The next few weeks were silent, Kiah hardly did anything but read the witch’s spell books, but she allowed me to feed her small bits of food, she wasn’t eating that much but it put me at ease to know she had a bit of food in her. She hardly went out. Her eyes were dead; they held no emotion at all. I thought this would go on forever until one day she finally went out, I found her in the pouring rain laying flowers by the witches grave, she barely acknowledged me as she walked right past me to the hill that overlooked the village.
She was staring into the distance, lost in thought; I edged closer to her and held out my umbrella, which broke her out of her trance.
“She was trying to protect me” her voice croaked from not speaking for days.
“The witch, I think she didn’t want to teach me the spell to protect me, it didn’t go so well didn’t it?” she chuckled darkly.
“Everyone’s plans failed.”
It went silent for a moment until she spoke again.
“Did you see anything?”
“What do you mean?” I tilted my head.
“Did you see what the spell was doing?”
“Yes, the clouds of mist were making shapes as they told the story.”
“How peculiar” she turned towards me.
“I saw it as a vision, yet the only thing that was made of clouds of mist was Lilo.”
“Really?”
“Yes, I can’t even remember what she looked like, the spell didn’t replace all of my memory I guess.”
Silence passed again.
“I loved her” she choked out.
“I loved Lilo, she was my everything, and then I’m the one that made her go away... I still don’t know how I’m going to live like that.”
“I guess you have to push through.”
“Did you know Lilo? Did you know me?”
I shook my head.
“I knew of you, but we never spoke, same goes for Lilo.”
“Were you there on the day?”
“No, I’d accidentally slept in and when I woke up my mother told me what had happened.”
“Does the village see me as a monster? Do they know what I’ve done?”
“They know what you’ve done, and they’re not that happy about it… but things can change!” I exclaimed.
“You can change! You’re already so different, Kiah!”
“But I’ve done something horrible” Kiah spat.
“I’ll never forgive myself for what I’ve caused.”
I frowned “you may not forgive yourself, but you need to move on one day.”
“I know! But it’s just too soon!” she faltered.
“And it’s just so hard” she mumbled.
“I’m sorry.”
“Why are you sorry?” she asked me, panic flashed in her eyes, “you didn’t do anything.”
“I know” I assured her.
“It’s just… I don’t know how to help you, Kiah.”
Kiah smiled slightly “I don’t know either, but maybe we can find out together, as friends, you can help me move on, right?”
“I’ll try my best” I smiled weakly.
She stood up and held out a paw to help me up as well.
“I was thinking about what the witch said, and I think I want to become the new witch, but I don’t think I can face the village just yet, so I’ll need a helper.”
I laughed, “I thought I already was!”
I knew she was in pain, I knew that she was still upset, but I could see that she had accepted what she did, and that she was ready to face the consequences. I think Lilo would have been proud.