forum Haven: A Torch in the Night (may get heavy and violence is a possible occurrence)

Started November 22, 2019 by @Hybrid-Is-tired

tune

“Words can do a lot of damage. They can loose you your life if they’re the right ones.” She replied, her face somber, and stone cold. “Or they can loose you someone else’s.”

Tiger nodded silently, understanding her hesitation. She didn’t say anything after that, looking away sadly.

"I-I just don't know where to start?" She said in a questioning tone. Mallory was unsure, and honestly scared to start. Once she had, would she be able to stop herself?

Tiger didn’t care if she said too much, her focus was to help Mallory feel better, and make sure she could fix the situation. “It’s alright.” She said in a soothing tone, “This is your issue, you can deal with it whenever you’re ready. I won’t force you to do anything you don’t want to do.”

Mallory nodded her head, taking in a deep breath. "I-I'm just scared. Scared to loose the people I started getting close to. I told myself I wouldn't do that. I wouldn't get close to anyone, ever again. Not after Cedric." She started, hugging herself trying to push back the horrors of the day he left and never came back. "I swore I would never love anyone, care for anyone, befriend anyone. I should've listened to myself, but now it's too late. I know I care, and I know they always leave in the end. Always."

She hesitated, thinking about what to say. After a moment, Tiger put her hand on Mal’s shoulder…
“It’s not my place to tell you what will happen in your life, I’m no Sapphire. But all I can guarantee is that you can never stop loving, it’s a part of life…” Tiger smiled softly. “…Trust me, I’ve lived over 6,000 years, and through every terrible thing that’s happened, I never once have I stopped loving.”

"But I think I did…" Mallory said softly, her voice seemingly disappeared. "I stopped when he was gone. I didn't love anyone after that."

Tiger felt a little bummed now, everything she said went right through Mal, she felt like despite everything that happened to her, she didn’t even make an impact. If she couldn’t get through to someone who’s current life lined up with her own past experiences, what chould she do..? She didn’t reply…

"You're probably right though- who am I to know anything? I'm just a stressed out teenage girl who has mental problems. I don't know what I'm doing, why shouldn't I listen to you?" She huffed, feeling overwhelmed. "Why am I not listening to you?"

“You know your life better than I do… Just take a breath, focus on your surroundings.” She sighed, “…I know why…there’s not just one explanation, or really proper words to describe it…I just know the feeling…I can feel your pain.”

"But I don't, I don't know what's going on. Something is keeping me alive, and whatever it is, I'm not sure I like it." She whispered starring upwards, falling quiet.

"But I don't, I don't know what's going on. Something is keeping me alive, and whatever it is, I'm not sure I like it." She whispered starring upwards, falling quiet.

“I’m just making this worse, aren’t I…?” She sighed to herself, nervously playing with her hair while desperately avoiding eye contact. “I don’t know how to get through to you…” Tiger stood up.

"What do you mean?" Mallory asked, sitting up. She was a wreck, and knew she was being difficult. But she was a teenage girl for goodness sake. She was lost and confused, what else were you expecting?

“Rainbow would do this better, she’s seen more than me…. And it’s a little overwhelming, to feel someone’s pain as strong as they do…it hurts…really bad…” Tiger explained quietly, bringing a hand to her gem before fiddling with her hair a little more aggressively. “Everything I say to you makes you feel worse, and that makes me feel worse a-and I know it’s not your fault at all. It’s mine, this is my power, I should know how to handle it better.” She attempted to say reassuringly, but sounded very stressed herself. “I’ve got to get Rainbow, s-she’ll do this better.” Tiger repeated shakily.

"No, you aren't making me feel worse, I'm just a teenage girl Tiger. That's what I tend to do, twist people's words to put offense on me." She whispered reaching over to put a hand on her shoulder. "If you want, I can make the memory go away."

“I understand how that is, I used to do that myself, actually.” Tiger admitted, seeming to have calmed down a little. “I don’t actually know what a teenager is, to be completely honest.”
“Memory..?” She asked, turning around to look at Mal. “What do you mean..?”

“Never mind, it’s not important.” She waved it off. “Can I ask you something?”

“Um…okay.” Tiger wasn’t sure how she felt about a secret relating to manipulating memories, but she would mind her business. “Sure, what is it?”

"Do you do hugs?" She asked softly. "Cause honestly, I think I need one…"

Tiger chuckled softly, not hesitating for an answer, and hugged Mallory. “We do.” She smiled, “I do hugs.”

Mallory hugged her tight, trying not to tear up or get upset. But she hadn't had a good hug in a long time. A long, long time that is.

Well, Tiger was getting a little tearful, but she still smiled. That’s the thing about her, she keeps on smiling. Maybe, she could teach her, maybe she already has, that the least you can do is keep on smiling, even when things go wrong.

Mallory held tight onto the hug, hoping she would never let go. She let silent tears slide down her pale cheeks, stinging her eyes as they left. "Thank you…"

“It’s okay…” She sighed, suddenly realizing that she kind of needed this too. “Its okay to cry…”