After that night, I kept my promise. I would go out of my way to remind Branch that he was welcome, just in case he forgot since I last talked to him the day before. In Art class, I would make sure to complement anything he made (even the one or two times it was a little too much on the dark side and the teacher had to step in) and on days that he just sat there, looking off into the distance instead of paying attention to our Troll Tree care lessons, I would visit his Foster Pod with warm chocolate cookies and a jar of apple cider. On these days, we would sit on the floor and quietly play board games. I think he welcomed the distraction and the warm sweets. Our games could even get a little competitive if we let them go on long enough, but that hardly ever happened because he was sure to send me back home before it got too late. Sometimes my dad would come with me to check up on Branch when he's feeling especially down. He would talk, and talk, and talk about the things he would do at our age and tell funny stories about his friends throughout the years. He may of avoided the topic of Trollstice and the Bergens, but that doesn't mean that I didn't notice that certain names stopped popping up as he talked through the years. He would stay with us until Branch fell asleep, and then he would tuck him in like he usually did with me. Once, I caught him whispering what sounded like an apology to Branch while tucking him in when he thought we were both asleep. The only part's from it that I actually remember hearing were the words "…I'm sorry….grey….Rosiepuff…"

I don't know who this Rosiepuff is and as curious as I am about her, I can't dwell on it when there are so many other things about Branch.

I like to think that these game and story nights helped and maybe they did, but not as a cure or even a helping hand in opening up to people, it was more of a delay. I saw it coming too, as much as I tried to ignore and prevent it. It was there when I had to leave, when he would wave me goodnight it was there. As warm as his pod would become with the smell of cookies and apples, and the sound of us laughing and teasing each other, I couldn't help but feel that the second I walked out the door the temperature inside the soft green Foster Pod plunged 30 degrees. It could be argued that he was worse after I left, because now he was alone…but this time he didn't want to be.

As we got older Branch got worse. I would show up with arms full of sweets that I KNOW he likes, only for him to open the door red eyed as he turns me away saying that he wanted to be alone. I remember the first time he did this, I was all cheerful, skipping down the Bark road. The sun was down and the luminescent plants and bugs surrounding the trees we call home reminded me of a dream. I could hear soft bongos playing above me to the right, and slow ukulele music below me on my left. I giggled, maybe this is a dream. If it is, then maybe I could convince Branch to go on a walk with me, after I win the first game that is. When his pod came into view in the distance, I was a little taken aback to see that it wasn't glowing. Did he go to bed? I continued moving towards it just to make sure, it was only 8:00 pm, a little early to be going to sleep even if it was completely dark out. When I was close enough I noticed a soft glow peeking through the hairs of the pod. Oh good, he's awake! He's probably just reading in the candle light. I grinned and bolted for the door, not very mindful of the hot cider I started to spill, but I was excited! Can you blame me?

Skidding to a stop I carefully set down the cider and the double fudge cookies to calmly knock on his door.

"BRANCH, BRANCH, BRANCH, BRANCH, BRANCH, BRANCH!" I quickly, (and elegantly) rammed my fist against his (thankfully sturdy) bark door. There was a crash, a bang, and a lot of muffled noise that Branch was clearly trying to shhh. I stood there waiting, he had his pod glow back to life, which was slightly unfortunate for my unadjusted eyes. More random noises, a dragging of a box, a drawer being slammed shut, only to be opened then slammed again. The assault of non-musical sound stopped, a moment passes, and he finally swings the door open.

Branch looked at me with a half glare while grabbing his heart, "Geez Poppy, are you trying to give me a heart attack!? I could have been sleeping or holding something sharp for all you know!" I giggled at how serious he was about knocking. "Oh, come on grumpy, this isn't the first time I've done it and you weren't half as upset about it then. Besides, I knew you weren't sleeping. I saw candle light through your pod and its only eight something, no way you would go to sleep that early." Holding the doorframe as if it was a life line he hung his head and sighed. "Poppy, why are you here? Did Satin and Chenille convince you to talk me into trying a "New Look". Because If so, you can tell them that for the 39th time, no means No." He crossed this arms at the last part to emphasize his point. I just looked at him slightly confused but not surprised. Once the twins have an idea for someone's clothes, they can get a little…determined, yeah…that's the word I'm looking for.

"Uhh no, but I'm sure you have a great story behind that and you can tell me all about it…" I quickly grab my treats "…during an intense game of scrabble!" and hold them out to Branch, expecting him to take them to bring inside. I'm grinning from ear to ear holding out my arms, while he just stands there with a look on his face that I now know is the look you give someone when you're trying to come up with a way to brake bad-news to them.

I'm still standing, smile still wide, I look down at the treats, then to Branch and back again. I even shake my peace offerings to say 'now's your cue to take it'.

"Poppy, not tonight" he said it slowly, and started to back up into his doorway. My arms dropped and a few cookies sadly met the ground. I must of looked as lost as I sounded. "But…it's our tradition. Just us, no loud singing, no The Bergens Are Coming, it's our thing" After I said that I somehow, SOMEHOW only now noticed that his eyes were bloodshot and the skin around his nose was pinkish, he had been crying.

How could I be so selfish! The only reason this became a thing in the first place was because it was an attempt to make him feel better, for him to not feel alone. And here I am, complaining that I can't try to beat him at scrabble again.

I set my stuff down not taking my eyes off of him, my voice was softer when I tried to comfort him.

"Oh, oh Branch. I'm so sorry, I didn't realize." Every fiber of my being was telling me to hug him, but I knew he wasn't a fan and my dad's warning to not drive him away rang in my mind. I had to try though, right? I slowly start to move closer, my arms opening and he takes another step back. I lowered them back down and twiddled with my fingers, not sure what to do with my hands now. "Do…do you want to talk about it. I brought those cookies I made last time, the ones that turned your mouth black, though you kept eating them. We can go inside an…"

"Nonononono, Poppy no, uh, I'm sorry I really am, but I just want to be alone right now, I NEED to be alone right now." He sounded as if he was going to fall apart any second.

I shifted uncomfortably a little, I wanted so badly to reach out to him and pull him close. "Oh, Branch you don't need to be alone. Especially not right now, you're my friend and I want to help you."

Branch forced a smile and once again tried to get me to leave him to cry in the dark, alone by himself. "Another time Poppy really, tomorrow, or the next day, or the next day, or all of those days…but not today, please."

I was a little taken aback by how persistent he was with this. Normally the deal was, I come over with peace offerings in the form of sugary goodness, he acts like he's annoyed but he lets me in anyway. We play Jenga while either he's trying to convert me to whatever conspiracy theory he's currently obsessed with, or I'm trying to talk him into going on a walk at the top of the Troll Tree to see all the shining lights bleed into the stars. He then goes off on safety hazards and or aliens, whichever he's in the mood for. I peak into his pod trying to find something, anything that could be a clue as to what got him so upset. And lo-and-behold, there on his desk, is a single chocolate cupcake with a candle in it. That must have been the glow from earlier, but why? It's not his birthday? I don't know what to think of it so I don't bring it up. "Look Branch. I don't know what's wrong, or why you're so sad, but I'm your friend and I want to help, please. You want to be alone, ok I get it, but sitting in the dark can't be healthy. Dads home right now, he actually asked me to say hello to you for him, so why don't you come with me, yeah, and you can say hello to him in person." I carefully reach for his hand and I'm encouraged when he squeezes mine. I pull him gently out of his door way. "…You can even spend the night, I promise no singing, no loud music, no shouting, none of that, I promise." He stops walking, his head is hanging and tears were dripping onto the moss below and I start to panic "…W-w-we-we can eat, we can play cards, we can tell stories, we can just sit in complete silence if you want, just…..please…please come with me." I was begging, I'm not hiding it. I was begging for him to follow me back to my pod, where I knew that he would be safe from himself.

Branch looks up, his eyes blood shot and wet, he squeezes my hand one more time before letting go. With a surprising amount of control in his voice he says to me. "Poppy, go home. I need to be alone right now. I WANT to be alone. It's dark out so be careful on your way back, and Poppy, right now for the love of all things Troll. Leave Me Alone." He turned back towards his pod as I watched, I was frozen. He didn't look back before he closed his door, the green glow of his pod faded back into nothing but a dark tear drop shape. I stood there, and I watched the light from the candle until it was finally blown out.

My stuff was still waiting outside his door and while a part of me wanted to just leave it, I instead used it as an excuse to walk back up to the pods entrance and I listened for anything. After about 3 minutes there was a sharp intake of breath, then a sniffle followed by a muffled sob, then I felt my heart break. I just sat there, listening to my friend being miserable while I couldn't do anything. I had to hold back my own tears as the sobs continued. I leaned my back against his pod and decided that he wasn't going to go through this alone, whether he knew it or not. So, that's exactly what I did. After about an hour he slowed to a stop, I listened closely and caught soft snores. Another piece of my heart broke, my friend just literally cried himself to sleep.

I picked myself up along with my things and started walking back the way I came, leaving a trail of cold apple cider behind me.