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Over the next few weeks Raven visibly strengthened, the bruises faded and after she had showered she looked almost back to normal.
However there was a sadness about her. It dampened her spirits and after a few hours with her, even Garfield was emotionally exhausted.
A few people visited. Nightwing checked up on them every now and then, as well as Starfire and Cyborg, even Speedy popped in. However, after every visitor had left Raven's health seemed to deteriorate. Garfield was despairing that Raven would never recover.
Some nights she'd have such bad nightmares that she'd wake up screaming. When he questioned her about them she'd change the topic. Garfield was afraid she'd relapse but every time she'd recover only to sink into depression.
Sometimes he'd take her down to the park. She loved the times. The quiet serenity of the park appealed to her previous love of solitude.
It was a beautiful morning. As Garfield led her outside, she could only stare at the amazing dawn sky. The clouds were blushing like new lovers. It was streaked with a soft pink that faded into a subtle blue. A flock of geese flew silhouetted against the morning sky. The moon, not yet faded, shone like a silver charm warding of all evil.
Garfield could feel her relax as she leaned on him. The park was such a tranquil place at this time. The morning was slightly chilly and he could hear the frosted grass crunch beneath their boots.
They sat together, on one of the park's benches, basking in the peacefulness of the moment.
A small icy wind caused the still lake to ripple, making the moon's reflection dance. Raven shivered slightly and drew closer to Garfield who put his arm around her, protecting her from the chill wind.
She lay her head on his shoulder. It was still early, and she could feel herself drifting off, warmed as she was by his touch. Drifting slowly, she closed her eyes.
A wave of darkness and scarlet.
Mama!
Panic suffocated her, constricting her breathing. She sat bolt upright, the peaceful moment shattered.
Gasping for air, she felt a warm pair of arms wrap themselves around her.
"What did you see?" a troubled voice asked gently. Raven shuddered with shook, the picture of the dying child still in her mind's eye.
"I…" she panted, trying to spit the words out.
"I…I killed her!"
Raven collapsed in Garfield's arms still trembling with the effort that the confession had taken.
The words spilled forth, like a dam being broken.
"I didn't want to…
she was a mistake…
a beautiful mistake…
they said I needed to get rid of her…
they said she was part of me…
something for me to decide what to do with…
they said she would slow me down…
make no one want me…
they said it would be best to get rid of her before I got too fat and ugly…
she was a blessing but they made her into a curse…
she comes to me in dreams…
she was crying…
and the blood…
so much blood!"
She sobbed into Garfield's shirt. He clasped her in shock. He realised that she had been having bad dreams... but nothing like that.
He nowtruly knew what he held in his arms, but strangely it didn't repel him.
She was an angel made of glass.
Fragile and beautiful. Inside him he knew he would protect her from any evil no matter what the cost. She had been through the fire, she had been burnt but he would heal her.
Gently he tipped her tear-stained face to his. The tears rolled silently down her cheeks like precious diamonds glinting in the sunlight. Her amethyst pools swamped his senses.
He was overwhelmed by the sadness and his need to disperse it.
He leaned forward and the sadness in her eyes changed to wonder. Just as the sun broke over the tree topped hills, he gently kissed her.
It was a moment of pure bliss. Time seemed to slow down. The geese's wings beat a slow and steady rhythm that corresponded with the hearts. In that moment, two hearts became one, pure and unbreakable.
She was his glass angel.
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