What was the point?

What did it matter?

Nineteen years of hiding from a lie that had taken her way of life away from her. Nineteen years without trust or hope. She should have stopped by now. A long time ago, she should have stopped trying to restore trust in the people who had loved her.

Chestnut sat on a rock near the beach, staring listlessly out at the ocean. It always felt like everyone was against her. Like there was some powerful being up in the stars, some sort of author of her whole world, who wanted to punish her for something she hadn't done. To keep her out of the happy society everyone saw, hiding her in the darkness while everyone else formed friendships and happy lives.

It was unfair, but there was nothing she could do about it.

But then there was this girl. Melody. The island representative. She was being so nice because she was new here, because she hadn't fallen prey to those rumors that kept her out of everyone else's lives. Now she had, and she wouldn't completely trust Melody anymore. She couldn't.

From what I know, even the people you trust can fail you.

Chestnut kept staring at the horizon. The beginning of the song Steep Hill started playing in her head.

This journey's long, and I can't see the end

As if I've walked for miles, and simply have to carry onward

I wonder, has it always been this way?

Always the steepest hill, most difficult to journey forward

Her eyes started to burn with tears again as she thought about it. "No," she said aloud. "I'm not crying again."

Chestnut would never have admitted it, not even to herself, but the lyrics made sense. They impacted her so much, she realized, because they were true. Things had been nothing but hard for her for so long that she was no longer comfortable trusting anyone.

Still I climb, up the hill I climb

Before she knew it, Chestnut was silently crying.

For I know that at the top I'll see you again

Here for you, I am here for you

And I know you'll be there at the end

"Chestnut? Are you okay?"

The squirrel sniffed and wiped her eyes. "I'm fine," she said.

"You don't seem like it."

Chestnut still didn't turn around. She was afraid she might start crying again. "I'm - I'm fine," she said again, her voice wavering. Someone sat down next to her. She didn't look up.

"Chestnut. I'm here," Melody said. "Do you - want to talk about it?"

The squirrel didn't reply. She blinked quickly to chase away the tears. Melody's expression was unreadable, but it was gentle. Chestnut sighed, and then surprised herself by talking.

"Do you remember that K.K. Slider concert? The one where he played Steep Hill?"

"Of course I do," Melody replied. "What about it?"

Chestnut wasn't sure she could describe how the song had affected her so much. "I - I'm sorry I...turned you away, like that, half an hour ago. I was distressed…that you had found out who I was…"

"No, I get it," the girl said. "It makes sense."
"You told me that K.K. Slider has a gift for helping people and animals with his music," Chestnut said. "I didn't understand that, until now." She fidgeted with her paws. "That's...why I was crying. I don't know. It sounds silly, I know."

"No sillier than anything else," Melody replied.

Chestnut turned to her. "Why are you doing this?"

"Doing what?"

"Being -" Her voice wavered again. "Being here for me. I haven't had someone in my corner for so long…"

Melody smiled. "Because you're a good person - well, squirrel," she said. "And you put your trust in me. You have to admit, we've become good friends since this all started."

Chestnut started shaking again, and soon more tears started falling. Melody put her hand on her shoulder.

"You know," Melody said as Chestnut sobbed, "you don't deserve to be cast out like this. I'm going to try my hardest to help you get permanent residence here."

"Here?" the squirrel managed.

"Yes," Melody said. "I'm going to talk it over with Tom Nook first thing tomorrow, if you're okay with that."

Slowly, carefully, Chestnut nodded.