・｡ [ aimee lou wood. ciswoman. she/her] - ophelia wood was blasting girl i’ve always been by olivia rodrigo on the sidewalk in austin today . according to other atx residents , the twenty-six year old florist at groovy garden has been given a reputation of being mpressionable , but also empathetic. [ scrunchie secured tightly around one’s wrist; the squeak of a new pair of sneakers against a gym floor; smiles that don’t quite reach the eyes but ooze kindness ]
trigger warnings: teenage pregnancy, adoption
Ophelia was born to teenage parents, too scared to properly commit to being just that. Instead, as soon as she's born, her biological mother places a kiss on her forehead before placing her up for adoption. Sometimes, if she close her eyes just long enough she swears she can see her face; blue eyes and blonde hair that she would come to match years later. Scared, with tear stains marking the otherwise rosy bloom of her cheeks. She never knows what your biological father looks like, but you imagine him being handsome. Comforting her mother with a smile, a hug… a joke. The image of naive teenagers in love, wondering how they got into this position.
Her story really begins on a hot summer’s day in July. A two year old with chubby cheeks, blonde pigtails and a smile that never fails to be reciprocated. The older kids are running around, making her feel dizzy. Her little legs carried you far, but they weren’t quite as speedy. Instead, she sits on Mrs. Bates’ lap, being read her favorite story; Rapunzel. A tale of a princess locked in a tower with gorgeous long blonde hair. Hair that matched her own. “You’re going to have a new mommy and daddy soon.” She tells her after the story, she's confused. She's heard stories from the older children about their various mommies and daddies, but they were here. Did that mean she’d come back here too, after a brief stay?
A week later, as promised, her new mommy and daddy arrived. Mrs. Bates made sure that she looked her very best. Dressed in her favorite pink dungarees, hair in two pigtails. She held her hand as she made her way down to the reception area to meet them. Eyes weary, slightly frightened by the idea that she’d be leaving all she’d ever known. The comfort of Mrs. Bates and the routine she’d come to find herself in. As soon as she sees them though, it all just makes sense. Comforting smiles, a feeling of safety that extended beyond what she’d known. “I hear you like stories?” Mrs. Wood asks, she nods, trying to shake the nerves. “I have this one. It's about a little girl and three bears, would you like to read it with us?” She bobs her head excitedly. Letting go of Mrs. Bates hand, as she rushed over.
The day that she came home for the first time is still one that sticks out vividly in her mind. She’d never really known what luxury was, the clothes that she had were the only sense of new that she had understood. Her pink dungarees being the most prized of all, obviously. Even her beloved Rapunzel story book had been with the orphanage for well over the two years that she was there. Mrs. Bates had insisted that she took it with her as a reminder of all the friends she made; including her, at your first ever home. A shared bedroom was replaced with her very own pink palace. With pink bed sheets, pink wallpaper, even a small pink tv. Undoubtedly the biggest shock was meeting her siblings; she’d lived with other children at the home, but having her own siblings… was a shock to the system. A nice shock to the system, but a shock nonetheless. Hugging had been a rare thing back in the home, but, she took to quickly appreciating each hug that she received, whether from her mommy and daddy or her brothers and sisters.
For a few years, she was able to play and explore the hotel that you lived in. Finding new hiding places, eating new foods; rushing around with her siblings. Then, it was time to start kindergarten, she was excited. While she had grown accustomed to the new life she was living, she missed meeting new children. Asking them innocently if they wanted to be her friend and holding hands for the rest of the day, just because. School was where she thrived, from the moment that she stepped foot into the building for her first day. Her parents encouraged her entire educational career to push herself, ensuring that she attained the best possible grades that she could. Socially, she wasn’t popular, but she wasn’t a loner either. Making friends was easy; like water gliding off of a duck’s back.
Entering into high school, she maintained the grades and expectations that she set for yourself. Though it was a lot of pressure, she knew that in the end it would be worth it. Albeit, there was also a part of her that wondered whether the pressure she put on herself was in part due to the fear she had of being sent back to the orphanage. Of course she knew that, that would never happen… but she’d had direct experiences with kids who had been sent back. Too much for their new families to deal with.
Graduating High School meant trying to decide on a career for herself. Ophelia knew that she wanted to help people, in a small way. She'd always found a certain charm to flowers, too. So applying at the flower shop seemed like the most natural choice in the world. It quickly became a passion and it's what she's been doing since.
STATS Full Name: Ophelia Marie Wood Nickname(s): Lia Sexuality: Heterosexual Birthday: 11th November Star Sign: Scorpio
