You feel pride in your chest as you watch Lottie put on the plant bracelet you made her as she gets ready to take a walk with you. Beside her, in the corner, are all the other trinkets you made as a way to cheer her up when she was feeling down. She kept all of it. Even the stupid rock with leaves glued on with sap meant to resemble a smiley face that you first made when you didn't know how to be so crafty like her.

"I thought you'd pick the flower crown." you smile at her, taking her hand in yours as you start walking to your secret place with her in the forest.

"I think I'm gonna save that for rituals only." she tells you, anxiously rubbing her thumb across your hand to comfort herself. Earlier, she pulled you aside and asked if she could talk to you about her feelings. She's been feeling guilty about a lot of things and just needs you to listen.

You and her sit down on the ground, and you choose to lie your head on her lap, gazing up at her as she plays with her lips nervously. "What is it?" you ask, tracing shapes across her stomach lazily.

"Am I doing the right thing?" she chuckles breathlessly, messing with the leaves. You know she's not really expecting you to answer. She loves it when you just listen. "By staying out of everything?"