The following day, Violet stepped off the train in a new, small town. One that was large enough to warrant a stop on a major railroad, but not so important that many people would be looking to utilize it. Perhaps the perfect place to stick an orphanage. More importantly, it wasn’t so big that finding Taylor wouldn’t take a great deal of time. Which was good considering Violet only had until late afternoon before her train would depart.

As soon as the steps came down, Violet disembarked for the station and proceeded within. She inquired about the address on the envelope at the front desk and memorized the directions the clerk gave her. By his estimate, it would take about an hour to walk there. Not bad but it could certainly be improved by not carrying her suitcase with her. So, after stowing away her belongings in a locker, Violet departed the building and headed on her way. 

The time it would take to walk allowed Violet to think further about how she would approach the situation. Of course, she’d done plenty of that already. Sleep in any meaningful quantity eluded her last night so there had been plenty of time to formulate a plan. Ultimately, she decided not to tell Taylor that she spent the past three months with Amy. Instead, she would focus on the letter she still carried in her jacket pocket. Hopefully, that wouldn’t dredge up too many difficult feelings or derail the conversation from where Violet wanted to steer it. With more time to think, she additionally decided that she would stay and make sure the letter was properly received. By her if it came to it. It wasn’t simply enough to hand the envelope over, she had to ensure the little girl got the message.

The town she walked through seemed pleasant enough. Though, Violet really wasn’t paying that much attention. Her steps never wavered or veered off course as she made her way to the orphanage. The clerk said it would take an hour but, in the end, she made it in just over half that time. Upon her arrival, Violet sought out the administrative office and found a quiet, older woman manning the front desk. The secretary tried to get her to hand over the letter but Violet insisted she do this herself. After acquiescing, the older woman stood and motioned for her to follow. She led them through the building and out into the back where all the children were currently playing. The place looked well maintained, both the inside and the grounds. Something that at least provided Violet a little bit of comfort knowing it was Taylor’s home. She would also have to include that detail in a letter to Isabella. Hopefully, that would help put her mind at ease as well. At least a little.

Once outside, and perched atop the steps leading into the building, the secretary scanned the numerous children until she found who they were looking for. “There, by the tree.” In addition to a nod, she raised a hand to indicate a girl off on her own.

“Thank you.” Violet started down the steps and then made straight for the little girl. As she got closer, she began to pick up more and more detail. Taylor’s fiery red hair was currently wild, curled this way and that, barely kept in check by two ponytails. She looked like she was playing with some kind of doll, walking it through the grass and muttering to herself. At least, until she realized Violet was making her way over. That caused her to pull the toy close and tilt her head in curiosity at the stranger.

Violet stopped a few steps out before folding her hands neatly on the front of her dress. “Taylor? Taylor Bartlett?” Violet ensured her voice was low and as soothing as it could be.

“My name is Taylor,” the little girl confirmed.

So, here she was. Violet was hit with a wave of emotion she hadn’t expected but let none of it play across her face. Instead, she reached into her jacket and retrieved the letter so Taylor could see it.

“I have a letter here for you. It’s from Amy.”

Taylor’s eyes immediately opened wide and she took a tentative step forward. “Big sister!?”

The excitement was palpable in her voice and Violet couldn’t help but smile as she nodded. “Yes, and I came to deliver it to you.” Hearing this, Taylor closed the rest of the distance between them and then held her hand out as high as it would go, eyes focused intently on the envelope in the doll’s hand.

Violet dropped hers and let the little girl take it but she suspected it wouldn’t do her much good. “Taylor, can you read? Do you need me to tell you what she said?”

Taylor ignored the question at first and held the envelope close to her face. A wide smile graced her lips and it was clear that she was busy thinking. After a few moments, she squinted and knit her eyebrows together. “I can’t read, can you?”

Violet nodded and then indicated the tree with a hand. “I can. Let’s go sit in the shade and I’ll read it to you.”

“Okay!” Taylor practically shoved the letter back into the gloved hand and then ran over to the tree before sitting down in the dirt without any regard for how it might stain the light blue dress she wore. Violet quickly followed, and similarly sat down on the ground, putting her back to the tree to get comfortable. After she was settled, Taylor wasted no time shifting from where she sat and climbing into her lap. However, before inquiring further about Amy’s message, she turned at the waist and looked Violet straight in the eye. “Oh, what’s your name?”

“Violet. Violet Evergarden.”

“Oh, that’s pretty.”

“Thank you.” The little exchange widened Violet’s smile before she brought the envelope up to run a finger along the seal, exposing the letter within and drawing Taylor’s attention to it. She reached in then, and retrieved the single piece of paper before opening it fully and clearing her throat.

“Alright, here we go. My most beloved Taylor…”

My most beloved Taylor, this might be the hardest letter I’ll ever send. Even though it’s my first to you, it must also be my last. That was the trade I made. A better life for you if I got a new life too. One where I can’t have any sort of relationship with you. That may not seem fair but it’s the decision I made because I love you, Taylor, with all my heart. It’s not one I make lightly and I worry how it will affect your life. All I can do is hope that I made the right choice and never stop wishing your life is the best it can possibly be.

Even still, I wonder if you’ll forget about me. I wonder if you’ll grow up thinking you don’t have a family. That thought worries me most of all because you do have a family. You have me. And the truth is, that maybe I didn’t think of myself as a big sister, but as a mother. Your mother. Because that is the depth of my love for you. 

And Taylor, even if I’m not around anymore, and even if I get buried within your memories, that love will remain. It is eternal, not bound by time or distance. Since “Amy” is a name I can’t be addressed as anymore, you will breathe life into my love whenever you speak my name. The Amy that loves you will always be there, you only have to call out to her. That’s why, my Taylor, call my name if you get lonely. Use it as you would a magic word to make you safe and sound. And loved.

Amy 

When Violet was finished, she carefully folded the paper back down to size and tucked it into the envelope for safekeeping. Taylor remained still in her lap even after she finished and it wasn’t until Violet heard small sniffles that she realized the girl was crying. Of course, most of the letter would be beyond her at this age but clearly, some of it had reached her. Hopefully, she would keep it until the day she could understand the full weight of those words.

“Amy…” Taylor whispered the name with an obvious hint of grief before turning once more in Violet’s lap and wrapping her arms around the doll’s neck. “Amy! Amy!” She probably would’ve kept going but the increased intensity of the sobs choked off any subsequent attempts. Violet could feel her body shuddering against her and her dress became wet on the shoulder that Taylor pressed herself against. Seeing her like this, Violet didn’t hesitate to wrap the girl in a tight hug. In it, she put every ounce of love from Amy she could manifest. Then added a little of her own.

“Amy,” Violet repeated the name and brought one hand from the girl’s back to gently run it through her hair. She was in no rush today so she let Taylor stay in that position for as long as she wanted. Besides, it kept the girl from noticing the few tears that escaped the corners of her eyes too. She couldn’t have said how long the two stayed like that, only that eventually the tears did stop and Taylor separated enough so that Violet could reach into her jacket again and retrieve a second envelope. The one containing her letter.

“Taylor, I have one more letter here for you.”

The little girl eyed it curiously and then reached up and took it from Violet’s hands. She let it go without protest and without needing to open it to relay the contents. Her message wasn’t for now, anyway. “That one is from me.”

“From you?”

“That’s right. I wanted you to have my address and my name for the future. If you ever need anything, anything at all, I want you to write to me and I will do my best to help you.” If Amy couldn’t be there for Taylor, then Violet would try to fill that void.

It took a moment but Taylor nodded her understanding before dropping her eyes to the second envelope. After which she brought both close to her chest. “Alright.”

“Good. Now, I have to ride a train later today but how about we play until I have to go? Would that be alright?”

Thankfully, a little of the life returned to Taylor’s eyes at the suggestion and she rose before wiping some of the tears from her eyes. “Yeah, I guess that’s okay.” After Violet stood, she took one of the girl’s hands and led her toward the swings. By the time she had to go, the two had played just about every game Violet could think of and she even tamed that red hair with two fresh braids. When she departed, Taylor walked with her to the front gate before giving her a firm hug and waving until the doll disappeared into town.

The whole experience only confirmed for Violet that she had made the right decision by coming. She could see why Amy loved the little girl so intensely and it was clear from how many times Taylor mentioned her that Amy was loved just as much. Honestly, it broke Violet’s heart that the two had to be separated like this. It was so hard for people like Taylor, Amy, and her to find people to look after them with love and care. Worse yet, Taylor had lost two families, even if she might not remember them. If it wasn’t for the wonderful afternoon, Violet may have slipped further into sadness at the thought. However, perhaps that would come later along with another restless night.