Face Your Fears~~

Arden gulped as she fearfully eyed the water. Gently breaking caps of white spilled over onto the sand, and then receded back into the depths of the ocean. Taking a deep breath, the blonde pulled off the shirt that was covering her bathing suit, and she kicked off her flip-flops.

The hot sand burned her feet as she hopped to the water's edge. She stopped, stared for a moment at the big basin of blue, and then took another deep breath. She cautiously waded into the water, wincing as icy needles of cold stung her bare skin. She ignored the sensation and forced herself to wade deeper.


"Ardie, watch me swim!"

"No, Willow, it's not a good idea. There's a rip current today. Come on, build a sand castle with me!"

"Nuh-uh. I wanna swim."

"Willow! Willow!"

"..."

"WILLOW!"


Arden shivered, blinking back tears.

*ciera is walking up the beach and notices arden* "hey arden what's up?"

Arden didn't hear Ciera at first, but eventually she blinked and returned back to reality. "Oh...hi, Ciera," she said, somewhat distracted.

"what's wrong, you look like you are in mortal danger?"

Arden winced slightly. "Oh...well, I- this might sound silly, considering the fact that I'm waist-deep in the ocean, but-- I'm... terrified. Of water, I mean."

*Kitty crashed into the ground.*
That was a horrible idea for a broom! Why did I even think of it?!?!
*Notices people and calms down.*
Yo! Watcha doin'?

"why's that?" *steps in water and clothes change into swim suite*

Arden yelped loudly as a wave crashed over her and knocked her down. Panicked, she stood up and ran out of the water. Shivering and wrapping her arms tightly around herself, she said, "M-my sister..."

*runs over to arden and puts her arm around her* "your sister drowned didn't she?"

Arden put her face in her hands, trying desperately not to cry. "I was responsible for her. And I let her in the water. I knew there was a rip current. And she drowned. She was three." Tears were squeezing out of her eyelids despite her attempts to be strong.

*hugs arden* "i've lost loved one too, i know the feeling."

"My parents didn't blame me. At least, they said that they didn't blame me. But my sister always said that it was my fault. She never let me forget it. She already hated me, because Willow preferred me to her. But Jennifer was always mean to me before that, so." Arden was babbling at that point, but she didn't care. "It was all my fault. I'm convinced of it."

"shh, it's okay, everything'll be fine, you've gotten this far without killing yourself of blame, don't worry, i was lucky enough at first to thing the harvest goddes and king were my real parents."

Arden sighed and sat on the sand. The fine white grains stuck to her damp legs, but she ignored that. "I miss her." She turned to Kitty and said, "So, what do you think of all of this? I'm a horrible person, right?"

"that's the craziest thing i've heard you say arden!"

"What kind of person lets a little girl drown? She didn't know any better. I did. I was older; I was in charge."

"some things can't be helped and theres no use thinking of what might of been." (I LOVE THAT SONG!)

Arden sighed. She picked up a handful of sand and let it fall through her fingers, watching it fly on the gentle breeze.

"it'll be alright, i promise." *hugs arden* "i lost my mom, and my dads a toatal maniac."

Arden fixed her eyes on the ocean, watching the waves spill onto the shore and then recede. "It's been five years, and I'm still not over it..." she murmured. "I'm sorry about your parents, Ciera."

"it's okay, but just like you, i feel, no i know it's my fault my mom died arden, you don't know you just think."

"Yeah, I guess you're right. But I should've been able to keep her out of the water."

"my mother died giving birth sometimes i wish i'd never of been born, but wow, these are things i never even told jay yet for some reason i feel like i'm really able to open upp to you, i've never had that kind of friend before."

"Yeah," Arden smiled in agreement. "I've never really told anyone about Willow before. It feels kinda good to get it off my chest."

"same here."