The days passed by in nothing but peace and solitude.

While Tamara and Lia lived in what seemed like the middle of nowhere, they lived in comfort. They lived in a cottage. It was small but big enough for the two of them to have their own rooms. The house was made of wood that somehow creaked when a strong wind blew.

The scent of different herbs and spices surrounded the premises. Lia could tell if she was near their house just by its smell. But instead of being appalled, Lia found it welcoming. Every time she goes out in the woods to get materials for Tamara, she always looks forward to the smell wafting through the windows of the house.

Home. It might sound crazy, but despite living here for only a month, she felt right at home in this strange new world.

At first, she was scared that she would not be able to cope out with this country lifestyle. All her life, she spent living in the city and she thought she would live her entire life in the embrace of bright lights and loud noises.

If someone told her she would be living her life with nothing but trees and grasses, she would probably roll her eyes at them. Yet now, she was having the time of her life breathing in the clean air, listening to the rustling of the leaves and chirping of the birds, and gathering materials for Tamara.

As she got nearer to the house, Lia could smell boiled potatoes and stew. That was probably what they would have for lunch. She gripped her basket, full of new plants and skipped towards their house.

But there was something else mixing with the smell. Tamara must be creating a new mixture and Lia could not wait to find out. Under her mother’s guidance, she was starting to know the differences of the things around her, especially for the plants, by her sharpened senses.

Lia placed her basket on the table and looked over her mother’s shoulder. Tamara was hunched on the work table grinding and mixing beeswax with powdered leaves.

Tamara glanced at her briefly. “I’m trying out a new preparation. Here, stay still.”

She dipped her pinky finger in the mixture and smeared a reddish salve over Lia’s lips. As if in reflex, Lia pressed her lips together to scatter the color and get a feel of the mixture.

The mixture, that seemed like a lipstick, was too thick for her liking as though she placed a slab of petroleum jelly on her mouth.

Tamara watched her intently. “Not good?”

Lia shook her head and offered a small smile. “Maybe less wax?”

Tamara nodded but her eyes had a faraway look. Lia could tell that her mother was already computing the ratio of her materials in her head. She knew that was her cue to leave.

She went over to the other side where their materials were stored. Different plant materials decorated the walls, arranged depending on their uses. There was a shelf for the spices used for cooking, another one for medicinal purposes, and another for experiments.

When Lia first saw this, she thought Tamara used them for witchcraft. It was actually the opposite. She used them to help people. Her mother loved making and mixing things, be it cooking or preparing the medicine.

She could have been a great doctor. Better yet a royal physician. But because of a stupid nickname, Tamara was stuck here in the woods. Driven out by people she could have been helping.

As Lia placed and arranged the newly picked herbs, she remembered her mother who was now alone in the other world. She silently prayed and apologized for leaving her behind.

‘Mom, I’m sorry I left you early. I’m in a safe place and you know what, I’m under the care of a gentle woman who treats me, as her daughter. I’m sorry and I love you. Please be well.’

She was not able to say that out loud before. And if there was one thing that she learned from this new life, it was to take care and express your love to the important people. In this life, there was only Tamara, who after days of taking care of her, Lia had gotten closer to her now.

It was only her and her mother. Now that Lia was gone, she had no idea how her mother was living. Ever since her father left them, the two of them had been partners-in-crime. Her mother faced everything with a smile, despite all the pain and bruises. But Lia had been so young, so small, and weak. She could not protect her mother at all.

Now that she was given a new life and a new mother, she vowed that no one should hurt them anymore. She would fight tooth and nail. She would not forgive and forget. She would never.