a wilting rose

w i l l o w b r a d b u r y thirty-eight - cardiac surgeon "Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know."

[elvira-castro]

”People post the absolute dumbest shit on social media…”

[willowbradbury-blog]

“Well, the internet is a breading ground for idiocy, and social media is a stupid man’s playground. Generally.”

[cassandra-bennett-deactivated20]

Moving Day | Past | Willow & Cassandra

Cassandra closed the door of the moving van, sighing some as she collapsed against it once it was secured. “You sure you need all those medical books still? So glad our new place has an elevator cause those are going to kill my back. And a toe or two.” She laughed softly before grabbing Willow and bringing her close to her, placing a soft kiss to her lips. 

They had been together for two years now, and Cassandra had asked Willow to move in with her. They had agreed on a beautiful apartment at Castle Towers that had three bedrooms, two baths and a powder room as well. Plus a full kitchen and spacious living room. And she didn’t have to keep anything suspicious in the house either, which eased Cassandra’s fear that much more. 

“I already ordered Chinese food for delivery tonight. And I have something else special waiting for us in the new place. But lets get going. We have so much to unload.” Cassandra placed another kiss against Willow’s lips before moving to her neck and holding her tight for a moment longer. She was afraid that she was going to loose her in some manner. And it was terrifying in many many ways.

Pulling the keys from her pocket for the moving truck, she moved around to the cab, humming a song as she went. Yes she was singing while she worked, but she was happy and she was in love. She was finally moving on from so much darkness and so much pain. There was only brightness in her life, even if she was still cold in parts.

[willowbradbury-blog]

Life, it seemed, was finally answering Willow Bradbury’s prayers. Not that she’d ever prayed a day in her life, knowing that if she wanted something she’d have to work for it, and hard. But the small part of herself that fought against the raging scientist, the new age hippy who’d never been given a chance to see the surface, knew that this was fate. She’d felt it, some sort of cosmic pull the day she’d met Cassandra, and she knew that something spectacular was to come. And here it was, the big bang that would create the rest of her life. The beginning of her happily ever after.

“Unfortunately so. My intelligence does know some bounds; even I can’t recite all twelve volumes verbatim.” She leaned into Cassandra’s kiss, her body humming happily. “Don’t tell van Dern that though.” It had been two years, and still it felt as though they were in the honeymoon period. There had been a moment where Willow thought this unusual; aren’t most couples fighting by now, or comfortable beyond the point of caring? Personally, she wouldn’t know. 

The relationship she had with Cass was her longest standing, and moving in with the woman was the single most committed gesture Willow had ever made. Two thousand and twelve seemed to be the year of true adulthood for the woman. Completing her residency, board certification, the beginning of her attending period, and moving into the most spectacular apartment she’d ever lived in with her long term girlfriend. It was all happening. “Have I ever told you how amazing you are?” The words fell into the kiss, and she smiled.

Willow watched Cassandra as she moved around the vehicle, listened to her sing, and prepared herself to join in, swept entirely in the happiness she’d been neglected of for most of her life. With easy steps she followed, picking up a pile of boxes and awaited further instruction.

[giannamontgomery-blog]

Gianna smiled as she inched closer towards the woman. “Any recommendations on how to get my heart rate up?” 

[willowbradbury-blog]

Willow averted her eyes, whether to enticed or deter the woman she wasn’t sure. It had been so long since she’d found herself in any situation resembling the one that she found herself in. What was she doing? “It seems to me that you have a few ideas of your own.” 

[3intheam]

[willowbradbury-blog]

Willow Bradbury & social media (3/?) // past instagrams

[dormerisms]

[willowbradbury-blog]

       c a s s a n d r a  b e n n e t t  &  w i l l o w  b r a d b u r y

           “The thought of her gave me such a continual anguish that I could no more forget her                                 than an aching tooth. It was involuntary, hopeless, compulsive.”

[tomlhardy]

I have problems because I’m very expressive, and usually red lipstick gets on my teeth and face.

[willowbradbury-blog]

Willow Bradbury & social media (2/?) // instagram

[jasonclarkes-deactivated2017112]

[willowbradbury-blog]

insp.

[dormerisms]

Cassandra Bennett & Willow Bradbury > Drinks at The King’s Head, November 2014

[chastainly]

[dormerisms]

Willow Bradbury & social media (1/?) // instagram

[marcogunn-blog]

“You’re sweet enough already, I’m sure.”

[willowbradbury-blog]

“I wouldn’t be so sure if I were you. Never judge a book by it’s cover...or a pumpkin spice by it’s Starbucks cup.”

[cassandra-bennett-deactivated20]

Cassandra watched Willow in silence. She wanted to move to the couch and hold her, have things return to a sense of normal. But things hadn’t been normal for a long time. And it made Cassandra hurt more then she had in the past. Pushing past it, she nodded her head. “Yes that Aaron. Everyone scrambled out soon after in fear of their own lives,or what might happen next to either side. It was almost riot like.” Cassandra tucked her legs beneath her, playing with the crinlin of her costumes skirt, her eyes focusing there. Her therapist would scold her for withdrawing as she was, but she didn’t see that loon anymore. Hadn’t for 17 years now since telling her parents to go fuck themselves.

“I ams ure things will work out tomorrow for you. I know how frustrating it is for you when your surgeries get pushed.” Cassandra’s voice was soft as she remained looking at her skirt. She wanted to just curl up with Willow and sleep. Not be seperate from her, not go to a different bedroom then the one they use to share. She loathed this reality and she knew it was because of who she was. Cassandra began to chew the inside of her check, needing something to distract her mind. She was a strong woman, not negative. And yet she had crumbled since Willow and her were separated in a sense.

[willowbradbury-blog]

It was hard for Willow to know what subjects to broach with Cassandra, didn’t know which ones she herself would feel comfortable discussing. This particular topic fell into the grey area; though conversational and a piece of public knowledge, it had the possibility to veer down many darker, work related paths. And that too, pained her. Not being able to discuss every facet of their lives like they once had, the walls of a Castle separating them, driving them further apart. But then she had another, less savoury thought, one that Willow struggled to forget; they’d never really discussed every facet of their lives. At least Cassandra hadn’t. “I wouldn’t doubt that, murder, or attempted murder at the very least, does tend to put a damper on any mood. Although I can’t really say I’m surprised that such an event transpired, not after what happened at the last party thrown by either family.” She sighed, “I’m glad you made it out all right though.”

Willow watched Cassandra move, watched her curl into herself, become her own shield. She looked small and fragile and not at all like the woman she’d met those many years ago. Had this change been Willow’s doing? Part of her felt glad, happy to know that she wasn’t the only one suffering, that it wasn’t just her who had been broken by the state of their relationship. However, part of her felt guilty; guilty that Cassandra was feeling the same, and guilty that she herself had managed to do this to someone she loved. “Let’s not talk about work. How was the party, before, you know?”

[marcogunn-blog]

“I don’t mind a bit of pumpkin spice every now and then. I find it’s always better with a bit of chocolate in it, though.”

[willowbradbury-blog]

“What an interesting combination, though I’ve never been that big of a sweet tooth. I much prefer something savoury.”

[mosaaic-archive-blog]

❝It feels like betraying the person I shared my current apartment with… to move on while she can’t..❞

[willowbradbury-blog]

“Moving on is not a bad thing though, it’s a positive step towards acceptance and eventually happiness, and I’m sure whoever this she is would rather you be happy.”

[giannamontgomery-blog]

Gianna placed two fingers on her neck. “Still have a pulse, but you’re the doc here,” she assumed, moving two seats over. “You tell me. In your professional opinion.”

[willowbradbury-blog]

A soft laugh escaped Willow’s lips, eyes on the other woman as she moved closer. It felt good to laugh. To joke. With a delicate breath she blew on her hands, rubbing them together to warm them in an exaggerated show of professionalism. Willow’s fingers rested gently on the woman’s neck. “Definitely alive,” she smiled coyly, “though I am worried about that low heart rate.”