Isabella didn’t stir until the next morning when her face was bathed in sunlight from the window, well past their normal time for rising. Which meant that Violet had let her sleep in. The next thing her sleepy mind noticed was the fact that she was still wrapped up in a tight embrace. In Violet’s tight embrace. Which instantly brought back the smile from the night before. Oh, how she would love to start every day this way, wrapped in these arms. Safe and loved. 

“Good morning, Amy. Did you sleep well?” Violet must’ve sensed her movement and decided to speak up now that she had some sort of confirmation. 

“Good morning, Violet. I did.” Following her answer, she settled further into the bed, enjoying the warmth of their bodies a few moments longer. “Did you sleep okay? Have you been awake long?” Isabella had no doubt she’d woken up long ago but chose to lay still instead of trying to untangle herself.

“Not too long but it was a pleasant sleep. Thank you.” After a few seconds of silence, Violet finally spoke the words Isabella knew were coming. “We should get dressed and go to breakfast so I don’t miss my train.” 

Though it hurt her to do so, Isabella finally roused and sat up, causing the doll’s arms to fall away in the process. Thankfully, she was rewarded with the sight of Violet’s smiling face as a result. A more than fair trade and one that caused her own smile to kick up on her lips. Mention of the departure had Isabella’s smile gradually fading away but she still tried her best to put on a brave face. “Right. Can’t miss that now, can you?” Trying not to focus too much on what was to come, she threw back the sheets and swung herself out of bed. “Alright then, let’s get going!” 

Once they were ready, and Violet was packed again, the two women left their room and went to eat breakfast as normal. Two more things they would never do again. It was so odd trying to act normal in this situation. Like it was any other morning spent getting ready or just another breakfast. Speaking of unusual things, it was weird to see Violet wearing the blue and white dress she’d arrived in and not the brown one that was customary at the school. Isabella had to admit Violet looked quite stunning in the outfit, though.  Of course, she wasn’t the only one to notice. Violet turned heads wherever they went and while at breakfast.

Luckily, it seemed that most of the students were sleeping in after a long night and day off from school. This meant the pair should be completely alone to make their goodbyes when the time came. And Isabella did her best to draw out their remaining time without being too obvious. Or at least she hoped. Her food was eaten with much less gusto, even though it was delicious as always and she was ravenous from so much exercise. Which she then conveniently used to hold onto Violet as they walked to the gatehouse at a snail’s pace. Each step saw the sadness in Isabella’s heart increasing its grip and by the time they reached the gatehouse, it was nearly a physical pain.   

When they arrived, Isabella came to a stop and so did Violet a moment later, leaving herself a step on the other side of the entrance while Isabella remained inside the perimeter. So here it was then. Honestly, Isabella had expected herself to be a sobbing mess at this point. Instead, she held a small, shaky smile on her lips. As painful as this was, the alternative was far worse. Never having known Violet in the first place. Never having felt the warmth that bloomed in her chest at every little interaction they shared. Later it would hit her though, of that she had no doubt. 

“Well, I suppose this is where we say goodbye,” Isabella finally muttered.

What did she say? Thanks for everything! As if that could even begin to convey all that Violet had done for her. As she thought, Isabella’s eyes shifted to the ground, and then to the gatehouse before finally giving up and looking her friend directly in the eyes.

“Thank you, Violet. I know those words don’t begin to repay what you’ve done for me, so you should know I want to properly compensate you one day.”

In response, Violet shook her head where she stood. “That will not be necessary, your friendship is enough. It’s all I require and what I want the most.”

Hearing that caused Isabella’s smile to grow as she dropped her eyes to her feet. “Right…” Her friendship, how could such a thing be so valuable? Violet was much too kind and a much better friend than Isabella could ever be. How in the world is she ever going to make it without her friend?

After the silence stretched on, Violet once again broke it. “I should be going if I’m going to make it on time.”

The assertion had Isabella looking up suddenly before nodding her head and taking in a breath. “Yeah, I guess so.” She paused then and could feel the tears collecting at the edges of her eyes. Still, she had to ask. “Do you think we’ll ever see each other again?”

Violet stood silently and Isabella couldn’t tell what was going on behind that expression. However, she did notice a tightening of her grip on the suitcase. “I don’t know. But, should you ever need my services again, I will travel to meet you. I promise.”

Her services. Is that what it would take? Would Isabella simply have to hire Violet every time she wanted to see her? Well, she’d pay any price to make it so. As if something like that would ever be that simple. At least Violet had been honest. “I see. Then, I hope you have a nice trip home and…don’t forget me, ok?”

To help with that request, Isabella took a step forward to close their distance and wrapped Violet in a tight hug. “Because I’ll never forget you.” Besides that admission, what the move really allowed her to do was turn her head and plant a soft kiss on Violet’s cheek. It was all she could muster the courage for and the action brought a light tint of embarrassment out on her own. She followed the peck with another squeeze and then immediately dropped her arms and stepped back.

“Goodbye, Violet.”

“Goodbye, Amy.”

Violet took a step back then but stopped, still holding Isabella’s eyes. It looked as though she might say or do something else but, after a few tense heartbeats, she finally did turn and set off down the path away from the school. Isabella stayed rooted to that spot watching her go, clasping the dress in front of her heart until the blonde hair finally disappeared around a bend.

So, that was it. She was alone now. Three life-changing months come and gone in the blink of an eye. Finally, she felt a tear roll down her cheek as the sorrow began to set in. Even with Violet well and truly gone, she couldn’t bring herself to move from the gate until the older gatekeeper returned and shooed away. 

Isabella walked aimlessly on the grounds then, tears flowing from under her glasses. It was happening again, wasn’t it? She was going to lose another person she cared so much about. At least they could still talk through letters unlike her and Taylor, but not being able to see Violet again was almost too painful to bear. Besides, there was a part of her that feared the letters wouldn’t come or that they wouldn’t continue past a few replies. Violet would be out seeing the world, what could Isabella offer in return? 

Eventually, she grew tired and made her way to a bench in the small garden by the dormitory. The same one she and Violet had stopped at a few weeks ago. She couldn’t go back up to the room yet. Couldn’t face the reality of that lonely cage once more. So, she sat there amongst the blooms and removed her glasses with one hand while trying to wipe away her tears with the sleeve of the other.

“Miss York?”

The voice that cut through the early morning quiet caused Isabella to hastily replace her glasses and look up to greet the newcomer. A few steps down the path she found Ashley standing and watching her with a concerned look on her face. 

“Oh, Miss Lancaster.” Once she realized who it was, Isabella rose and turned to regard the other woman as she approached with clasped hands. Streaks of tears were still visible on her face, but she didn’t make an effort to wipe them away. What was the point? What did it matter now? “I’m sorry I didn’t know you were there.”

“That’s alright, I’m sorry to intrude. Is everything alright?” She followed the question by raising her head and looking around as if searching for something. “Where’s Violet? Shall I go get her?” 

Naturally, this prompted a fresh round of tears to spring forth and Isabella dropped back down slowly before averting her eyes. “Violet left this morning…” 

Hearing this, Ashley’s expression turned sorrowful and she silently moved to the other side of the bench to sit down next to Isabella. “Ah, I see. That explains why you’re upset then. Rightly so, especially considering how close you two were.” 

“What do you mean?” Isabella followed the question by tilting her head and catching Ashley in the corner of her eye.

“Oh, come now. I’m not blind. Rumors and gossip are one thing but I saw how you looked at her.  You two were not simply student and handmaiden. You mean more to each other, right?”

Had it really been that obvious? How many other women at the school picked up on Isabella’s feelings? “That’s not…” She tried to protest while keeping her gaze downcast, but she couldn’t bring herself to deny what she felt. If she couldn’t tell Violet, she wanted to tell someone. Even if that person was Ashley Lancaster, a woman she’d rarely spoken to throughout her time here. 

“I love her…” The confession trickled out, barely above a whisper. However, Isabella raised her head then and took up the brown eyes across from her. “I love her and now she’s gone!” This time, she spoke louder. More forceful. Her words driven by pain more than anything else. However, buried underneath that loss was something else though. Relief? Elation? Perhaps she was just happy to finally say it out loud, even if it wasn’t to Violet.

“I figured as much.” Ashley paused and then took in a breath before bringing up her hand and lightly placing it on Isabella’s back. A kind gesture when she owed Isabella no such thing. “It’s a difficult thing to bear, isn’t it? A love that you know cannot be returned, at least to the extent you want it.” Those words. The way she seemed to get at the core of her frustrations. It was uncanny. “Will you tell me more about what you felt? It will make you feel better,” Ashley continued.

“Why? Why are you being so kind to me? When I showed you nothing but disdain. Surely, you picked up on that too.”

At this, Ashley laughed and shrugged her shoulders slightly. “Yes, I did.” However, the expression quickly waned. “Suffice it to say I understand your pain, at least in this regard. Beyond that, I’ve wanted to be your friend for a while now. Isabella and Ashley, no concern for our families.”

“You have?” Isabella asked in disbelief.

“I have. Would that be okay?” There was a hint of caution in Ashley’s tone but also a little of something else. Hope, perhaps? 

“I guess we could try.” At this point, the kindness Ashley had shown was like a safe port in the brewing storm to come. And Isabella desperately needed that shelter right about now.

“Good. I’ll take that. Now, come on. Let’s go have some tea and you can tell me all about it.” Following the request, or the command, Ashley stood and brushed off her dress. After wiping her eyes, Isabella stood and then followed her from the garden, back toward the dormitory. Had Violet not turned out to be as amazing as she was, Isabella wasn’t sure she would’ve given Ashley the time of day. Let alone follow her anywhere.  However, Isabella had been wrong about the doll, so she could be wrong about Ashley too. Considering how much she dreaded her remaining days here; it would be nice to be wrong again.