still feel that desperate need for her mom and Glimmer, but she was too scared to try again.
"Families are supposed to be perfect, and I'm not. Maybe I can't do this after all."
"Well, it's about time you came down."
Zip jumped and turned to find Catra standing behind. She slinked on over and sat beside her.
"Don't act like you knew where I was."
"Uh, I did actually. I know your scent, and I'm quiet. You never knew I came by."
Zip scowled and turned her angered eyes back to the lake.
"If you're here to pick on me, I'm not in the mood."
"I'm not. Chill out." Catra poked at Zip's arm, her voice both calm and soft. "I was worried about you. Everyone is really, especially Sparkles and the Queen. They said you took off from the trip and have been looking for you ever since."
"Well, I'm found." Zip shrugged. "Now go away."
"Not this time, kid. I'm not leaving you alone during another Zip crisis."
She snapped her eyes back at the feline.
"Excuse me? Zip crisis?"
"Yeah, that's what I call them. You used to have them all the time, but lately, they've been few and far between. I honestly thought they were gone for good, but here we are."
"I don't know what you're talking about!" She barked. "I've never had some stupid Zip crisis."
"Oh really?" Catra asked. "Okay, let's review. What about the time you ran from us when Glimmer recognized you and called you Rose? How about the time you locked yourself in their so-called prison for nearly four days? There's also all the times you freaked out when you were hugged, plus the time you had a moment during your trip to Mystacor. Glimmer told me about that one."
Zip groaned out of annoyance.
"Cut it out! It's none of your business why I do what I do. It was definitely none of your business to know about what happened on Mystacor."
"Well, in case you forgot, you're family to me, too. It kind of is my business from time to time."
Zip was a little touched to hear those words as, despite their sarcasm wars, Catra was like another sister to her. She just never mentioned it to the other, and had no plans to at that moment.
"Yeah well, tough luck for you. Turns out I'm not meant for this family stuff after all."
"Says who?"
Zip was silent, her look turning dark again.
"Says Camilla? If that's the case, you shouldn't believe her. She's wrong."
Hearing Catra say that sparked a nerve of extreme anger inside her chest. Camilla had been one of the reasons she took off today, and one of the reasons she struggled so much with love and family. She didn't like how the other suggested the truth so blatantly.
"Shut up! Don't say that like you know me. You don't know anything!"
Catra's ears twitched a bit at the outburst, Zip now pulling her knees to her chest before hiding her face.
"Just go away. I don't want to be near you."
She was expecting Catra to abide by her words but heard no movement that indicated she was leaving. Instead, the woman's soft voice filled her ears again, an air of sadness in her tone.
"Actually, I know more than you think. I know what it's like to grow up with someone who treats you like dirt. I know you shouldn't let one rotten person diminish your self-worth. If I had let Shadow Weaver get the best of me in the end, I honestly don't think I'd be here right now."
Hearing that name prompted Zip to peek up again, her eyes on Catra once more.
"Shadow Weaver? You mean the statue of that lady at Mystacor?"
"Mhm. Did Glimmer tell you about her?"
Zip shook her head.
"She told me that she sacrificed herself for you and Adora, but that was it. She said the rest of the story wasn't her place, and that if I wanted to know, I'd have to ask you two about it."
The sadness that had plagued Catra's voice was also apparent on her face, making Zip's heart hurt a little. It surprised her to hear that the feline could somehow relate. She always came off as playful, happy, and fun. Did the other really know how she felt?
"Catra?" Zip shuffled in place. She had to know. "Who was Shadow Weaver?"
There was a reminiscent glow in the two-toned eyes that flashed quite quickly with anger, sadness, and hurt. She thought that maybe Catra wouldn't want to talk about it after all, but the woman spoke before she could take the question back.
"Shadow Weaver, huh? I suppose for all intents and purposes, she was like a mother. She raised both me and Adora when we were part of the Horde."
Glimmer had once mentioned that the two used to be on the enemy's side. It was Adora who defected first, and then eventually Catra.
"She was like a mother, but she didn't treat me too kindly. It was Adora she favored. I was the thorn in her side. I was the one who couldn't do anything right, and she never let me forget it. She often told me I was useless and worthless, and if it weren't for Adora liking me, that she would have sent me away."
Those words echoed the ones Zip always used to hear from Camilla. She had always been told that she was worthless and a good for nothing child, and that if it weren't for Cal and her mother taking a liking to her, she would have been left for dead. She couldn't understand how anyone could say that to Catra though. She constantly liked to tease and was always sarcastic, but she was never mean and was far from being worthless.
"So she treated you terribly, but ended up saving both you and Adora's life?"
"Yeah," Catra half scoffed. "Shocked me, too. She even said she was proud of me in the end."
"Did you believe her?"
Catra let out a thoughtful sigh.
"Honestly, I didn't know what to think at the time. I still don't know. I will say that, despite how horrible she was to me, it did hurt to lose her right before my eyes. She never showed me love. She never made me feel like I was important. She was one of the worst people I knew, and yet I couldn't help but feel somewhat attached. She raised me after all."
The story she heard was an unexpected one, and now Zip felt bad for what she had said before. Catra did indeed understand what it was like growing up with someone who seemingly hated you.
"I'm sorry that happened," Zip said quietly. "That wasn't fair."
"Eh, what's done is done."
Zip tore at the grass beneath her. Catra may have acted like it was no big deal because it was all in the past, but she also knew that words could still hurt, even after long periods of time.
"She was wrong you know."
"Hmm?" Catra asked.
"Shadow Weaver. She was wrong. You're not worthless or useless. You're one of the best people I know."
A genuine touched smile grew on Catra's face, tears forming in her eyes as well. The woman then scooted closer and wrapped her arm around Zip.
"Thank you. That means a lot. You know Camilla's wrong, too, right? She's wrong about everything. You're one of the best people I know. That's what you should believe."
Zip hid her face once more, her own tears burning.
"No."
"Uh uh, you don't get to tell me the truth and then expect me not to do the same. You're not useless or worthless either. You're so much more."
"I don't feel that way."
"That's because Camilla conditioned you to think otherwise. She said those words so much that you started to believe they were true. You don't have to listen to her anymore. Listen to us, and if you talk to Glimmer and your mom about how you feel, they'll tell you the same thing, too."
"I can't talk to them," Zip replied. "Not about this. It's stupid."
"Nothing is ever stupid if it truly bothers you. They can help. They want to. Listen, Shadow Weaver is the reason I'm still alive today, yes, but it was my friends, and especially Adora, that taught me how to actually live. Sometimes Shadow Weaver's taunts still hurt, but then I remember how loved I am by the people around me. I don't want you to make the same mistake I did and spend half your life thinking poorly of yourself and then running from the people who care. Just let them love you, let us love you, and you won't hurt so much anymore."
Zip's heart ached at the words. She wanted that love so badly.
"You make it sound so easy. It's not. It's not something I can so readily do, and whenever I try, I feel weak, and I don't like feeling that way."
"You're right," Catra agreed. "It's not easy at first, but it does get easier. Let me tell you something someone once told me. It's hard keeping your heart open. It makes you vulnerable, but it doesn't make you weak. You have to believe it's worth it."
At this, Zip finally peered back out, a few stray salty droplets falling down her cheeks. Catra saw this and greeted her with a comforting smile.
"I know it's hard and scary, but you'll be okay. Just talk to them. Let them take care of you. What's the worst that can happen?"
Zip scoffed at those familiar words and began wiping away her tears.
"I hate that question. So much can happen. Things could be ruined. I could lose everything. There's so much at risk, and if I do what you say and let them love me, it'll only hurt more if something bad happens. Love is too hard. Love only hurts."
"Zip, there's always so much at risk. I know that better than anyone. We could easily lose the ones we care for at any time, but that's why it's so important to open up and love. And Zip, it's not the love that brings you down. Loss hurts. Betrayal hurts. Love it what makes things all better."
Hearing those words shook Zip to the core. She wanted to hide her face again, but Catra wouldn't let her and made sure their gazes were locked before speaking again.
"Try and let them in. Just try, and you'll see that life is going to get so much easier for you. You're not alone. You have friends who care about you and a family who love you more than anything, and we're gonna do whatever it takes to make you realize that."
Whatever tears she had wiped away came back again, and as soon as she could, she went back into hiding, her face tucked deep within her arms. Everything Catra mentioned was everything she always wanted. She yearned to be loved, she craved for family. She was tired of being scared all the time. She just didn't know how to fix it.
"It's okay," Catra comforted as she rubbed her back. "It's all gonna be okay."
Zip was secretly happy that the other had stayed by her side. She didn't want to be alone when she felt like this, not anymore. She hurt. She hurt so much, and felt torn between what she wanted and what she was afraid of. However, something was different now, and reaching out for what she wanted didn't seem as daunting as before.
"I'm sorry," she managed to mutter out after a while as she fought back the rest of her tears. She wasn't ready to break down yet.
"You have nothing to be sorry for. Nothing at all. I just want you to see yourself the way we all do."
"Me, too," Zip whispered.
At this, Catra pulled her into a tight hug.
"Let us care for you, and you will. Talk to them. Tell them how you feel, and when you do, you're gonna start feeling a whole lot better."
Zip nodded and gave a gentle hug back.
"I will." She'd give in this time. She wanted all of these bad feelings to be over. "I promise, but for now, I just wanna sit here a little bit longer."
Catra pulled away and cupped the girl's cheek.
"That's not a problem. You want me to stay? Or can I at least go tell them you're safe and that you'll find them soon?"
"I think I'll be all right. You can tell them."
Catra smiled and tousled Zip's hair.
"All right. Good girl. And Zip?"
She looked over as the feline as she stood up.
"Yeah?"
"I love you."
Zip's cheeks turned bright red, and though she couldn't say the words herself yet, she did manage a tiny smile.
"Thank you."
Catra then flashed her a wink before taking off.
"I'll see you later, princess."
"I never realized that Catra grew up feeling so unloved by someone who was supposed to take care of her."
Zip had managed to get back into the castle without anyone noticing, the girl now sitting on her bed. Going unseen was a plus for her. She still wanted a bit more alone time before seeking her family out, and she needed more time to process Catra's revelating story.
"I don't want you making the same mistake I did and spend half your life thinking poorly of yourself and then running from the people who care."
Zip honestly hadn't expected to hear such a thing. Even though Catra was sarcastic and stubborn more often than not, she was also warm, playful, and happy, and whenever she was with Adora, she sported a look that was nothing but pure, unconditional love. She never would have guessed that the brunette had suffered such a troubled past.
"Let me tell you something someone once told me. It's hard keeping your heart open. It makes you vulnerable, but it doesn't make you weak. You have to believe it's worth it."
This was the line that shook her. Vulnerability had been the one thing she always hated because it made her feel weak, and she couldn't afford to be that way within the Briar, not with Camilla around. Whenever she was with her family though, that feeling uncontrollably seeped through her soul, and it only got worse when she gave in to their love and affection.
"It gets worse and makes me feel weak, but it also feels good. As long as I don't mess anything up, it might be okay to give in a little more, though doing that would also mean the possibility of facing those worst case scenarios that bother me."
The risk of ruining relationships and the risk of losing everything had made it hard for her to move forward despite her desire to be more open. That's why the snuggles between the mother and child at the market affected her so much. She wanted that, too. She wanted to snuggle with her mother, but in her mind, snuggling meant never letting go. It meant dispersing all fears. It meant belonging.
"Whenever you feel like you don't belong, I know the one place you can go to change that. Right in her arms. If you ever feel out of place, let Angella hold you, and I guarantee you won't feel that way anymore."
She hadn't forgotten Castaspella's words. Did they still apply even now? Could she simply throw caution into the wind and trust in her family?
"I trust them, I do. It's me I don't trust."
She flopped onto her side and reached beneath her pillow, pulling out the third piece of the necklace that made the star pendant whole. Her fingers traced over the two metal points, and for a moment she could have sworn she saw smaller versions of her own hands doing the same thing, but that flash disappeared as quickly as it came, and she forgot it by the time she sat up.
"I suppose I should talk to Glimmer first. She was all sorts of excited until I ran away. Plus, she helped me the very first time I needed to talk to Angella. Maybe she can help me again."
With a shy but renewed sense of determination, she stood from her bed and pocketed the necklace. She then headed out of her room and towards her sister's.
"I hope she's in. Watch her not be there and- "
"Zip!"
Well, that didn't take long. How Glimmer managed to find her first in these situations baffled her.
"Hey, I- "
"Zip! I'm so happy to see you!"
Glimmer glomped her into a tight hug. Zip tried to explain what happened, but her sister was too excited to let her speak.
"There you are. I was so worried."
She then pulled away, her tear-filled gaze staring at the young girl with relief.
"I thought something terrible had happened until Catra said she found you and that you were all right."
A pang of guilt hit her when she saw the worry.
"O-oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cause trouble."
"No, no, don't be sorry." Zip was pulled into an embrace once more. "You're safe, and that's all that matters."
While this happened, a single Bright Moon general walked by, Glimmer signaling her over.
"Please inform my mother that Zip is safe with me and that we'll be with her presently."
When Zip heard this, she hastily took a step back.
"Wait! Wait. Before that, may I talk to you first? Alone?"
Although confused, Glimmer agreed.
"Of course. I apologize, Juliet, please retract that last request. Do inform my mother, but tell her we'll be with her soon."
"Very well, princess," Juliet replied before taking off.
Once they were alone again, Zip was led into Glimmer's room, the two sitting on the large cushioned window bench.
"Are you all right?"
She wasn't sure how to answer this. She technically was okay, yes, but she also was not.
"I'm s-sorry. I'm not sure how to start."
Glimmer patted her leg gently.
"Take your time. There's no rush."
Zip leaned back against the window, her fingers playing with the side of her boot as she tried to think of how to begin.
"I didn't mean to run off and ruin today's family time. I just saw something that hit a nerve. That's when the stupid worries started hitting and got me scared, and then that stupid question popped in my head and I worried even more and that caused me to run. I should have spoken to you guys about it first, but running is my trademark and I'm terrible at being a normal child and how you guys tolerate me when- "
"Woah, woah, woah!"
What started off as slow sentences turned into a fast-paced anxiety-filled ramble, Glimmer having to cut the girl off before she could go any further.
"Easy hun. First of all, we don't 'tolerate' you, we love you. Second of all, you didn't ruin anything today. We weren't so much upset when you took off, but more worried. What did you see that worked you up?"
Zip rested her face in her hands, her eyes covered. She suddenly felt stupid for saying all this.
"It's dumb."
"No, it isn't, not if it's bothering you. Talk to me."
She growled at her own ridiculous doubts. They made so much sense when she thought about them in her head, but when she worded them, they seemed utterly ridiculous.
"Come on sweetie, what did you see?"
"Bah. I saw a mom and kid snuggling, okay? I saw them and it made me think of mom and how much I've wanted to snuggle with her ever since I saw you two do it, but then I could never bring myself to ask because snuggles means vulnerability and vulnerability means weakness. I know Catra said it wasn't, but I still feel like it might be, and I can't afford to be weak because what if something terrible happens and I ruin things or I lose you all again and life turns into one big mess and- uuuugh! Why am I so stupid!?"
Zip pulled a nearby blue pillow to her face and half growled out of frustration. She figured Glimmer would definitely find her weird after her second breathless ramble. Who got this worked up over seeing snuggles? It made her sound like a complete disgrace. Her sister, however, reacted opposite of what she was expecting, and instead of chiding her over the ridiculousness of the situation, she sat beside her and lovingly caressed her hair.
"I don't think anything you said is stupid. Snuggling with someone can be scary because it does indeed make you vulnerable. You're leaving yourself open to a period of loving, and it's almost as if you feel exposed. Catra's right though. Feeling that way doesn't make you weak. If it did, then everyone I know would be weak because everyone experiences it, yet none of us are."
Zip's sad little eyes peeked up from behind the pillow.
"Everyone experiences it? Even you?"
"Oh for sure. I get that way with Bow. It was hard in the beginning, but over time that vulnerability felt good. I get that way with mom, too"
"With Angella?" She couldn't believe this. "No way. You two are so close."
"We are, but I still feel that way. It happens because I know that during those moments, mom is seeing the real me. She's seeing the seventeen-year-old girl who still needs her mommy snuggles, and knowing she can see my true self does leave me a bit vulnerable."
"Why though? It's okay for her to see the real you. You're perfect. I'm a mess. She won't like what she sees with me."
Glimmer chuckled a little.
"Darling, I am far from perfect."
"Not to me. I wish I were just like you."
Her sibling seemed absolutely touched at these words, her hand now cupping Zip's cheek.
"Oh sweetie, I'm flattered. Thank you."
Her look then got a bit firmer, though the love was still there.
"Also, you don't need to worry about whether or not mom will like what she sees. She already loves it, we both do and love you just as you are. We always will."
Zip let out the tiniest of sniffles. She could feel a crack forming in one of the last remaining walls of her heart.
"Can you be sure? What if I do something terrible and ruin the family? You wouldn't love me then."
"There is nothing you could do to ruin us, and nothing you could do to make us hate you."
"How do you know?"
"I know because our love for you is unconditional," Glimmer replied. "That means that no matter what, you have us."
The image of her sister became blurry as the forming tears pushed at that crack even further. She was running out of things to say, running out of excuses that would allow her to believe her self-created doubts.
"But, but what if I don't always have you?" It was her last desperate plea to prove Glimmer wrong. "What if I give in and something happens, and I lose you guys again? I don't think I could handle that."
"You aren't going to lose us, sweetie. Not ever again. We're gonna be right here for you. I can promise you that."
Her heart then snapped in a way it hadn't in so many years, and the tears she had been holding back came pouring out.
"Glimmer…"
"Aww honey, come here."
Glimmer pulled Zip into her arms right as the child began to cry. It wasn't the heavy cry that Zip needed to have, but there was a release of pain and relief within it.
"Shh, it's okay. It's all okay."
She let herself cry for a few minutes, allowing bits and pieces of her fears to leave her body. How long she stayed in Glimmer's arms she didn't know, but she needed it, and if she could open up to her sister this way, then she could do the same with her mother, right?
"Are you sure Angella will let me snuggle with her if I ask, and that I'll be okay if it happens?"
"Of course, silly. She'll want to hold you more than anything, and you'll definitely be okay. I mean, look at us now. I've been holding you. Has anything bad happened?"
Zip blushed and shook her head.
"N-no, but I still feel vulnerable. I don't feel tough at all, and it's frightening. You know what, fine, yes, I like all of this, and I want it so badly, but I'm afraid that if I risk everything and continue to be this vulnerable, then I'm gonna get hurt again, or that I'll hurt you guys."
Glimmer gave her a comforting squeeze.
"Honey, everywhere you go in life, you'll be taking risks that could leave you hurt. I won't lie, although I hope it doesn't happen, there is a good chance that life might hurt you again, but that doesn't mean you live your life with caution and fear. If you do, then you're going to miss out on a lot of great opportunities. I know you're scared of falling, but I can confidently tell you that here, you don't need to be. Here, with us, nothing bad is ever going to happen. You're safe. You can let go, and you can be vulnerable and know nothing is going to hurt you when you are. Trust me, being vulnerable with the right person is a good thing. It's freeing, and it's beautiful."
Another small sniffle escaped as she processed words.
"Being vulnerable with the right person is a good thing?"
Maybe, just maybe, it was a little exhausting to be tough and scared all the time, and a little lonely. Because of her fear, she had pushed things away and never allowed herself to feel how good it could be if she just gave in.
"It's really all right to feel that? It's okay to show the real me?"
"And you know what's also going to help with how you're feeling?" Glimmer asked.
"What?"
"Talking to mom about it, and letting her hold you."
Zip curled a little at the words.
"Honey, it'll help."
She rubbed the rest of the tears from her eyes.
"I know, I know."
"Want to go talk to her now?"
"No, not yet," she answered. "I need a bit longer, but tonight, do you think she'll want to after dinner?"
"Oh for sure. She'll want it. For now though, we should at least go see her to show that you're okay. Can we do that?"
"Y-yeah."
"Good girl," Glimmer smiled. "All right, let's get your face cleaned up and then we can go."
Zip nodded, the girl looking away out of the shyness that formed with her next sentence.
"Thank you. Really. You're the best big sister in the world."
Glimmer seemed to melt at this and kissed Zip on the cheek.
"You're welcome, and you're the best little sister anyone could ever ask for. Come on."
The two slipped off of the bench hand in hand, but before they could reach the door, Zip paused.
"Wait. I need to show you something."
"Hmm?"
She reached into her pocket and pulled out the pendant she had kept hidden for so long. She was ready enough to show it and thought Glimmer deserved to finally see it. She was hoping it would make her happy.
"Oh…oh my. Zip."
Happy was an understatement. Glimmer's eyed welled right up, and her smile was wider than the child had ever seen.
"You still have this," the woman asked as she reached out to touch it. "I never thought I'd see this again."
"Yeah. It was on my neck when I was found. I've kept it ever since, but when I gave up on family, I hid it away."
Glimmer choked on her tears. It was her turn to cry, her hand curling around the pendant she herself owned.
"Mom gave these to us when we were really young. You have no idea how much it means to me to see this. Can I put it on you?"
Zip, although a tad hesitant, held it out to the other.
"Please. I don't want to hide it anymore."
Zip lifted her hair and allowed her sister to clasp it on. It had been so long since she'd worn it, and it was like a piece of her had returned the moment she felt the weight of it on her neck.
"P-pretty as a present," Glimmer stuttered out once she finished. "Oh Zip, I love you."
Zip cast her eyes to the floor, her cheeks all pink as she replied with a single word.
"Rose."
"What?"
"Zip is the name I gave myself because I wanted to forget all about the family that I thought abandoned me. I wanted to forget all the pain, but I'm with you now, and if this pain will eventually go away just by being with you guys, then I don't want to be Zip anymore. I want to be Rose. Your Rose."
It was waterworks all over again. Glimmer broke right back down and hugged her with such a fierceness that she could feel her sister's love right in her very soul.
"My Rose. I love you. I love you so much."
Still words Rose herself couldn't utter yet, but she'd get there, and to show that love was what she felt too, she returned the hug with the same fierceness.
After a few more moments in the embrace, Glimmer pushed back and giggled.
"I guess we both need to get cleaned up now."
Rose snickered and wiped a tear from Glimmer's cheek.
"So it seems. I'm sorry."
"Oh please, you have nothing to be sorry about."
Glimmer held out her hand, Rose taking it within seconds.
"I'm so glad you're here little sister. Come on, let's get cleaned up and see mom."
Rose's conversation with Glimmer had left a mark on her heart, and a crack so astonishingly deep in one of the last remaining walls that guarded it. It had been a struggle to both voice and face her worries and fears, but Catra's reassurance had given her enough courage to try. It had gone better than she thought with Glimmer, but she wasn't finished. Now she had to be brave with the one she had always struggled the most to open up to.
"Angella?"
With Glimmer's encouragement, Rose was able to face her worried mother earlier that afternoon. Angella was thrilled to see her, and though there was some concern, her mother didn't question why she had run. She simply hugged her, and later they all made dinner together just as planned. It went smoothly and happily. After dinner, Rose changed into her purple nightclothes and was now in her mother's room, a nervous pit in her stomach at what was to come.
"Oh, there you are darling," Angella said from her bed. "Come on in."
Rose walked a bit closer, her mother pulling the covers down and patting the empty spot beside her.
"Join me?"
Although shy, Rose nodded and crawled onto the bed, slipping beneath the covers before leaning back against the headboard.
"Are you all right, little one?"
"Mhm."
"Glimmer said you wanted to talk to me about something?"
"Yes." Rose kept her eyes low, that nervous pit growing. "It's weird though."
Angella reached out to stroke the girl's hair with a motherly softness.
"I bet it's not. What's on your mind?"
Her hands fiddled with the baby blue blanket for comfort as she pondered, unsure of where to start first. This would be so much easier if it didn't feel like her heart was going to pound out of her chest.
"Well, I wanted to talk about why I ran away today. I know I made you worry, and I apologize for that."
Angella leaned back and folded her hands thoughtfully in her lap.
"I was concerned, yes, especially when we couldn't find you, but you're back and safe, and that's all that matters. Why is it you took off?"
Rose could feel herself wanting to cry already. She had carried her fears around for so long that releasing them was a painful process, and now that she was doing so, it seemed that her tears had a hard time staying back.
"I know this reasoning might sound weird, but I promise it'll make sense. Technically, this all started a couple of weeks ago. Remember when I came in here for something, and I caught you and Glimmer snuggling? That got me a bit. It looked so comfortable and nice and then all of a sudden I wanted it, too, but I told myself no."
The need to snuggle had hit her hard that day, so much that she had almost asked for it on the spot, but she caught herself before she could.
"One, I didn't want to be an inconvenience. I know I can be a bit of a pain, so I didn't want to bother. Two, I was scared. I was still trying to get used to hugs. Snuggles were bigger, and I knew that the longer I'd be in your arms, the more vulnerable I'd feel, and that feeling frightens me. I feel like it's a bad thing and that I'm weak, but Catra and Glimmer says it's not. I'm still not sure what to believe. Three, I didn't think I deserved them."
That was Camilla speaking, those words a constant companion.
"It's like I said. I know I'm a pain, and I'm not easy to deal with. Anyways, when we went shopping today, I was having a hard time dealing with some worries. I was trying to suppress them, but when I saw a mom and daughter snuggling together on a bench, it made me think of you and how much I wanted you. I couldn't handle those feelings, so I took off. I didn't see what else I could do."
Rose went silent after that, her cheeks slightly red. She thought her mom would for sure find her words to be odd, but that was not the case. Instead, Angella slipped her hand into her daughters and held it tight, her voice firm but soft.
"First of all, you have never been, nor will you ever be an inconvenience. You're my daughter, not a pain, and I've never viewed you that way in the slightest."
"How can I not be? I don't remember who I am, I always struggle with family things, and I made you worry today. Camilla always told me I was a mountain of trouble, and I feel like that's what I've always brought you."
"Rose. Look at me."
She felt Angella lift her chin, her mother's gaze both loving yet mildly angered.
"What that woman said was wrong, and I will never forgive her for hurting you. It's not her you should believe. Ever. I am your mother, and I love you more than life itself. You are not trouble, and as I told you before, whether or not you have your memories has nothing to do with how deep my love runs for you. Do you understand me?"
Rose had to turn away, her free hand catching a tear before it fell.
"As for vulnerability," Angella continued. "I do understand that it can be frightening, but Catra and Glimmer are correct. It does not make you weak. It probably makes you feel that way because you aren't used to being loved. That alone breaks my heart because love is something you deserve. And finally, you are more than welcome to snuggle with me. I will always have time for it and for you. Always."
Rose could feel that same heartbreaking pain run through her again as she hid her face in her knees. She was breaking.
"But…but how? How can you love me so easily? I've been gone for a long time. I mean, I had given up on family, and I was content with going through the rest of my life without one, and yet here you are loving me as if nothing has changed."
Her tears began to spill out faster.
"You turned everything in my life upside down. Both you and Glimmer. You both started to change me. I can't even think the way I used to anymore. I can't hate family the way I want to. I can't because you make it sound so perfect. You're doing everything right and you're making me feel things I shouldn't. You're making me want things I shouldn't. I wasn't supposed to be happy here, but I am. I'm so happy it hurts, and one of the biggest reasons I couldn't bring myself to snuggle you was because I knew that if I did I was never gonna want to let go. I kept trying to push these happy feelings away because I knew someone like you was too good to be true. I knew this life was too good to be true, and worried that if I gave in then something bad would happen and I didn't want it to because I didn't want to lose you. I wouldn't be able to handle it, Angella. Even though I can't remember, I wouldn't be able to handle losing you and Glimmer all over again. It'd kill me."
All of her locked away thoughts and feelings came pouring out, more so than she expected. She hadn't meant to explain all of this in such a fashion, but it couldn't help but spill free.
"I'm such a mess, dammit. Why didn't you just give up on me?"
"Because you're my family," Angella had started crying as well. "And no matter how hard things get, families don't toss each other out or give up on each other."
"But why? You already had a perfect child. I'm terrible."
"You are not!" Her mother scooted in closer. "You're perfect to me. Both you and your sister are. You're my child, and there is nothing you can say or do that will ever make me give up on you or stop loving you."
That crack in her wall was breaking further by the second.
"But I don't do anything to make you happy."
"Baby, you being here makes me the happiest person in the world. I thought I'd lost you. I thought I'd never see you again. When you went missing, I lost part of my heart, and it was a part I never thought would return, and yet here you are. I couldn't be happier."
She honestly felt that way?
"Well, what if something goes bad? What if I somehow ruin things, or what if I lose you again?"
"Nothing bad will happen honey, and there is nothing you can ruin. No one is going to pull the rug out from under you here. I mean that. You're safe and oh so loved, and I'm never letting you go again. My darling, you belong here. These arms were meant for you."
The tears were endless now. Rose was broken.
"Angella…"
"Come here, my love."
Rose was pulled into her lap, arms tightly around her in a deep snuggle. She felt that vulnerability creep up again, but for once she didn't fight it. The wall had broken, and once she was in those arms, she didn't want to leave.
"I've got you. You're safe. You're mine forever."
"Angella…Angella."
She wrapped her arms around the woman's neck with a sniffle. This is what she needed.
"Mommy."
Moments after that word slipped out of her mouth, she burst out into a heavy cry. It was the cry she had needed from the start, the one that spilled out years of sadness, neglect, and pain.
"Mommy," she muttered again, Angella hugging her tighter while rubbing her back.
"Shh. Shh, my little one. Mommy is right here, and it's all going to be okay."
It hurt to let her emotions out like this, and yet it was freeing at the same time. Rose had never opened up like this before, nor did she ever face her fears in such a manner. Cal had made her feel relatively safe in the past, but never had she felt something like this. This was a mother's hug. This was a mother's love. It was strong and pure, and it penetrated every bit of darkness that hid in her heart.
"I've got you, now and forever."
Rose had no idea how long they stayed like that. Every so often, she wondered if her mother was getting tired of holding her, but every time that thought crossed her mind, she felt Angella kiss her head, as if she was reading her mind and comforting her.
"My beautiful little girl."
After a bit longer, the crying had slowed, the child able to relax now.
"Are you feeling better?"
Rose nodded, her face nuzzling into Angella's hair before she pulled back just a little. A few stray tears escaped when she did this, but her mother kissed them all away. She noticed that the woman still had a few tears as well, something Rose felt a little guilty for.
"I'm sorry I made you cry."
"Oh no honey, trust me. These are happy tears. Oh, my Rose."
She was pulled into another hug.
"I'm so proud of you for telling me what you just did. I'm so happy you trusted me enough to share those thoughts with me."
"I just don't wanna be scared anymore. I want you."
"And I want you," Angella replied. "Forever, and I promise I'll do whatever I can to make sure you never have to have those fears again."
"You're already helping them disappear…"
"My baby. Good. I'm glad."
As Rose was held, another thought crossed her mind.
"Wow, Aunt Casta was right."
"Hmm?"
"The day we visited her, she told me that if I ever felt like I didn't belong, then all I needed to do was be in your arms. Then I'd feel like I belong again. She was right."
Angella grinned and gave her head a slew of happy kisses.
"I love you. I love you so much."
Rose may have not been strong enough to say those words yet, but she sure felt that love, and had so much of it for her mother in return.
"No more bad things?"
"No more," Angella whispered, Rose snuggling back in her arms. "No bad things."
After some more much needed cuddle time, a happy Rose returned to her room, the girl curled up in her bed after her mother tucked her in. She had never felt such happiness before. It was like she was walking on air.
"I'm loved. I so loved, and this really is my life. I'm never going to have to leave them again."
She hugged one of her pillows close, her eyes drooping as she smiled. This would be a night she'd never forget. Even though the day had started with such heavy feelings, it ended with love from so many people, love she wanted to spend the rest of her life giving back, and with how happy she was feeling, she knew she'd be able to speak those three little words very soon.
"They're mine forever."
That motherly warmth still surrounded her and cradled her into a comfort she never wanted to escape from. After a lifetime of hurt, she finally got the love she always wanted, and nothing would ever take this feeling away from her again.
"Nothing. Nothing. I…"
"Boom!"
Eyes opened to find a giant hole burned into her wall, melting away the material and exposing the outside world. Fire tore through her room moments after, enflaming the curtains and the rug. Eventually, the flames hit her door, leaving her no escape route.
"Mommy! Mommy help me!"
She could feel the heat on her skin, tears of panic streaming down her cheeks. What was happening? What was she supposed to do?
"Rose? Rose?!"
She glanced back at the door with a terrified gaze.
"Glimmer! Glimmer help!"
"Come here you little brat."
A man in a metal suit headed towards her, menace in his words.
"Ahh!"
A sudden flash hit her, and the next thing she knew she was falling from the sky and through some trees, a forest floor below her."
"No!"
With a scream, Rose shot up. For a moment, she could have sworn she saw that same fire filled hole in her wall, prompting her to fall out of bed, but when she looked back at it, nothing was there. In fact, nothing in her room was any different. There was no hole, no fire, and no man coming for her. Still, she felt as if it were real, her face hot, her fear strong, and her heart racing.
"What the heck was that?"
She leaned against her bed, forcing herself to calm down, but for some reason, she couldn't. What she dreamt terrified her, and it did so in a way that seemed so familiar.
"It was just a dream," she whispered. "Just a dream. Try and go back to sleep."
Rose told herself this, but she knew she wouldn't be able to do it. What she witnessed had struck a nerve, and it had given her a sharp headache. Where had that nightmare come from? Why did it hit her all of a sudden? She wasn't sure, but she hoped it would never happen again.