At the burial, a raven settled on the girl’s casket. In an instant, the crowd was struck silent, their words vanishing into the air…

She looks out at the garden, the sun setting in a blaze of orange and pink, and feels a sense of calm she hasn’t known in months. Her journey has been painful and harrowing, but it has also made her stronger. I’m not the same person I was, she says softly, her fingers brushing Onyx’s feathers, but maybe that’s okay.

The raven caws in response, as if agreeing with her. Mona smiles, her heart filled with gratitude and hope. She doesn’t know what the future holds, but for the first time in a long time, she’s ready to face it.

Mona’s days began to settle into a rhythm, but the experience of her revival and the unwavering presence of Onyx left an indelible mark on her heart. She couldn’t stop thinking about what had happened, not just to her, but to her parents and everyone who had witnessed her return. Something in her life had shifted, and she felt as though she had been given a second chance for a reason she couldn’t quite define.

One afternoon, while sitting under the oak tree in her garden with Onyx perched on her knee, her thoughts drifted to school, and the note of apology she had found taped to her locker. That simple piece of paper had done more to heal her heart than she expected. It wasn’t much, but it felt like a step towards something better.

Yet a part of her still wrestled with the weight of her past. The bullying she had endured couldn’t simply be erased with one note, and the memories of those painful days lingered in her mind. That evening, at dinner, her mother looked at her with a cautious smile.

You’ve been quiet lately, she said. Not in a bad way, but you’re thinking about something, aren’t you? Mona hesitated, poking at her food with her fork. I guess I am, she admitted.

I’ve been thinking about what happened. About everything. School.

The funeral. Onyx. It’s like it all happened to push me somewhere.

Her father leaned back in his chair, his brows furrowing. What do you mean, by somewhere? Mona shrugged. I don’t know yet, but it feels like I need to do something.

Something bigger than just going back to school and pretending everything’s normal. Her parents exchanged a glance, a mixture of concern and pride reflected in their eyes. Whatever it is, we’ll support you, her mother said.

Just take your time figuring it out. The next morning, as Mona sat at her desk with a notebook in front of her, she began writing down her thoughts. At first, the words came slowly, fragmented sentences about her experiences at school, her struggles with bullying, and the loneliness that had consumed her.

But as she wrote, the memories began to flow more freely. She described the despair she had felt, the pain of being isolated, and the miracle of her recovery. Most importantly, she wrote about Onyx, how he had saved her, and how his loyalty had carried her through the darkest moments of her life.

When she finished, she stared at the pages, her heart pounding. The words felt raw and honest, a reflection of everything she had endured. For the first time, she felt a sense of release, as though putting her experiences into words had lifted a weight from her shoulders.

She showed the notebook to her mother later that evening. Her mother read it carefully, tears welling in her eyes as she turned the pages. Mona, she said softly, this is incredible.

You’ve captured everything you’ve been through so beautifully. It’s just my story, Mona said, her voice hesitant. I don’t know if it’s really that special…