Moving past grief is like trying to stop the soft leaves from crinkling into red and gold.

I kicked the ground because I just felt so alone, alone in the graveyard where my mother had laid for two months. The biting wind, the darkness, and the snapping of old twigs under my feet bombarded me.

My best friend should’ve been there by my side. But I’d pushed everyone away- because how could I accept their gentle looks while the grief inside me was destroying me?

I regretted it, though. I regretted pushing everyone away and causing my loneliness.

The shadows exaggerated every gravestone in the cemetery. There was a distant peal of rumbling thunder, like a low warning. You’ve done this to yourself. I was hurt, but I could’ve handled it better.

Suddenly, there was a touch on my shoulder. I jumped, spinning around, ready to scream and run- But it was just my best friend and my shoulders relaxed as her hand slipped off my shoulder. She still had that sympathetic look on her face, but a mixture of frustration, betrayal… and guilt was in her eyes. She spoke quietly, “I figured you’d be here. You like making yourself miserable.”

I sighed, and my eyes trailed around us rather than looking at her face. I shivered slightly in the cold wind. “I’ve certainly acted that way…” The words were like lead in my mouth, and suddenly my heart was racing. I wanted to make this right. But… I didn’t know if I could. “I’ve been really stupid, huh?”

She nodded. “Definitely.” A long moment passed, and the air was charged with tension. Then she murmured, “But you’re in a bad spot. I should’ve asked what would help, rather than trying to force you to feel better.”

“I’m sorry. I’ll try to be better if you’ll give me a chance.”

My best friend suddenly hugged me, and I froze for a long moment. She’s hugging me? She wants to be friends again? I haven’t completely ruined my life? Then I hugged her back.

She pulled away eventually, smiling wide. The betrayal had left her eyes, leaving happiness. I smiled when she said, “Yeah, I’ll give you a chance.”

Grief is impossible to stop, like the changing of autumn leaves, but it’s a cycle and it ends on its own. There’s still beauty beyond the pain if you don’t shut yourself off.

Echoes and Whispers are both similar in design. The design to spread information with the intent of being heard. The difference lies in their futures. Echos are loud and carry for miles but die out quickly becoming calm water after the ripples. Echos are water, chaos then peace. Whispers don’t like Echo. Echo is proud of his booming voice as he talks and talks carrying on his own echo. Whispers is a naturally quiet being. They start as a small crackle of a flame gaining moment till they begin to silently burn the forest. Whispers is fire that burns until all your senses are focused on them, vaporizing Echo into nothing. But Echo is proud and will not be drowned so easily. Just as Whispers will not be burnt out. This battle between spirits of water and fire is an old tale passed on the tongue. Giving the hateful spirits more power to destroy each other. That is why the story of Echo and Whisper has been tabooed by witches to prevent these spirits from waging their war again.