Willow Complex, Chapter 1

Willow Complex, Prologue

I was told that writing in a journal would help with the emotions I might be feeling in the next few years. I hope to God that they're right, but I'm not quite sure how it'll help. They say I should write down what I think about, but all I ever think about is what happened to Mom and Dad, and I'm...I'm not ready to write about that yet.

Poppy Complex, Epilogue

The pain subsided into darkness, the darkness faded to light, and as my eyes adjusted, I realized I was in a field full of flowers, with a stone path leading to a small church-like home.

The smells of the flowers tickled my nose as the light breeze brushed my hair back. I saw the figures in the windows of the door. I couldn't make them out, but I somehow knew that they were good. I felt myself being pulled towards the room.

Poppy Complex, Chapter 5

WARNING!! This chapter contains blood, death, and a slight mention of rape.

"Happy to see me?" He asked as he stood behind Briar and Tristan. Both of them were bound to the dining room chairs, Briar silently looked around, trying to figure out what was going on, and Tristan's breathing was sporatic. I glared at him and took in a breath, ready to scream.

Poppy Complex, Chapter 4

"Momma," Willow said as she walked into her room, which had momentarily become my dressing room, "I've been thinking about it, and I want a baby sibling. Preferably a sister."

I laughed softly, leaning into the mirror to make sure that there was nothing gross on my face. Tristan wouldn't see it, but we would have the photos, and I want to look fantastic.

"Baby, I can't really say when, or even if, we'll have another baby."

I turned around and picked her up, holding her at eye level.

Poppy Complex, Chapter 3

"Poppy, I can't believe you got pregnant!" Briar scolded as he sat next to me.

"I know," I sighed, focusing on the doorknob on the front door.

"Your mother is going to be so disappointed," he sighed.

I wanted to tell him that if my mom wanted to have the right to be disappointed in me, she should have raised me. But something told me that snapping at Briar was the exact opposite of what I should do.

"Who's the father, anyway? That Tristan boy?" he scowled when he said Tristan's name.

I clenched my teeth and stayed silent. Tristan and I had agreed, we would say that the baby is his, but I didn't want him to get in trouble for me.

"If it his him, well, he better help raise this child," Briar scowled.

"Fine," I cried, "It's him. But don't blame him. I begged him..."

"Stop! I don't want to know! Just...make sure he's responsible for the baby."

"I will," I promised.

"Good. You're enrolled in an online homeschooling program, and you will graduate on time. I hope that the boy has plans to move here after he's done at that school of his."

"We already talked. He wants to come."

"Perfect," Briar's anger dissipated a bit and he stood up and looked at me, "You know I still love you. I'll help you support this baby. At least, for now."

"Thanks, Uncle Briar," I stood up and hugged him, walking to my room to start with my homeschooling.

********

Months passed by at super speed. Before I knew it, baby Willow was born. I knew the moment I saw her, that I had made the right decision, in keeping her. I graduated a year early so that I could concentrate on Willow.

Tristan joined me a year later, with his adorable seeing eye dog, Theia. It wasn't long after they came to live with us, that Tristan surprised me. He got down on one knee and pulled a velvet box out of his hoodie.

 "Poppy, I love you. I love you more than anything I've ever loved before, and I fully expect to spend the rest of my life with you. I know that I'm blind, and that you could get someone so much better, but I asked a woman at the jewelry store to help me pick out a ring for you. So, Poppy Seed Complex, will you marry me?"

My breathing stopped, and so did my heart. When it restarted a second later, I answered, "Yes. Oh my God, Tristan, Yes!"

He pulled the ring out and asked me to hold out my hand, then carefully slipped it on. The ring was perfect, the silver band was embedded with too many diamonds to count, the majority of them smaller, but one larger diamond sat in the center.

"I love you so much, Tristan," I cried as he stood up and I pulled him into a tight hug, "I love you."

"I love you too, more than you know," he whispered into my ear.

A second later, Briar walked in holding Willow, "Everything's good?" He asked.

"No," Tristan whispered, "Everything's great."

"Daddy an' Momma be married now?" Willow asked as Briar put her down and she crawled to the block table right by us. She waited impatiently for an answer as I moved towards her and crouched on the other side of the table.

"Yes, baby girl. We're getting married," I laughed a little as she nodded proudly.

"Good!" She giggled and picked up a green block, "S'bout time!" She remarked right before she put the block in her mouth.