Though Violet walked away from the school with steady steps, each one built a sadness inside her. She’d finished assignments before and had plenty of emotional departures. But this one weighed on her mind more than any other. Much more. And there hadn’t been any outward displays of grief from either her or Isabella. No, not Isabella. Amy. That’s who she was to Violet, more than a noblewoman attending a school, more than a job. A dear friend.

As she went, Violet’s free hand came up to let a gloved hand rest on the spot where the kiss landed. The tips of her fingers lightly stroked it, circling the spot. If she had to describe it, she would say it was pleasant overall and left behind a warmth on both her skin and inside her chest. Though, there was something else there too. A kind of fluttering in the pit of her stomach that brought a small smile to her lips. No one had ever done that to her before. Violet had seen others greet each other in such a way during her travels but this felt different. Like there was more behind the gesture than a simple greeting.

Eventually, she let her hand drop and tried to focus on the road and what she needed to do today. Which was easier said than done. Still, her feet carried her toward the station and the train that would take her home. It was strange to be by herself again after constantly having someone at her side. No doubt that feeling would grow as time passed, at least for a little while. And how would it be when she returned to Leiden? Would it still be lonely? Would it be like after she lost the Major? Distracted as she was, the trip down to the town felt like it happened in the blink of an eye. Honestly, she didn’t even remember most of it.

It was also strange to be out and amongst people who weren’t students. Children, men, and women of various ages went about the morning’s business and most didn’t even bother sparing a glance her way. A stark contrast to the stares she was accustomed to at the school. Violet walked through the crowd to the station and picked up her ticket from the counter before finding her train. Once aboard, she stowed her luggage and found a seat by a window that allowed her to peer out at the school. While she focused on the distant buildings, Violet brought a hand up to tap a few times on her jacket, right above the pocket where she kept Taylor’s letter safely tucked away.

She opted to keep it on her person for safekeeping, not fully trusting it would be safe in her belongings. Which was silly. Her typewriter and most of her other possessions were secured in her bag. Still, it felt wrong to pack it away. The letter itself felt heavy, in a way. Like the responsibility of getting it to Taylor was so immense it manifested physically. Her original plan was to ask Benedict to carry the letter when she returned but that idea became more disagreeable the longer she thought about it. Of course, Violet didn’t typically deliver the letters she wrote. However, this one was special. It was written by someone she cared about a great deal and it deserved to be carried by her hand, right? 

After a brief hesitation, Violet stood from the seat and retrieved her bag from where it sat. Now that her mind was set, she exited the train and walked back toward the administrative building. The address of the orphanage was on the letter and it would only be a matter of finding a way to get there. She just needed to look at a map and adjust her travel arrangements to account for her new destination. Once inside, she found what she needed to start planning and removed the letter from her jacket. Only to pause once she read the name at the top of the address.

Taylor Bartlett

So, the young girl was allowed to keep the Bartlett name. Amy’s name. Violet ran a gloved thumb across the front of the envelope silent contemplation, thinking back on the night before. It really was a beautiful letter, one that mirrored the beauty in Amy’s heart. Violet could feel the love she poured into its message and the admission contained within threatened to bring tears to her eyes even now. That was why it had to be delivered by Violet. It was too important for anyone else. Every letter was special, and Violet believed as much. However, knowing the weight of these words only added to her decision.

It took about twenty minutes for an outline of a plan to come together. Violet would need to take a different route out of the small town but the loop ended with her back in Leiden all the same. A day later than originally scheduled but that wouldn’t be any trouble. Her assignment was done and this was her own time as far as she was concerned. Or perhaps this was the conclusion of her job, the last official act for Miss Isabella York. In the end, it didn’t matter how you cut it, the result would be the same. She would go find Taylor herself and ensure the letter passed safely into the little girl’s hands.

As soon as she turned from the map, she heard one of the conductors call for any last-minute passengers on her original train. But Violet simply turned and walked off to talk to find one of the clerks. Another few minutes and she had her tickets exchanged for the new stops. Luckily for her, her new departure would only be in a few hours. Now she just had to figure out what to do in the meantime. So, she left the station and sought out something to distract her.

About a block away she found a little café with a patio area in sight of the tracks, the river, and of course, the school. She proceeded inside and placed her order before returning to sit at one of the empty tables. It really was a beautiful morning, one that hid the underlying sadness of the day behind the gentle rays of the sun and the soft song of the birds. There was a book in her bag but Violet knew she wouldn’t get anywhere trying to read it now. Her eyes would constantly leave the page and search out the large building sitting atop the hill so she may as well embrace it.

However, before her thoughts could truly wander, they were interrupted by a server bringing her coffee only a moment later. She thanked the woman and then sipped at the coffee before returning her attention to the school. What was Amy doing right now? There weren’t any classes today so did she just go back to the room to sit in silence? Or was she walking around the grounds? Was she perhaps…missing Violet? As much as Violet missed her in this moment.

Would she find another friend somewhere? Amy still had another three months at the academy, she shouldn’t go it alone that whole time. That thought left her feeling…strange. Like it pained her that Amy might become close with someone else. Was that jealousy? How odd. Amy needed to get close to the other women there if she was going to be successful, Violet knew that. Still, she couldn’t help but find the prospect left a sour taste in her mouth.

Violet sat pondering these questions until the sun reached high overhead. People came and went around her and the staff came to see if she needed anything else. However, the only thing that fully roused her from her contemplation was the sound of the next train pulling into the station. Even before she heard it come to a stop, she began to gather her things and make her way back to meet it. She knew she had some time before it would depart again but also knew she wouldn’t feel better until she was aboard. Which happened only a few minutes later. This time, after she stowed her things, there was no uncertainty about whether or not this was the right call. This was what she was meant to do.

The train wouldn’t arrive in the town with the orphanage until the following day, which left her just enough time to do one more thing before she arrived. There wasn’t space to set up her typewriter comfortably on the train, so she reached into her bag and retrieved a piece of paper and a pen with ink. Amy had written a heartfelt letter and, while Violet didn’t want to take away from that, she wanted to add something additional from her. Her own letter that she would give Taylor separately and only after Amy’s. She didn’t even know Taylor but felt compelled to write anyway. It was what she did, after all. To offer whatever support she could where Amy could not. 

This letter took time, care, and a few drafts before Violet was satisfied with it. Of course, she also paused her writing to watch as the train pulled out of the small town. Her eyes didn’t leave the school until it almost faded to nothing and was blocked by a turn in the track. Not it was real. Thankfully, she could throw herself into her task, and by the time she sealed it away in an envelope, it was time for dinner and bed. She finally tried reading when she got back to her room but eventually gave up and closed the book with a sigh. Instead, she found herself lying on her back, eyes open and staring at the ceiling above. 

Even though the bed was small, it felt huge in the darkness. There was no one pressed up beside her. No pleasant warmth or subtle shifting of another body. The gentle, steady breaths of Amy were instead replaced with the steady click of the tracks. Maybe it was just the first night on the train that was throwing her off? No, Violet knew precisely what was bothering her and in the absence of anything else to think about, her thoughts turned to Amy and their time together. 

In the beginning, Violet truly worried she would never come to tolerate her presence. It was astonishing how much could change in such a short time. Especially since, by the end, the two were laughing and enjoying their time together as friends. So much so that Amy wouldn’t even leave the dancefloor the whole night. Which was fine by Violet. At first, their lessons were just another of her duties. However, somewhere they transitioned to something she looked forward to each day because of the joy it brought her. The ball was only the culmination of that and Violet would’ve danced as long as Amy wanted. All night, if that was what was requested. She certainly had the stamina for it but even if she didn’t, she would’ve found a way to keep going just to prolong that feeling. There was something so natural about having Amy in her arms, like it was to be in hers. Whether dancing or lying in bed. 

A fact that made being here feel so…empty. And what of Amy? She was all alone in her bed too. If she had a fit, who would be there to get her water? Who would be there to hold her tight and tell her everything was going to be okay? That was Violet’s job. Well, had been her job. Now she didn’t know if they would ever see each other again. That thought more than anything caused a tear to well up in one of Violet’s eyes before it ran down her cheek to the pillow below.