āHoria,ā She repeated, each syllable falling through her lips as though they were something sacred, āthatās a nice name. It suits you.ā
Ā Ā Though it wasnāt like she really knew; she simply didnāt know what else to say. Monica had never been skilled with goodbyes. A light āSee you later!ā she could handle, knowing that she would surely interact with the person again, but it was no secret to her that Horia was one to wander, and very unlikely to settle in one place for long. In truth, she envied that in him; not growing so attached to places or people that he couldnāt leave whenever he fancied.
Ā Ā Monica watched on as Horia stood, wondering if he might be as hesitant as she was to see him leave, but she doubted that possibility with each passing minute -- minutes spent longingly and forlornly gazing at an ever-present mirth. For her, though, it was melancholy, and she knew the look on her face would not have denied that. She just hoped he hadnāt noticed, and indeed he never brought it up even as she released the barrier once more for him to pass through. The two exchanged one last farewell glance, and when Horia had walked for a distance a wave followed, Monica staying affixed until she could no longer hear his footsteps or rustling in the bushes.
It was half an hour past dark when Monica finally made her way back home to worried parents. They didnāt care so much about the time of her arrival, but rather about who she was with -- some robed human gargantuan as they had heard it, and a man no less! In a community as compact as Veraet, word had traveled quickly to Monicaās parents, and they couldnāt have found her soon enough without the additional worry of missing out on work and other responsibilities. Yet still, they were not blind to Monicaās feelings -- knowing she hadnāt been hurt or taken advantage of was enough relief for them to let the subject rest. More answers could wait for later.
The following day Monicaās mother, Lena, had entered her daughterās room, the goal being to ensure she was awake. With a habit of sleeping in this was not an uncommon gesture, but it soon became apparent to her that not only was Monica awake, but that she had been awake for most of the night, evidenced by a pair of tired, puffy eyes and red-tinted cheeks. Lena sat beside her daughter and caressed her as only a mother could, and without asking questions had told Monica to explain her feelings and shed light on her situation. What ensued was an hour-long discussion of how Monica had stumbled upon this now long-gone human, their short adventures together, the way he looked, his wonderful name -- and it was then the signs became apparent to her. Beside her she saw a young lady with deep, blossoming feelings, and as much as she wanted to tell Monica that things would get better soon or to give her hope that he might return, she knew it would not only be fruitless, but cruel. By Monicaās description there was only one thing that man could have been; not an ordinary human, but a very special breed, and quite similar to another of his kind she had met in much the same way, one stumbling across the other long before she had met Monicaās father. No, there was no hope for Monica but time and the eventual fading of memory.
Ā Ā āHe will most likely never return here,ā Lena thought, āand even if he did, it will be many years from now, as storm wizards are accustomed.ā
Ā Ā Lena simply couldnāt find it within herself to explain the ways of these humans, nor did she believe it would matter in the long-run. Monica rightly believed Horia to be a passing traveler; it was an accurate enough assumption that she could live with.
Ā Ā āI am very sorry you lost a good friend, my love. But there are so many wonderful people out there -- Iām sure youāll come across someone you like just as much. Youāll see.ā
Ā Ā āI hope youāre right, mother. I just miss him.ā
The beginning two weeks following Horiaās departure were no easier than the first day, though gradually Monicaās sadness had traded hands with nostalgia, her mind filled with wistful memories of the two of them together, every spot they had touched becoming a site for daydreams and long bouts of pondering. She had made a habit of visiting their places when she had the time, starting in the woods to practice her archery, and ending in the evenings where they shared their dinner. This particular day was different, though. It was Monicaās turn to wash the familyās laundry, and on a hot summerās day there was no better time to get a generally monotonous chore done. The sun shone through mild clouds, the wind blew just strongly enough to dry the clothes, and Monica was privy to a secluded little spot right outside the village to be alone with her thoughts and, time permitting, take a dip.
Ā Ā Leaving her satchel beside an empty clothes basket, Monica proceeded to hang freshly washed laundry onto a few low-hanging branches near the river she had chosen, deciding afterward that she had time to kill while they dried, and that she was so unbearably hot that the cool waters might do her some good.
Ā Ā She had stripped down to just her bottom small-clothes and stepped into clear running water, going further into a calm area to submerge the rest of herself. The area was one largely unfrequented by anyone but the occasional bear, and even then she had planned for that, having left an offering of fresh berries and fish far from where she would be. Monica felt an ultimate peace wash over her as she closed her eyes, remembering vaguely that there was something she needed from her satchel, but unsure exactly of what that might be...
Ā Ā And then she was still. Silent. Eyes wide open.
Ā Ā There were footsteps in the distance, distinctly two-legged. Monica was frozen in place, half-naked under crystalline water, and utterly defenseless. She considered, at first, getting out to dress, but it would have been much too easy for this person to see her -- and how embarrassing! Yet if she stayed in, this someone might overstay their welcome, or worse yet, join her, or make off with her things! What was she to do but think the situation to death, only to ultimately decide to hide behind a rock and assess the situation from afar in some vain hope that she wouldnāt have to directly interact with somebody?
pixelskylines
izzy806
s-u-f-j-a-n-s-t-e-v-e-n-s
vaporwave
areudirty
dailybridgerton
gummygunk
turnnoffyourmind
