It was hard to believe their remaining time was nearly at an end. Time had definitely sped up in these past few weeks, even though Isabella wanted nothing more than for it to halt. Or at least to slow its passage so she could enjoy each minute, each second, with Violet. In truth, the increased pace was most likely due to the amount of fun the two managed to get up to as the ball approached. Sure, there was plenty of hard work to do in preparation. Decorations needed to be assembled, the main hall needed to be cleaned, and each girl needed to prep their outfits for the evening. However, Isabella had never enjoyed doing chores as much. 

At least their studies were on hold to allow for the setup and the completion of final details. After a rigorous final round of tests to close out their classes, of course. Naturally, Isabella received top marks across the board. She hadn’t been perfect but Violet’s tutoring ensured that her progress was leaps and bounds above what it would’ve been if Isabella had gone it alone. Speaking of mastery, her dancing had surpassed any of her school work and she could now easily glide across the floor for multiple songs before starting to feel winded. 

It was kind of bittersweet, in a way. These wonderful memories she created would be with her for the rest of her life, but the joy she found in making them also hastened her friend’s departure. Life always had a tradeoff, didn’t it? In the end, would it be worth it? Would knowing Violet and becoming her friend outweigh the pain that would surely come with her departure? Isabella couldn’t answer that now but she had an inkling which way it would go when the time came. 

The day before the ball, Isabella and Violet returned to their room to find a great number of packages waiting for them. All from Isabella’s father, it seemed. And there was one in particular that stood out from the rest.

“This dress is lovely, I’m sure you’ll look wonderful in it,” Violet commented before taking a step closer to where Isabella held the garment up. “Your father made a good choice.” Her observation caused a small smile to creep onto Isabella’s face and she couldn’t wait to hear what Violet would say when she actually wore the thing. Even mention of her father couldn’t dampen the student’s spirits.

“You think so? I’m not so sure. I’ve never worn  anything  like this.” It was beautiful but also intimidating in a way. Like the dress was too good for someone like her. 

“Of course, you will.” Violet came around and lifted her eyes to Isabella’s. “You’ve worked hard and it suits you.”

Isabella hummed, not necessarily in agreement, before moving to the armoire and retrieving a hangar. Was she actually ready? Had these lessons been enough to turn her from an urchin to a lady? One refined enough to wear a dress like this? If she was, it wasn’t the school that had done it. It was Violet. 

Once the dress was placed on a hangar, and stowed away for safekeeping, Isabella turned and walked over to the pile to examine what else might’ve been included. When she spotted Violet’s name, her eyes widened and she quickly grabbed the package to hold it up. “Oh! This is for you, Violet.” 

“It is?” She sounded surprised but came closer to take it anyway. After handing it over, Isabella rushed around to Violet’s side to watch as she read the tag. The gloved hands turned the little slip of paper over to reveal a crude drawing of someone. A man? And he was speaking two words? 

“Having fun?” Isabella narrowed her eyes in confusion while reading them aloud and looked up to her friend. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Violet only shrugged and moved to the bed to lay the large package down so she could work the strings loose. “I believe it’s from a coworker. He’s joking, if I had to guess.”

As she moved, so too did Isabella, coming to stand next to the bed so she could see what was inside. “A joke?” She narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms before regarding Violet with an inquisitive look. “Well, Miss Evergarden, are you having  fun ?”

“Yes. I am having a lot of fun.” Violet paused long enough to smile back before turning and resuming the task at hand. Her answer brought out a small giggle from Isabella but the sight of the white dress that emerged from the package had it abruptly ending. “Wow, look at that!” Violet lifted it up and then stepped back so that they could get a sense of what it looked like.

“It seems the President means for me to attend the ball as well.” 

At first, Isabella didn’t immediately respond to the comment. Her eyes were too busy looking over every inch and imagining what Violet would look like in it. However, she soon roused and matched Violet’s gaze. “It’s a beautiful dress, I know you’ll look great in it.” 

While Violet moved to the armoire to hang it up, Isabella returned to the pile to open another package addressed to her. This time, she pulled out a crimson-red broach that appeared almost identical to the one her friend wore. Except for the color, of course. She turned then and held the piece of jewelry up to the same spot where Violet usually wore hers. “Look, almost twins.” When Violet turned, and her eyes fell upon the broach, she nodded her head in agreement and took a few steps to close the distance between them.  

“Red. Like Taylor’s hair.” As she spoke, Violet brought a hand up to lay her fingers over her own. It was a perfect way to remember the little girl but Isabella doubted very much that her father had chosen it for that reason. It was probably meant to be eye-catching or project power or some other nonsense he’d gotten into his head. Before she got too sentimental though, Isabella put it back in the box and then turned and placed her hands behind her back.

“Violet, you leave the day after the ball, right?”

“That’s correct.”

“Well, now that you have your dress, will you…escort me to the ball?” In addition to the words, Isabella held up her hand, wrist slightly bent, fingers pointed towards Violet. Just like she’d been taught. 

Without any hesitation, Violet stepped forward and took the outstretched hand before nodding. “It would be my honor, Isabella.” 

“Really!?” Hearing the answer sent a surge of excitement coursing through Isabella’s body. So much so that she couldn’t help but leap up into Violet’s arms. Even though she hadn’t been prepared for such a thing, Violet still caught her effortlessly and spun them around, filling the room with their laughter. A moment later, Violet let her down to rest her feet on the floor and Isabella let her head drop forward to rest on the doll’s shoulder.

“Thank you, Violet. That makes me so happy…” The words were low, barely above a whisper as if it was dangerous to let the world know. “You make me so happy.” 

In response, she felt Violet hug her tighter and shift her head more towards Isabella’s crown. “Me too.” Following the words, she gradually eased the embrace until both women separated enough to see each other. “So, let’s have more fun at the ball.”

“Yes, let’s.” Isabella nodded her agreement before letting go, turning, and shutting the doors of the armoire. She sighed her contentment and then moved back to the table to half-heartedly pick over the rest of the mail. It was hard to focus in the wake of an exchange like that, especially with her mind working hard to imagine every scenario that might play out tomorrow. Violet eventually moved to join her and Isabella couldn’t help but glimpse the tag from the package once more. The one with the crude drawing on it. 

“So, are you excited to get back to your friends?” Part of her didn’t even want to know the answer to that question for fear of what it might stir. However, difficult as it may be, Isabella  was  curious and also wanted to be a good friend. 

“Yes,” Violet replied before also looking towards the tag. “This is the longest I’ve been away and I do miss them.”

From the few stories Violet shared with her, they seemed like wonderful people. The kind Isabella would like to meet someday herself. As if that would ever happen. Nevertheless, knowing that Violet had friendly faces to return to helped Isabella relax somewhat. Which was odd, in a way. Not that she thought of herself so highly, it was just that the world could be a lonely place. A painful place. Knowing Violet was going home to a place with supportive people was good. Even if this school, and Isabella’s future home, could not be described as such. 

“I’m sure they all miss you very much. I know I will when you’re gone.” As she spoke, Isabella pulled out a pair of long, white gloves from a small box. For use with the dress, no doubt. 

“Isabella.”

Hearing her name, she turned to see that Violet had since moved to sit on the bed, her hands placed in her lap. “You’ll write to me when I’m gone, won’t you?”

This caused Isabella to stand still for a moment as her brain tried to process the request. It was the first time the two talked about what their friendship might look like once Violet’s assignment was complete and she returned home. Isabella had hoped beyond hope that it wouldn’t simply end and tried to figure out a way to prevent it while lying in bed these past few nights.  

“You…want me to write you letters?” She had to ask, to clarify. Just to make sure she wasn’t hearing the things her mind so desperately wanted to. 

“I do,” Violet replied and accompanied the words with a nod. “I don’t receive any myself. Well, I was given one by my coworkers once when I was going through something difficult. However, there haven’t been any since. It would make me very happy if we could exchange letters.” 

Isabella’s eyes went wide behind her glasses and she began nodding her head vigorously. “Yes! Yes, of course, I will!” This was perfect; if she wasn’t able to see Violet, then at least they continue their friendship in this way. “I’ll write you every day!” 

Her reaction caused Violet to chuckle for a moment before shaking her head. “That might be difficult but no matter how many you write, I will reply to each one. I promise.”

Okay, maybe Violet was right. A letter a day was quite the feat! What would she even write about? Did it matter? “Good point but I want to tell you everything, Violet. What I did that day, what I ate, the future. But most of all,” Isabella paused and put her gloves down on the table, over top of the open box they’d come in. Then she took a few steps towards the bed and sat down next to her friend. “I want to hear about all your adventures. Where you go and who you write for. Well, I don’t know if you can’t tell me that last part but I want to hear it all.” Following the demand, Isabella dropped her eyes towards her feet and nervously tapped the point of her shoes together. “Is that selfish of me?”

“No.” Isabella felt a hand come down on her knee and she looked up to Violet at the touch. “I may not be able to tell you everything but I’ll include as much as I can.”

The answer comforted Isabella, who nodded and smiled softly. “Of course. I will eagerly await each one. Since you travel, I will send them to the postal company for you to read when you return.” At least when Violet was home, sending a letter would be as easy as showing up to work! Another few moments and Isabella’s eyes wandered back to all the mail on the table. “You’ll be able to send yours to the school for a while still. Then to my father’s home when I return.” Of course, she left out the natural progression of what would likely come next, wherever her future husband lived. However, that was hopefully many years, and many letters from now.