Sometimes I wonder if all the thing I've been through was deserved. All the people I've met, the things I've experienced, the bad and good that happened…was it all deserved? I gave up asking that question a long time ago, I left it as just another struggle that anyone goes through. I remember that cliff, at the edge of the forest in my hometown, that cliff that was the turning point in my life, where I would have been dead if it weren't for her. Fall was right around the corner.

A soft wind blew against a young girl's dark black hair, she wrapped her coat tightly from the chilly atmosphere, peered over the edge, and looked down at where the wild waters meet the wall of land, taking a few steps back she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, slowly opening them she looked out onto the horizon, the sun touches her and reflects the warm ivory of her skin, her blue eyes glistening from the light, tears creep up underneath her vision as she slowly walks closer to the edge.

'I wouldn't stand so close to there if I were you'

Startled by the voice she quickly spun around, and to her surprise, a woman dressed in a long brown burgundy dress stood before her

'That is a pretty steep fall, it would be difficult to get out once you're in'

The woman gestured with her hands for her to come closer

'Come now, any longer standing there and I'm afraid the soil and dirt will be tired of keeping you up'

The girl did as she was told and walked toward the woman away from the edge. Up close, the woman had markings on her face around her eyes, cheeks, and mouth, a red gem embedded under her right eye that had the most beautiful golden-brown hue the girl had ever seen, but her left was as white as snow, not even the pupil can be seen.

'What is a young girl like you doing out here in the middle of the woods?'

The girl pondered the question.

'I came for the view.'

'The view?'

'Yes'

The woman leaned forward can in hand, the cane that the girl is just noticing that had the carving of what seemed to be a human skull on top. Her dead eye emits signs of both life and death.

'You came all the way here just for sightseeing dear?'

'N-No.'

The woman straightened upright keeping her eyes on the girl, paying close attention to her face, almost as if to try and make out her emotions.

'Well, I won't pry into your reason why you are here, but I will say that it is getting late, and I do imagine that you are far away from your home right?'

'Yes…yes I am.'

'And I am sure your parents are worried.'

The girl looked down.

'They aren't around.'

'I see.'

Realizing that she touched on a sensitive topic she quickly changed the topic.

'So, what is your name dear?'

'Avivit.'

'Avivit?'

'Avivit Xander.'

'Oh, you're a Xander...my condolences'

'It's okay, it happened a year ago.'

As to see the maturity grow in a person none less a child, the woman gave a sad yet comforting smile.

'Well?'

The woman extended her hand to the girl.

'May I guide you out of here young Vivi?'

Avivit hesitantly took the woman's hand as she nod in agreement.

That was six years ago…six years ago on that day, I made my first true friend, I just didn't know it yet, I miss her kind stern voice, and her laughs. Her eccentric ways of doing things. I miss all of her. The closest thing I had to a mother figure ever since… they died.

Now in the present, Avivit is fiddling with her silver necklace that has a white rose pendant pondering on the past, as the sound of a male voice calling to her gets clearer as she slowly exits her memories.

'Vivi…Vivi, Vivi!'

She snapped back to reality.

'Yes?'

'You ready?' His voice was thick with Russian accents.

'Y-yeah let's go.'

They entered his black pickup truck and strapped in, as he started the engine Avivit turned towards him.

'Again, thanks for letting me use the truck, Jonathan, it means a lot.'

'No need will do anything for a friend, you scratch back I scratch back'

Among the heavy accent, his broken English complements it.

'Oh, please Jonny, all I did was tutor you.'

'Da, you did, but English is hard tongue, so it is sensible to pay you back, no?'

She sat back.

'Well, when you put it that way…'

'Do not worry, you are a comrade, we look out for each other where I'm from.'

Jonathan is a close friend of mine, what started as just tutoring between classmates turned into a friendship bond between us. He is an exchange student from Russia, I remember the first time he came here he was as lost as a lion cub without its mother, and to boot he barely understood English, well it is a good thing that there are professors that teach both Russian and English, but for him to catch up with the class he needed to get a tutor, hence me. He is a straightforward and funny guy, you need a laugh, go to Jonny boy here.

As the truck cruised along the road with a heavy hum and slight rumble, Avivit let what Jonathan said sink in. "We look out for each other". What he said was true in every form, but she fears that was not the case between her and the woman, she leaned on the woman for comfort and support, but she could not have done the same. She shared all her problems with the woman, but the woman never shared any of hers. "It was completely one-sided," she thought.

I remember sneaking out of the house away from the sight of my aunt, every Saturday, into the woods, just to meet her, I would wait by the usual cliff just to walk and talk to her, tell her all that has been going on with me, how I feel about things and what actions should I take. Until one day she guided me to her home so I won't wait by the cliff anymore.

Walking with the woman, young Avivit was guided to what looked like a cabin combined with a shack, so neatly put together but yet still looking like it will crumble with the touch of a feather. Lord knows what complex foundation is holding this house up. The woman guided her into the structure, and as soon as Vivi stepped in, the warm air contrasted with the chill of the outside, making her unconsciously relax and calm her senses. Inside the house looks way more spacious than it looks at the outside, almost as if it were magic, with sculptures and ornaments being the main population in the room. Be it stuffed birds or hanging dream catchers they are allocated to almost every corner and wall, crowded, but yet there is more room that needs to be filled, it's spacious yet cozy. It was difficult for young Vivi to wrap her head around. To the woman, she looked like a child with a new toy, unsure how to approach it, yet still excited by the new and alien aura.

'Well are you going to look around all day, or are you going to sit and enjoy a nice warm cup of chocolate with me?'

She gestured towards two chairs and a center table set, a set that Avivit for sure knew wasn't there before. Calmly and quietly she sat down as the woman poured her a cup and placed a plate of cookies in the center.

'We have a lot of time on our hands, so I guess we can enjoy a quiet conversation together instead of walking in the woods all day, a nice change of pace if I do say so myself.'

The woman took a deep satisfying sip before being interrupted by Avivit.

'You never told me your name.'

'Hm?'

'Your name, I remember asking you for it. You never told me, why?'

The woman gently placed down her cup and looked at Avivit with the same kind eyes.

'Well, I guess I should tell you,' she straightened herself. 'I do not have a name, but I have many'

Vivi's head tilted with confusion. Almost as if she knew this would happen, the woman quickly responded.

'Vivi dare, what do you hear people call me in your neighborhood?'

Avivit knew the answer to this, for everyone knows about the woman, they call her the local witch, a name that everyone who knows about her tale uses. And all the stories of her always end up the same, stay away from the witch. But Avivit does not see a mean and unforgiving person before her, she sees a kind and loving soul, misunderstood by the masses.

'The local witch?'

'Yes indeed, the local witch,' She leaned forward. 'And why do you think they call me that?'

'Because they're afraid?'

'Yes they are afraid, people always give names based on how they feel about the subject, and for many years, it has been how it's always been for me. My names change all the time, be it good or bad, it is always changing, now my question to you, is how you feel about me and that should be my name.'

Avivit sat back and thought about what she said for a few minutes, patiently waiting was the woman to hear her answer. And finally, Avivit spoke.

'Shalom.'

'Hm?'

'Shalom, my mother said it means calm…and I always feel calm when I am around you.'

Surprised by the answer, the woman took a thoughtful sit back, looking at the girl and thinking to herself playing with the gem under her eye. She then smiled and gave her response.

'Shalom you say… I like it, it has a nice ring to it.'

the conversation continued till the evening of that day, both Avivit and Shalom enjoyed each other's company quite much as young Vivi's life goes on.

I wanted those days to last, if not forever but for a long time. One day she just didn't show up, I looked for her home, but it was as if she didn't exist, and all of my comforts went with her. Now I'm back here, home. Little Quail Dew, I never really liked this place if I'm honest.

Standing outside the truck, in front of a light blue duplex, Vivi gave off a sigh, not of relief, or rest, but of distaste. Jonithan stood beside her.

'You ready?'

'Wait here, I'll handle the rest'

'You sure? I can help lift'

'No, it's okay, besides, the letter said there's only one box'

'Okay, I'll be here' He leans back on the door.

Avivit calmly walks towards the house, the rain-soaked grass complements the look, as she strides along. After reaching the footstep of the door, she took a deep breath and rang the bell. Five minutes, no answer, she rang again, still no answer, she was about to resort to knocking when the door suddenly opened. Before her, stood a woman, dark around the eyes and shaggy blond hair, blowing out the smoke from her mid-finished cigarette.

'Well I'll be damned, if it isn't my niece little Vivi, how ya been?'

'There are some things here that were left for me I came to get it back'

'Good morning auntie, or maybe even a simple how are you would work ya'know'

Avivit didn't respond.

'Jesus fucking Christ, you know you and your mother are the same when it comes to grudges'

'Do not talk about my mom'

'I mean it's the tru-'

'-The stuff Clarissa'

'Jeeze, anyways, I did see something with your name on it, been wondering why it came here and not at your place'

She pointed out in the front, on the grass by the fence, leaving Vivi to wonder how she had not seen it since it's so close to the path, it was a cardboard box with the writings "To Vivi, From Shalom", it was just there on the grass…the wet grass, outside, in the rain.

'You left it out in the rain?!'

'If it ain't for me, it's not my business'

'What is wrong with you, at least put it on the porch'

'Again, not my business, now if you will excuse me, my favorite show is on right now, deal with whatever that is'

She flailed her hand in the direction of the box as she re-enters the house and closes the door. Out of anger Avivit stormed off and took up the box heading towards the truck.

'Everything okay?'

'Just a bitch of an aunt'

Jonithan's eyebrows raised out of surprise.

'Sorry, I don't use foul language often but some people can be frustrating, come on let's go, I don't want to be near this place any longer'

Silently agreeing to her, they both entered the vehicle, she suddenly started rummaging through as Jonithan started the engine and pulled off. Her frantic movements gradually calmed down as she notices something.

'They're all..dry? This doesn't make sense, it was raining for a good hour before we reached here.'

'Probably light in this area?'

'It's still cardboard though.'

She continued to rummage through, until her fingers touched a cold metallic object, bringing it into view, she saw a dark red book that had seen better days, the edges were worn out and the pages were chipped at the end, the cover had a gold rose embedded on it, and gold accents on the spine.

'What is it?'

Avivit slowly caressed the rose.

'I'm not sure, but I think this is real gold'

'Really? Will you sell?'

'I would never, Shalom was a dear friend, any gift from her is priceless to me.

Her eyes never left the book, something about it is drawing her attention way more than anything ever did.

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR:

I have been working on this for a while now, I hope you all enjoy it as much I enjoy creating the plot, I've been constantly rewriting and erasing some of the stuff I came up with. To be honest, this was supposed to be posted three months ago, but constant overthinking and ADHD had gotten in my way. I had three to four chapters done but, I was not satisfied with what I had, call it artist's perfection. Anyways, you'll be seeing some notes like these in some chapters here and there anytime I have to add an important topic or not something for you.

I am also working on the illustration for the characters (yes, I do pencil art). But that will take some time.

Even though this is just the first chapter, I still want to know what you all think about it and your impressions so far.

There will be an update next week (If my ADHD allows it)

anyways.

Stay frosty~<3

luv ya.

And thanks for taking the time to read.