Bite, Blaze, and Enchantment - Zara Zenia Page 0,1

far away planet like that isn’t crazy. It's not real." I now notice that I have stepped forward several paces, did so while I was ranting. My breathing is heavy and I'm finding it difficult to think clearly about what I want to say. What do I want to say? What is there to say?

"I don't know what to say," Mom replies to me, rising from her knees to seat herself on the couch beside Katie. And then there is Katie, the poor girl, sitting and staring in bewilderment. Her eyes move between Mom and me. No doubt she thinks we've both gone off the deep end.

"Please," Katie starts to say to my mom. Then she looks to me. "Stephanie, I know how this sounds. I never intended to make you do anything. I mean. I didn't—"

"It's not your cousin's fault," my mom interjects to save Katie from having to explain. "I asked Katie here without her knowing what the visit was for. She was just coming to see us, to see you especially, to try to pick up your mood."

I know I have been "moody" since Dad died. I still blame myself for what happened. If he had not been coming to pick me up from that party... he would still be alive. If I had not been too drunk to make my own way home like a responsible young adult, well he would still be here with us. It was all my fault.

There is one thing I know for certain: I am not about to sit back and let my own fate be discussed around me without putting in my own opinions. I deserve to have a say just as much as anyone else. And I am not about to sit back and listen to such a painful past even be dredged up so casually, let alone to use to guilt a family member. "Dad's death has nothing to do with Katie, or this crazy request for her to take me away to another planet."

Mom stands and walks over to me. "Please don't take it that way, honey. You know I didn't mean to seem like I wanted to get rid of you. I want more than, this, for you," she says while gesturing around our simple but neat little home. "I want you to experience all the highs and lows life has to offer. Not just the lows..."

"So that's what you think about my life?" I ask. I don't know why I have to be so argumentative about this. She's perfectly right and I am fully aware of the fact. I don't care though. I deserve to feel all the lows that life has to offer. I killed my own father, and I took away a loving husband from my mother. Now she's all alone. Alone even with me living here, since I am just a husk.

While I deserve to be alone, Mom doesn't. Ever since the accident... well, I don't think I much need, or deserve, the company of others. Being by myself is just how I feel I should be.

Katie takes a big breath, and something ignites in her eyes. There's a fire there I haven't seen before. "I know you and I haven't spoken since the accident. I want you to know that it wasn't my intention to break off contact between us. I haven't been around for a very good reason."

"What, because you were off on some alien planet living a life of adventure? Is that what you want me to believe?"

"Please, try to hear me out," Katie replies. She keeps her calm, expression neutral, eyes pleading, voice soft and lulling.

It makes me feel pandered too, but I guess that's kind of what I want. Why else am I acting like a big child? "Fine," I say.

"Alright," Katie continues. She's standing before me now and has taken my hands in her own. It reminds me of all the times we used to spend together as children. I always looked up to my older cousin. A warm wave flows through me thinking about those good times. Back when life was simpler, and a whole lot happier.

I do want to believe. It feels so good to even think about it. No, no I can't. I break away from touching hands with my cousin and step away from her. Mom comes up beside us me. "Stephanie, you have to accept this one thing. I don't expect you to believe it's real. All I ask is for