Violet didn’t know how long she worked on Amy’s letter. The morning hours seem to pass in the blink of an eye and more than one cup of coffee was brought over by Peony. It wasn’t until lunch was nearly served that she held up her final draft, a completed letter to Amy telling her what Violet felt in her heart.

In her first attempt, she tried to apologize and explain it away, hoping that Amy would continue writing her no matter what. However, by the end, that part was gone. This was how Violet felt, she loved Amy and wouldn’t shy away from it. She could only hope that when her friend finally read it, she wouldn’t be upset or try and push Violet away.

“Satisfied?” Peony asked as she came up and stopped on the other side of the table, wiping her hands on her apron.

“I am,” Violet responded before looking up.

Peony’s lips curved into a wide smile and she reached out for the back of the chair in front of her before tilting her head slightly. “And did you get it all out?”

“Everything,” Violet replied. “I told her everything.”

“Good, I knew you could do it.”

“I’m sorry, though. I spent the whole morning on my letter instead of working on yours.” Here she was at a client’s house busy writing her own correspondence. Even with all the nice things Peony had said earlier, it still felt wrong.

However, the older woman simply shook her head and stood tall. “It’s fine, Violet. This was important and I have no doubt whatever you write for me will be better off for this little exercise.” Following her words, Peony turned and gestured for Violet to follow her into the kitchen. “Not that that was really the point. It was just an easy way to make sure you actually did it,” she admitted with a chuckle. “Now, come on, take a break and help me finish lunch. You can continue after we eat.”

There was no room for negotiation in Peony’s tone and Violet stood to do as she was asked. When she arrived in front of the cutting board, she was given a knife and instructed to cut vegetables for their salad. Which she happily set about doing.

“Do you think you’ll send it?” Peony asked, breaking the silent work of the past few minutes.

“Yes.” The question had plagued Violet nearly the entire time she wrote but by the end, she had come to accept the truth of what she wanted. To have Amy read it someday.  

“Soon?”

Someday being the operative word. “I’m not sure.”

“That’s alright. You don’t have to decide right away; however, may I offer a suggestion?” When Violet nodded, Peony took in a breath but slowly let a smile kick up onto her lips. “Maybe don’t wait years like I did. I don’t know when the right time is or was, for either of us, but I wish that I’d done this sooner.”

Years. The word played over in Violet’s mind as she tried to think back on all the things that had happened since the end of the war. And how much would change in a few more years? Amy would be married, no doubt. In addition to a whole host of other possibilities. Could she really afford to wait if she was going to send it? Or would years later be years too late?

The two fell silent again as Violet pondered what she might do and, by the time she was finished, the salad was joined by fresh bread and a small selection of cheeses and smoked meats. The topics during lunch were lighter to give them both a break and this time, Violet helped clean up the meal when they were done. Then it was time to tackle Eloise’s letter in earnest.  

“Violet, I’m going to go work in the garden while you write. If you need something, just call.”

“Very well,” Violet replied and then settled into work again.

Despite a slow start, the letter for Eli flowed much easier this time around. Violet’s feelings for Amy remained but she felt content knowing that they had been addressed for the time being. They no longer tried to slip out and fill the page and Peony was right, having written her own confession only an hour or two ago did help somewhat.

Not that she borrowed passages or wording from her letter but she felt what Peony was trying to get across, and understood what it meant to hold onto these feelings. Even if Violet had stowed them away for much less time. When Peony eventually did reemerge into the house, she found Violet waiting with drafts of both letters on the table in front of her.

“It’s time,” Violet said before slowly pushing them forward a few inches.

Peony’s eyes dropped to the table and saw them folded and awaiting her review. Violet thought she saw the briefest moment of hesitation but she soon stepped forward and took a seat next to the doll. “Alright, I’m ready.” Her hand came up to select the rightmost letter but then it paused, hovering just over the paper. “Which one is for Eli?” She asked before continuing.

“The left.”

Peony nodded and shifted her hand, scooped it up, and unfolded it to start reading. Violet watched silently as the woman’s eyes flicked back and forth down the page, reading line after line. At some points, she smiled, at others she nervously bit her bottom lip. However, when she finished, Peony nodded and let out a contented sigh. “That’s good, Violet. A few changes but it’s nearly there. Well done.”

Violet smiled at the praise but otherwise remained silent while Peony shifted her attention to the remaining letter. The one for Sophia. That earlier hesitation appeared to rear its ugly head again and, it took Peony a minute or two to reach out and pick up the folded paper. No comment preceded her reading and there were no smiles throughout. Violet hadn’t expected any, though. This letter was not meant for that.

By the end, tears silently streamed down Peony’s cheeks and when she was finished, she pressed the letter to her chest. The paper crinkled under the strain but Violet didn’t worry about that. If needed, she could always type another. The pain Peony felt right now warranted such a thing, anyway. A pain that Violet was becoming intimately familiar with herself.

Violet didn’t budge from her spot until Peony’s sobs became audible, at which point she reached out and placed a reassuring hand on her new friend’s shoulder. She didn’t speak, only offered the comfort of her presence while Peony’’s emotion played out.

When the tears finally subsided, she nodded and folded the letter back up for safekeeping. “It’s perfect. Thank you, Violet.”

“You’re welcome. Are there any changes or would you like me to retype it?” 

“No, it’s fine the way it is.” Peony paused and looked down at the paper, letting her thumbs run over it a few times. “This probably won’t be the last time this letter sees me cry.” After another few moments, Peony wiped her eyes and then set the letters down on the table before standing. “I think I need a break to properly digest them. Would you care to join me in the garden again?”

“Of course,” Violet said before rising and following her host outside where she trailed her as she moved amongst the flowers and other plants. They did this silently for a few minutes, both women seemingly content to ponder the content of their letters. Until Peony stopped in front of a specific flower.

“Marigolds,” she explained with a nod of her head but otherwise didn’t look up. “Eli used to say she couldn’t wait to see the blooms every year. That all the hillside around her farm was covered in them.” In the pause, she looked up to Violet and, for the first time since she had arrived, Peony looked tired. As if burdened by the feelings and the desires that she kept inside her. “I wanted to see them so bad, Violet. I wanted to be there in spring and back around again. Summer, fall, winter, then spring again. Year after year…”

She fell silent then and hung her head low before shaking it. “I tried planting some here but it’s not the same. Each year new blooms come but it doesn’t feel right.” When she looked up again, Violet could tell there was a kind of strain to her expression. “Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Violet didn’t answer immediately and only chewed on the words in her mind. No other flowers were the same . Because they weren’t Eloise’s flowers. She knew what that was like, right? No other bed had felt as comfortable as the one in the dormitory and Violet doubted that was because the quality of the school’s furniture was so superior. Violet’s room hadn’t felt the same either, or meals, or walks. Things that she knew were enjoyable but ones that had lost a spark somewhere along the way.

“It’s not the same because you need to see her flowers.”

Peony hummed her agreement and then stood a moment later. “I’m sure in time, that feeling may fade to a dull ache. Or perhaps it could be replaced by the presence of another. However, I don’t want that.”

That much was clear to Violet and she didn’t doubt Peony intended to do something about her wishes, to try and make them a reality. She didn’t want that either but what could she do? Isabella York was getting married and that was that.

The two stayed outside for a few minutes longer, stretching their limbs and sharing stories about Eli’s flower garden and the school’s rose fields. Following the break, it didn’t take long for Violet to finish the corrections to Eli’s letter and soon they both stood in the kitchen preparing dinner.

By the time they ate, cleaned, and sat down again, it was getting late into the evening. A fact that Peony used to insist Violet stay the night yet again. She was a gracious host; however, Violet suspected there might be another reason why she was asked. Writing these letters was difficult and it played on one’s emotions more than people expected. Peony no doubt wanted the company, if only for the distraction a friend could bring. And, if Violet was being completely honest with herself, her letter to Amy left her in much the same state. She could go straight to work the following day, anyway.

The next morning was a repeat of the previous, filled once again with breakfast, coffee, and good conversation. However, Violet was truly getting restless and wanted to get back to C.H. Postal to collect Amy’s letters and type her replies. A fact that Peony must have picked up on.

“Come on, I’ll go with you to the main road,” she insisted once Violet’s things were packed and in hand.

“That’s not necessary, Peony.”

“It’s no problem, we’re friends now, right? Besides, I could use a good walk.”

Well, if Peony really wanted to go, then she had no objections. Even in the short time they had come to know each other, Violet felt like they had become close and would no doubt enjoy the company. So, the pair soon set out down the driveway that led away from the small cottage, silent and in their own minds.

“When will you leave? To deliver the letters.” Violet finally asked, breaking the quiet around them. 

“Well, Sophia is buried not too far from here, on my family’s estate.” Peony paused and became thoughtful then, clearly trying to recall details from her mind. “Eli will be a journey though. I don’t know how close I’ll be able to get, a lot of the roads and tracks are still damaged from the war. I may end up walking most of the way…”

“You did say you wanted a good walk.” 

Following Violet’s quip, Peony stared at her like she was in shock before cracking a smile and starting to laugh. “Hey, that was good!” After Peony settled, she shrugged and returned her attention to the road. “I’ll go see Sophia tomorrow and then leave for Gardarik the day after.”

“That’s very soon.”

“True,” Peony admitted. “However, I’ve never been good about waiting when my mind is made up. I know what I need to do now and intend to do it.” A moment later, the two women arrived at the end of the small road and turned to make their final goodbyes.

“You gave me that strength though, Violet. I couldn’t have known for sure if you hadn’t come here.”

Violet smiled and nodded, even if she wasn’t convinced. “It was my pleasure and thank you, too. I’m not sure I would’ve written that letter to Isabella if you hadn’t pushed me.”

“I’m glad you did and I know it is as beautiful as the two you wrote for me.” Then Peony did something Violet wasn’t expecting. She stepped forward, brought her arms up, and wrapped the doll in a tight hug. It was a little awkward due to the bag in Violet’s hands but she managed to lift one arm and reciprocate in a fashion. When Peony finally pulled back, her hands came to rest on Violet’s shoulders, where they squeezed one last time.

“Good luck, Violet Evergarden. Remember, follow your heart, and don’t be surprised if you see an envelope with my name on it someday.”

“I look forward to it,” Violet said and she truly hoped that one day she would receive a letter telling her of Peony’s reunion with Eloise. And how they now lived happily together, surrounded by flowers.