11. Fiella
Icouldn’t shake the dark, gloomy cloud that followed me. My soul ached, throbbing incessantly, and I struggled to muster up any smiles for the friendly townsfolk of Moonvale. The corners of my mouth refused to lift.
After two days of intense, back-aching work at my shop, I decided that I needed a break.
I ate a quick lunch at the diner, grabbed a mid-day tea and pastry, and parked myself on my favorite bench in the park beside town square. Today, I had decided on a tart filled with strawberry jam (because it reminded me of blood, of course) and earl gray tea with mint leaves tossed on top.
I had tired myself out wrangling wreckage all morning, and my overworked muscles were burning. I needed some peace away from the annoying, grumpy vampire that had been dropping by my shop with a toolbag and a bad attitude.
Though I needed his help, I wasn’t in the mood for his company, and he didn’t seem to be in the mood for mine either. We hardly spoke two words to each other.
It was for the best.
While munching on my delicious snack, my eye caught a slip of something white sticking out from under the bench. Was that… paper? I quickly scarfed down the last bite of tart and smacked my hands together to remove any lingering crumbs.
The paper was buried under some leaves, so I gently extracted it, brushed it off, and placed it in my lap. It looked like some sort of letter.
I considered putting the letter back and leaving it alone. It could have been left there on purpose for someone else. I looked around to see if anyone was watching me, if anyone seemed like they belonged to this letter.
None of the townsfolk paid me any mind. I made brief eye contact with a squirrel, but it scurried away after snatching up one of my wayward tart crumbs.
I sighed. I was too nosy to leave that treasure untouched, so of course I was going to read it. I couldn’t help myself.
I glanced around one more time to be sure my snooping wouldn’t be noticed before I quickly unfolded the paper.
Hello, Stranger.
I received your letter. Though I’m not sure when you wrote it, or who it was intended for, it has made its way into my hands.
I have many questions, but I’ll save my ink for now.
I am not a ghost, nor am I a spirit. I am a regular folk, as you have said. I have never died, nor have I been to the afterlife. And I do not reside within any mailbox.
I am sorry about your day. If it helps, you are not alone. I have had days like that. And I assure you, it will pass. The lows don’t last forever. You will rise again. Just get up tomorrow and keep going.
And do the same thing the next day.
Best,
Another Stranger
P.S. Alcohol, you say? Was it ale? Golden ale is my favorite.
What the fuck.
Well… Huh. I was dumbfounded.
I let the letter flutter to my lap as I scrubbed my eyes with my fists. I had dropped a letter in that old decrepit mailbox the other day, but I couldn’t quite remember what I had written. I vividly remembered writing something about ghosts, though. That line was a winner. Was it possible that this letter was somehow for me?
The thought seemed ridiculous.
But… It did seem to respond to my drunken rambling.
I didn’t know how in the realms this letter found me, or how in the realms this stranger somehow received my letter and decided to respond. My mind was spinning.
This had to be the fates… right?
Strangely, just knowing that someone had read my worries and cared enough to respond lightened my heavy spirit, just a bit. It was amazing how much of a difference that small dose of companionship made. I never felt heard or understood by anyone other than Kizzi, but this stranger had read my rambling worries, and instead of simply tossing the letter into flame, they took the time to respond.
I had plenty of friends and neighbors, sure, but I kept it surface-level with pretty much everyone. If I let them peek under the hood of my thoughts, I was sure they would run screaming, so I kept most things to myself.
Maybe I didn’t have to do that anymore.
I took a sip of my minty earl gray, feeling a bit lighter, and carefully folded the letter and tucked it into my pocket.
I caught myself feeling the beginnings of hope during my walk back to the shop.
Even knowing I had to see that annoying, rude vampire again wasn’t enough to squash the kernel of light that had bloomed in my chest.
Aforementioned vampire was carefully lifting a massive stone bowl from the rubble when I strolled in the front door. I hardly paid him any mind–my thoughts still wrapped up in the mysterious letter. I heard the thud when he set it onto the exposed stone floor.
I plopped the letter, along with the other contents of my pockets onto my newly-designated worktable–pastry wrappers, a handful of clovers, a pinecone, and a tie for my hair. The table was more like a stool, a small square of wood supported by three legs, but it was a place to set my things and that was all that mattered.
I dove back into cleaning. Sookie would probably knock the clovers I had picked onto the floor, but I would just clean them up and pick more at the park tomorrow. One could never find too many good luck charms.
I don’t even know if Redd noticed I was back–he was buried elbow-deep in wreckage–until his voice called out.
“You should really quit leaving the shop in the care of a stranger.” He glanced at the hand-painted plates in his hand. “What if I was a thief who was after unnecessarily decorated plates?”
I crossed my arms, donned my most fearsome facial expression, and marched over to him. Well, march might not have been the right term because I had to climb over multiple piles on the way, but I gave it a strong effort.
I got into his space and glowered at him.
“I could take you down in an instant,” I declared.
He set down the plates he was carrying and straightened to his full height. Gods damned, I was not used to anyone being able to tower over me. I kept forgetting I wasn’t the tallest one in the room anymore.
“You think so, little vampire?”
He chuckled under his breath and turned around, mumbling something about feisty creatures.
How dare he! I lunged at his back, prepared to press my teeth into his jugular to prove my point that I was an intimidating woman who could take down any creature. I wasn’t actually going to bite him, but I was definitely going to scare him.
He must’ve expected the move, because he whirled and snatched me by the shoulders, freezing me in place. Gods damn it, I thought I had him.
He held me still, just inches from his face. His breath brushed over me, smelling like peppermint and sugar, before it ceased entirely.
“Down, girl. Be good,” he whispered. I shivered. I should’ve been infuriated by him speaking down to me like I was a wild animal but for some reason… It affected me differently.
After I remembered how to breathe, I yanked my shoulders from his grip and twirled in the opposite direction.
“I was trying to prove a point!” I said, flustered.
“And did you?” he answered drily.
“Um. Yes. Well. I was just trying to–I... I need to go next door and see if they have any extra brooms,” I stammered. I need to get out of here.
I didn’t wait for his response before hustling out the door.
Strangely, I felt no trepidation about leaving Redd alone in my shop once again. If he was going to take advantage of the situation, he surely would’ve done so by now.