Selena's footsteps echoed through the narrow, dirt path as she made her way back to the cottage. The trees of Mistwood stood like silent sentinels around her, their branches reaching towards the heavens, as though the forest itself was watching her every move. The scent of rain had lingered in the air, and the ground beneath her feet was still damp. She felt a strange heaviness in her chest, a mix of excitement and dread as she replayed her conversation with Rowan over and over again in her mind.
His words had struck something deep within her, something she had buried for a long time: a yearning to escape, to step into the world beyond Mistwood, beyond the suffocating confines of her small farm. Rowan had spoken of a botanical expedition in the city, a chance for Selena to study plants, to learn, to grow—and yet, all she could think about was her mother.
Her mother, Violet, had always been the center of Selena's world. Growing up without her father, Selena had been the one to help Violet with the daily chores, to take care of the land, to become the woman her mother expected her to be. Violet had never let her forget that their small farm was a fragile existence, and the dreams Selena had held close—dreams of studying the wilds, of seeing the world beyond the fields—had always been dismissed as childish fantasies.
As Selena reached the edge of the clearing where their cottage stood, her heart sank. The warm glow of the hearth inside was inviting, but the thought of returning to another evening filled with her mother's sharp words made her hesitate. For a moment, Selena considered turning back, retreating into the depths of Mistwood, where she could breathe freely, where no one would tell her who she was or what she should do.
But she didn't. She never did. There was always something in her that pulled her back to the cottage, back to her mother.
Pushing open the wooden door, Selena stepped inside, the familiar warmth of the fire greeting her as she entered. Violet was at the stove, stirring a pot of stew, her back to Selena. The smell of onions and herbs filled the room, and for a moment, it felt like everything was as it should be—calm, familiar, predictable. But Selena knew better than to think that. The tension between them had been building for months, and it felt like it was only a matter of time before it came to a head.
"Did you have a nice walk?" Violet asked, her voice lacking the usual warmth. She didn't turn around, but the question hung in the air like an accusation.
Selena set her journal and satchel down on the table, her thoughts racing. "I found something interesting in the woods today," she said, her voice carefully neutral. She didn't want to upset her mother, not yet. "A rare flower. I've never seen it before."
Violet paused, the wooden spoon stilling in her hand. "A flower?" she asked, her tone hardening slightly. "What is it with you and those plants? Don't you ever tire of your obsession with the woods?"
Selena winced, but she didn't back down. "I don't think it's an obsession," she replied quietly. "I think there's a lot to learn from the plants, from the land. I want to understand it better."
Violet's shoulders stiffened, and she finally turned to face her. Her eyes, once filled with softness and love, now seemed cold and distant. "You don't understand, Selena. The world out there"—she waved a hand toward the window, where the forest loomed—"is not kind. It's not some fairy tale you can wander through. It's hard work, survival, and sacrifice. And we don't have time for your… fantasies."
Selena's breath caught in her throat. She had heard these words before, but today, they stung more than usual. The weight of her mother's expectations pressed down on her like a boulder, suffocating her every thought.
"I'm not trying to live in a fairy tale," Selena said, her voice trembling with emotion. "I just want to learn. I want to understand the world. I want to do something that matters."
Violet's face hardened, and she set the spoon down with a sharp clatter. "What do you mean, 'do something that matters'?" she asked, her voice rising. "We have a life here. We have a home. A farm. That matters, Selena. That's reality. Your dreams, your ideas—they don't matter if we can't survive."
Selena's heart thudded painfully in her chest. She wanted to shout, to scream that there was more to life than survival. That her dreams mattered, that they were not just some frivolous fancy. But she couldn't. She never could. The fear in her mother's eyes, the anxiety that always seemed to simmer beneath the surface, kept Selena from pushing too hard.
"I just… I don't know how to make you understand, Mother," Selena whispered, her voice breaking. "I want something more than this. I want to learn, to see what's out there."
Violet's expression softened for a brief moment, but it quickly hardened again, as though she couldn't allow herself to show vulnerability. "You don't need to go anywhere to learn, Selena. Everything you need to know is right here. The world out there doesn't care about you. It's cold. It'll swallow you whole. You have no idea what you're asking for."
The words echoed in Selena's mind, the finality in her mother's voice suffocating her. She turned away, retreating to the small window by the table, her eyes scanning the mist-covered forest beyond. The trees, once welcoming, now seemed distant, almost unreachable. It was as though the forest itself was telling her she wasn't ready yet, that she still had more to learn here, in the world her mother had created.
But Selena's heart knew differently. She could feel the call of the woods deep within her, the pull of something greater than herself, something that couldn't be ignored. Rowan's words from the day before returned to her mind.
You don't have to be confined to what others think you should do. You have a gift.
She clenched her fists, the weight of her dreams pressing against her like an anchor. Was she willing to let them go? To stay in this small life with her mother, never pursuing the things that stirred her soul? Or would she be brave enough to follow the path Rowan had offered her?
"Mother," Selena said, her voice quiet but resolute, "I've been thinking about the offer Rowan made. About the botanical expedition in the city."
Violet froze, her hands gripping the edge of the counter tightly. "Rowan Hale?" she asked, her voice low, almost dangerous. "What kind of nonsense is this? You're not going anywhere with that boy. He's just like everyone else—looking to take advantage of you."
"Mother, it's not like that," Selena said, her heart racing. She had never dared speak of her dreams so openly before, but now the words felt like they were escaping of their own accord. "Rowan knows about plants. He's been studying them for years. He thinks I could help him, that we could work together to learn more about the forest. It could be a chance for me to finally—"
"No," Violet interrupted, her voice sharp and final. "You're not going anywhere with him, Selena. I won't have you running off to the city. You belong here. With me."
The room seemed to shrink around Selena, her chest tight with the weight of her mother's refusal. She stood in silence for a moment, her mind racing with thoughts of what to do next. But deep down, she knew one thing for sure: her time in this place—this small life—was coming to an end. She couldn't stay here forever, not when her heart yearned for something greater.
"I have to go," Selena whispered, her voice breaking. "I have to see what's out there."
Violet's face twisted in anger, but Selena didn't stay to hear her response. She grabbed her satchel and walked out of the house, the door slamming behind her. The wind whipped at her hair as she headed for Mistwood, her heart pounding with both fear and exhilaration. The journey ahead would not be easy. There would be obstacles, perhaps even heartache. But for the first time, Selena felt the stirrings of freedom deep within her. She didn't know where this path would take her, but she knew it was the only way forward.
As she stepped into the forest, the familiar scent of pine and damp earth wrapped around her like a comforting embrace. The trees seemed to beckon her, as though the forest itself was waiting for her to make her move.
And Selena, for the first time in her life, stepped boldly into the unknown.