Wristband

This time of year was by far Carter's absolute favourite. It was remnants of summer still lingered, but the leaves were gradually beginning to warm into a golden brown before drifting down into the streets below, an indication of the colder weather yet to arrive. Although, that wasn't the only reason for it being her favourite season. This season also brought funfairs in its tow; bright lights and candyfloss, crowds of whining children and exhausted parents, the occasional mix of overjoyed couples and first dates. Willow had always struggled to find the appeal of it all, but merely the thought made the younger girl ecstatic.

Last year after Carter had, after much persuasion, reluctantly agreed that her 'low mood' isn't a joke, nor should it be taken lightly, she'd simultaneously realised that no matter how dreadful it was, her condition did come with certain advantages. Such as, Carter could drag Willow to any fair she wanted if it meant that she'd be smiling for the entirety of the night, or that she'd cease snapping a worn elastic band against her dainty wrist every four seconds. Willow was happy when Carter was, and they were both quick to accept that, that was simply how their relationship worked.

It wasn't all bad for Willow though. The glow that radiated from Carter as she bounced around the amusement park made enduring the claustrophobic atmosphere worth it in the end. That and, she had to admit, the frenzied search for the familiar mop of mint green hair every time the other scurried off was quick to become a subject of humour. Who wouldn't laugh if they saw their girlfriend surrounded by a line of people waiting in an orderly queue for a picture, mistaking her beauty and charisma as being 'famous'?

Today was August 22nd, the day before the Mont Blanc fairground opens in town. Carter adored going to Mont Blanc because it was a yearly tradition. Her father had begun taking her after her mother had abandoned the two albeit, she had to admit, she was far better off without her. Behind her demure mask was a vile woman and, if she hadn't developed her chronic depression from her father's side, by the time she reached the age of seven, she would've caused it regardless. If she'd stayed, Willow couldn't even imagine what would have laid in store for the unfortunate girl.

Willow had known of Carter's tragic past since they'd begun dating during their early-college years. It's been nearly four years from the time when the couple first set foot in the fair together, and the tradition has since been passed down onto Willow instead. It didn't take the elder long to learn that Carter absolutely has to ride every single attraction, even the children's ones, and she'll refuse to leave unless she's grasping the best toy in the entire park in her jumper clad arms. Aside from Willow's birthday, today and tomorrow (when the park's actually open) are the best days of the year... for Carter, at least.

Which is why Willow had wholeheartedly trusted the younger girl to stay safely at home alone while she disappeared to her part-time job without convening a meet-up for her, despite the apartment being equipped with razors, pills, and anything that could possibly be used to kill a girl. But Carter wouldn't do that, right? Besides, she hasn't relapsed since her father's death months ago, which is definitely a good thing since the last time she did, she'd cut so deep to the point of collapsing.

Except, as Willow parked her sleek, black Maserati (courtesy of her parents) outside their bijou block of studio flats that evening, she felt a chill burst of nervousness coursing through her veins. Carter didn't have any lessons today meaning... she hadn't anything to do the whole day that could act as a distraction.

After entering the building, Willow fished her apartment keys out of her coat pocket and unlocked the maroon door to their flat. At the unusual abyss of noise, Willow furrowed her unkempt brows and hurriedly began to remove her beanie and coat, leaving them on the small hanger beside the door.

She paced the hall, peering around the adjacent corner at the end of the narrow corridor to check whether her girlfriend was in their cramped living space. She wasn't, and so Willow headed towards their shared bedroom.

A sigh of alleviation escaped her chapped lips at the sight of Carter, wearing only a pair of navy panties, getting dressed. The younger trudged towards their wardrobe, looking ever so frail and small in stark contrast with the towering oak. She peeked inside and pulled out a baby blue jumper that was oversized enough to cover her until mid-thigh and give her sweater paws.

"Carter," Willow said softly, almost like she was scared that she'd break, as the girl tugged the pullover past her head to reveal a blushing, tear-streaked face and prominent collarbone.

Carter averted her eyes from the forlorn reflection being projected by the closet's lofty mirror and instead took to gazing at Willow. She's never usually this depressed when Willow gets home, especially not on one of her favourite days of the year. "What's wrong? Why do you look so sad? Did you lose another stuffed toy or something?" Willow continued.

"I- I lost our anniversary necklace somewhere in the house," Carter sniffed, doing little to stop the waterfall of tears facing down her golden complexion. Willow abhorred seeing the younger cry, it ruined her day.

Carter wavered slightly before dropping to the ground and drawing her legs close to her chest. She paid no mind to Willow who stood awkwardly at the entryway, clueless as to whether she should intervene with the girl currently shielding her sobbing face with trembling hands. The necklet was the colleen's pride and joy; she sported it each and every day, no matter what the circumstances. Misplacing it was like suicide, except only the pain was there.

Willow cautiously edged closer to Carter's spot on the floor before wearily kneeling down beside her and scooping the vulnerable girl into her arms as she embraced her in a warm hug.

"I buh-broke our promise because of it. I'm sorry,?" Carter snivelled, drawing up her loose sleeves to expose several punitive lapse lines as another wave of tears plagues her body. A frown tugged at the corners of Willow's lips, realisation that she probably never would've noticed if the younger hadn't said anything dawning upon her. Was she really worthy of taking care of the other if she couldn't even perceive something so blatant?

"Babe, was it really so important?" Willow cooed, attempting to comfort Carter as she eliminated any previous negative thoughts from her mind.

Carter reacted to this immediately, screaming curses as she tried to scramble out of her girlfriend's soothing arms. Her head hit the floor with a crunch as Willow suddenly released her from the grasp, holding back a sob as she watched the girl quickly lift herself from the floor and fall back into a corner.

A bruised lump was already growing on Carter's head as Willow tried to near her, apologising in a frenzy as she struggled to keep a level head also.

"Stay away from me!" Carter screamed, scratching at her sleeves as she rocked back and forwards. Willow shouldn't have said anything - she made it worse, she always made it worse, and now Carter was howling as cries wracked her body.

"Carter, I didn't mean it like tha-"

"No! Leave me alone you JERK!"