SIX MONTHS LATER
Amelia sat on a worn settee in the common room of the orphanage with a new book. The dark wooden walls and mismatched furniture felt cozier than her small room, and the fire roaring in the stone fireplace gave off a warm glow alongside the lanterns adorning the side tables. But the best part was that she wasn’t alone. Clover, a girl her age who’d joined the orphanage a few months ago, often read quietly in the large room, too.
Amelia and Clover sat together many nights, sharing a lantern to read by without saying a word. Did that make them friends? Amelia wasn’t sure, but the prospect of finally finding someone who enjoyed the same things she did, mainly reading and talking about books, was exciting.
Clover stayed in the classroom during lunch too, opting to read or draw rather than join the other students outside for fresh air. Amelia didn’t know if she was painfully shy, preferred the quiet like Amelia did, or just hated people in general.
Amelia’s heart sank each time she tried to start a conversation, but curiosity replaced her disappointment when she realized Clover always found her way to Amelia, no matter the circumstance.
They didn’t look alike, but they did have a few of the same attributes, namely long blonde hair and tall statures, but that’s where their similarities ended. Clover’s skin was a shade darker than Amelia’s own light beige and their bone structures were completely different. Where Amelia had soft features and a round face, Clover had high cheekbones and a defined jawline.
They ate, read, and walked to school together, all while Amelia talked and Clover listened, occasionally commenting here and there. They’d go to
the library together, and if Amelia wanted to stop somewhere on the way to or from school, Clover followed without complaint.
Clover looked up from her book and caught Amelia staring at her.
Embarrassed, Amelia turned back to her own book.
“Hey,” Clover called in her w
hisper-quiet voice. She hopped up from where she sat and held out her open book to Amelia, tapping on a paragraph. “This is my favorite part. I think you’ll like it.”
Amelia leaned forward to read the passage and realized she’d read the book several times before, and to her surprise, it was one of her favorite parts, too. The scene always made her laugh, and the fact that Clover thought she would like it and chose to share it made her laugh harder than usual. She beamed at the mysterious girl, who returned her smile and retreated to her spot.
Amelia had all the confirmation she needed that she’d officially made her first real friend.
FOURTEENTH BIRTHDAY
Letter #4
Happy Birthday, Darling,
I’m sorry I haven’t written much. I don’t know what to talk to you about because you can’t reply, and I feel stupid telling you about myself when you didn’t ask, but for the sake of the bond, I will.
I do normal things like hang out with my friends or go hunting with my best friend, Finn, and our other friend, Ora. She’s a terrible shot, but we’re teaching her to track so she doesn’t accidentally put an arrow through one of our necks. I’m not hopeful.
Finn and I have to train a lot, but Ora says it’s too hard to fight in a dress. She could wear pants like the female warriors, but when Finn told her that, she cried. Girls can be weird.
I swear I do more than two things. I just can’t think of any others right now.
Some of my hobbies might not match up with yours, or maybe
they will. I guess we’ll see one day. If not, we can find other things to do together that we both like. I’ll ask Ora to help me think of things.
I have to study, or my father will tan my hide, but I’ll try to write more.
Your Mate, Nick
P.S. I felt you laughing yesterday. I wish I could have heard you too.
