‘Hi Papa, I don’t like to say I got kicked out of that diner, but you always told me not to lie. I missed you. I guess it’s fine. It was too fancy for me anyway. I took a job at a small bookstore. There’s a boy there. Misha. He reminds me of Lucille. Remember her? She used to come over after school.’ Marie scratches out the last two lines. ‘You never got to know Lucille. You would’ve liked her. She used to come over after school. I met her after…’ Marie adds three dots, then puts down the pen. She wants to keep writing. There’s so much she could tell him. But she can’t be late again. ⸻ ‘I’ve picked up a few habits. I don’t know where they came from, but they help me through the day.’ Marie checks the windowsill—it’s gone. She doesn’t know why she still bothers to check anymore. Once more, she replays the squeaky voices in her head. “This cochon is so ignorant. She never even knows when we take it. Vache!” She knows it’s all in her head—squirrels don’t talk. But she imagines them talking all the same. ‘I’ve started leaving a sugar cube on the windowsill every night. The squirrels come and take it while I’m sleeping—very loudly. I’m still not the heavy sleeper I was, but that’s beside the point. I like to imagine them thinking they’re sneaky, and taunting me for my idiocy because of the free food I keep leaving. It’s the best part of my morning—never fails to make me laugh.’ ⸻ While Marie is checking the missing sugar cube, she realizes it rained last night. Her face instantly lights up as she rushes out the door. She waves at the house ahead and sure enough, she gets a wave back.
Marie sprints over to Mr. Baxter’s house. He’s waiting—a newspaper in one hand, a mug of coffee in the other, and a bright smile on his face. Marie’s hand goes instinctively to the leaves of the lavender bush. “And if it isn’t Marie Williams,” Mr. Baxter says, his smile never faltering. “Good morning to you too, Mr. B! The dewdrops look extra pretty today,” she says, returning his grin with one of her own, “your lavenders even more so.” ‘It rains a lot here. Every time it does, I always check on the plants outside Mr. B’s house. Especially his lavender bush—it always has the best dewdrops in the whole neighborhood. You would be besties with Mr. B. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him without that huge smile on his face.’ The first time Marie had noticed that bush, Mr. Baxter had seen her. He’d looked skeptical, but his smile never left. “I—umm. Well, sir, I’m convinced your lavender bush has the prettiest dew drops in the whole town.” She’d blurted it with an awkward smile and a shaky laugh. Internally, she scolded herself. But the old guy’s smile just deepened. Marie couldn’t help it—her smile deepened too. Now, Mr. Baxter waves a dismissive hand. “Now, now. You can’t be late for work. That boy goes bonkers waiting for you. Misha, was it?” “It was.” Marie shoots one last smile in his direction and scurries off. He’s right. Misha can’t wait any longer. And Marie won’t make him. ⸻ She rushes along the path to the library when she sees it. Just lying there. Helpless. A person would step on it. Then another. Now Marie couldn’t have that, could she? She bends down, picks up the tiny marble—glass, maybe, or just a polished pebble—and slips it into the pocket of her bag. Clothes didn’t have pockets like they should’ve, not now, probably not ever. She couldn’t afford any distractions. But she couldn’t help it. “Every time I find something shiny on the road, I pick it up and put it in a pocket in my bag. It brings some light into my day.” ⸻ ‘Misha’s 8. He’s an orphan. He was forced into the bookstore by his teachers at the orphanage. He still has no idea how I found out what his name is. The first time I'd said it, he called me a witch like the ones in his books, frowned, then blurted, “A—a good one! A pretty one!” I don’t think I’ve ever laughed as much as I did in that moment. His face was beet red.’ Marie enters the bookstore as quietly as she can. She’s going to try to scare him again—but not before doing something first. “Good morning,” she whispers to the picture on the wall with a small smile. It’s the original owner of the bookstore. She’d died shortly before Marie started working there, but the stories her coworkers told her were enough. Now, Marie always whispers a good morning to her. Just so she isn’t forgotten. “SOL KOROLEVA!” Misha shouts from behind her. Marie jumps, trying to look stern, but she’s smiling, a mischievous look in her eyes. He’d first called her that about a month after they’d met. “Hiya, Sol Koroleva!” he’d grinned. “Just where did you hear that?” she’d asked, sitting beside him. “I saw it in that book you were reading!” he smiled up at her, “Something with an S?” “It’s very dramatic,” she’d teased. “You are dramatic. You’re the Book Queen.” She let him believe it. And for now, she let herself believe it too. “That nickname again?” she mutters now, scooping him up. “Now. What are we reading today?” ⸻ References: I am forever undone - The Cruel Prince (Queen of Nothing - "By you, I am forever undone" <333) Misha - Shadow and Bone (Ruin & Rising) Sol Koroleva - Shadow & Bone (Siege & Storm & Ruin & Rising - "Sun Queen") Music - Ordinary - Alex Warren (instrumental) Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 (second half) Part 4 and 5 in progress!
