One month later…
Rising from her bed she went into the adjoining bathroom and splashed cool water on her face before looking at her reflection in the mirror. The person she saw staring back at her was someone she wanted to get rid of. Limp red hair and skin paler than normal, not to mention the green eyes that held none of their vibrant color with bags underneath that proved a reminder of many a sleepless night. If her nights were not sleepless then they were filled with nightmares that were always the same. Tara's death haunted her night after night.
Shaking her head to rid it of the thoughts that plagued her mind she grabbed a robe and slipped it on over her sleep set that consisted of a dark green camisole with matching pajama pants. Walking into the kitchen she grabbed the tea kettle from its place on the stove and filled it with water. Placing it back on the stove and waiting a few moments before hearing the shrill whistle that indicated the water being warm enough, she then took the kettle and poured some water into a mug. Placing the kettle back on the stove, she pulled a tea bag from a box in the cupboard and added it to the mug. Letting the tea bag soak in the water and the flavor seep for several minutes before removing the soggy bag and tossing it into the trash, she picked up the mug and put it to her nose breathing in the fruity scent of the Mandarin Orange Spice tea. Taking a sip, she left the kitchen and entered the living room, opening the sliding doors and leaving the house, stepping out onto the back porch as she watched the sun rise above the water. Remembering how much Tara loved the sunrise brought a few tears to her eyes.
"It's alright to remember," Willow heard Giles say from behind her. "Remembering her is one of the steps to healing."
"It hurts. I can't...
"Willow," Giles said to the witch.
"I can't help but think her death is my fault." Willow said before leaning into the hug Giles pulled her into, her tears wetting his shirt. After letting her cry for a few moments he made her face him. "Now you listen to me. The person responsible for Tara's death is not you. You are here to remember her. To remember, accept, heal and learn."
Willow nodded before picking up her cup of tea, which was growing cold, from the porch banister. Giles had brought her here for a kind of 12 step program, except there were only 4 steps. After almost a month here, she was close to starting the second step. Taking the young witch inside, where a cuddly wolf was waiting for her, Giles spoke to him, "Are you ready Oz?"
"Ready for what?" Willow asked Giles. Oz said to Willow, "I'm in charge of the next step. Acceptance."