Violet sat typing up her latest assignment but soon stopped and glanced at the door of the doll’s office. Unbeknownst to her, Cattleya and Iris observed this little ritual repeat every few minutes for the last hour or so from their seats inside Cattleya’s workspace. So much so that they had trouble focusing on their own work. This latest time though, a smile spread on Cattleya’s lips and she couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow and clear her throat. 

“Expecting something, Violet?”

At hearing her name, Violet shifted her eyes from the door to where the older woman sat. “Yes. This is usually the time the mail room will bring a letter by if there is one for me today.”

Cattleya nodded in understanding and her smile grew larger following the answer. “I see, so that’s why you are at the table by the door. It’s been a little while, right? Since the last one.”

“A few more days than normal but Isabella was traveling home. Perhaps it takes longer from her new residence?”

“Perhaps,” Cattleya readily agreed. “But don’t worry, I’m sure it will come.”  

Violet nodded again and tried not to let herself get too restless; however, it was getting harder each time a letter took longer than normal to arrive. Inevitably, times like this would come. Delays in their correspondence due to something or other outside of their control. Mercifully, the drought appeared to have ended because an older gentleman with a bushy grey beard knocked and then stuck his head into the office. 

“Good afternoon, ladies. I have a letter for Violet,” he said before producing an envelope. As he came through the door his eyes quickly found Violet where she sat. And, hearing it was for her, she quickly stood and closed the distance. 

“Thank you,” Violet said once she reached out and had the letter in hand. 

“Of course, Miss Violet. You enjoy that.” The man followed his words by bringing up a hand and tipping his cap before turning and making his way out of their office. Of course, he made sure to give Cattleya and Iris each a wave as he passed before finally slipping out of the door for good. Violet wasted no time turning and heading for the privacy of her cubicle, leaving Cattleya and Iris to exchange knowing glances before getting back to work. Or something close to that.

The first thing Violet noted on the envelope was Amy’s new address. Good, she would be able to respond quickly now that she had it. Next, she sat and opened it up, withdrawing the letter from inside. She was surprised to find that it had been written using a typewriter instead of handwritten like they had been thus far. It did make sense that someone as wealthy as Mr. York could afford such a thing. Violet only hoped it hadn’t been too difficult to use but obviously, Amy figured it out. Knowing she used a typewriter too brought a smile to Violet’s face, which only grew once she started reading. 

However, not long after she began, her smile gradually began to shrink until it disappeared altogether. Violet almost couldn’t believe what she was reading and she had to do so a second time just to make sure. By the time she was done, tears had started to silently flow from the corners of her eyes and she eventually dropped the paper to the table altogether.

“So, is Isabella doing alright?” She heard Cattleya’s voice coming around the corner before Violet saw the woman appear in her peripheral vision. “Violet, what’s wrong?” The jovial tone had been replaced with one filled with concern and Cattleya moved to her side before resting a hand on her shoulder.  

Violet only shook her head for a moment before indicating the letter with a hand. “It seems Isabella is engaged.”

“Oh…” Cattleya squeezed her shoulder and then moved to rub Violet’s back. “Oh, Violet. Are you alright?”

Violet continued to stare down at the letter but soon started to shake her head again. Slowly, almost barely perceptively, at first. But it soon became more vigorous and Violet stood from the table, turned to her friend, and wrapped her arms around her neck. The tears really started to flow then, along with sniffles and gasps that indicated a person was really letting go.

Of course, Cattleya responded by doing the same, wrapping her arms around the young woman before bringing up a hand to stroke her hair. “It’s alright, Violet. It’s okay…let it out…” The increase in intensity also made its way to Iris’ ears and the other Doll popped her head above the cubicle, only for the older woman to mouth one word.

Claudia.

Iris nodded and quickly slipped away leaving the two locked in an embrace as Violet’s sadness threatened to overwhelm her completely. For the next few minutes, she didn’t speak. Couldn’t speak. Not only because she didn’t know what to say but because it would’ve been futile in her state. It wasn’t until President Hodgins appeared at the entrance of the cubicle that Violet tried to pull herself together enough to get any words out. However, before she could, the big man just walked forward and wrapped both of them in a hug, pulling the pair closer to him. He knew even less than Cattleya but he was here anyway, ready to comfort her like he always had.

Violet didn’t know how long the three of them stayed like that, wrapped in a collective embrace. Finally though, Violet managed to calm herself enough to clear her throat. “Isabella is engaged.” Her voice was raspy and the words came out broken but she forced herself to continue anyway. “The wedding is in the spring…”

She felt President Hodgins, and then Cattleya, pull back slightly, both with their own looks of sadness plain on their faces. “I see.” President Hodgins responded. “I’m sure that’s coming as a shock.”

Violet nodded and dropped her head, trying to calm her mind enough to form coherent thoughts. “I should be happy for her, shouldn’t I?”

“Well, is Isabella happy about this?” Cattleya asked.

“No, she’s not.”

“Then it’s natural you’d be upset for your friend.” President Hodgins added.

“That’s true, but it’s more.”

“More?”

“If she was happy, I would still be upset…” Violet was ashamed to admit it but she couldn’t help the feeling that had taken root inside her.

“You would? Why is that?” Cattleya asked.

Violet opened her mouth to answer but closed it only a moment later. Her bottom lip quivered as she tried to string enough words together to explain what she felt. What was wrong with her? Why was she like this?

“It’s okay, you can tell us in your own time.” Cattleya’s voice was soft as she spoke and her hand began to gently rub Violet’s upper arm.

“Because…that means she’ll be spending time with another person. She’ll be close with someone else!” Violet’s answer came abruptly and forcefully, shocking even herself. And why was that so bad? Why did that make Violet so distraught?

“And I want that,” she finally continued, her voice drawing more strength with each word. “I want to be with her, want to share her room and her bed, want to wash her hair, to comfort her when she has her fits. To hear her laugh and cheer her up when she misses her sister.”

Some of the items on that list may have come as a shock to both her friends judging by the looks on their faces, especially President Hodgins. However, they both nodded as Violet continued to wrestle with her feelings and where they took her.

“I miss her so much because…” Violet let her hands drop to her sides and balled them into fists. “Because…” Her head began to shake subtly again and she brought one hand up to wipe her eyes with a sleeve. “Because I love her.” She really did, didn’t she? Loved Amy so damn much that it hurt and drove her to tears.

Violet looked up and found that both of them were smiling softly, almost like they had been waiting for her to say it. “I love her and I don’t want to lose her,” she admitted. That realization made her whole body feel like it was going to deflate and her mind reeled from the realization of it. How long had it been now? That she felt this way…

“Yes, Violet. I think we suspected as much. Here, sit down.” Cattleya gestured back to the seat and gently encouraged her to sit. Once she did, both she and President Hodgins sat in the other chairs around the table.

“You could tell?” Violet looked back and forth from each of them and they also took a second to share a look before nodding in sync.

“Well, we didn’t know for sure. However, I think we could both read the signs. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve seen many people run for a letter from just anyone.” Cattleya had a point and as Violet examined the last few months, it seemed obvious. Like she could look back and see the whole picture now that she knew what she was looking at. Of course, this didn’t do anything to alleviate the pain in her chest. Honestly, it only made it worse. Evidenced by how a fresh stream of tears appeared in her eyes.

“What do I do?” Violet didn’t ask anyone in particular, it was as much for herself as for the other two. Isabella was getting married and that was that, right?

The question caused another momentary glance between Cattleya and President Hodgins, who even shifted in his seat. “Well, Violet. What do you want to do?” President Hodgins followed his question by leaning forward and resting his arms on the table.

“I…don’t know…” For the first time in a long time, Violet felt completely lost. Unable to see the path forward.

“And that’s okay,” Cattleya interjected. “You don’t have to know right now. Right now, you can just be upset, Violet. That’s perfectly natural and when the time comes…” Cattleya paused to reach over and grab President Hodgin’s hand before doing the same to Violet with her other. “Whatever you want to do, Claudia and I will be there to support you, even if it’s nothing. However, can I make a suggestion?”

Violet looked up then and nodded, a little relieved that she potentially had some first step. Some way forward.

“Write her. Tell her you’re here for her and provide her that comfort. Because it sounds like she may be just as upset by this and because I know you want to and that’s okay.”

Violet looked back down at the letter then and nodded before bringing her free hand over to gather it. “Yes, I want to write her. I want to be there for her.” The question of what to do about her feelings didn’t need to be figured out right this second. If there was anything to be done, in the end.

Dear Violet,

I’m so happy to be writing you right now, I need it now more than ever. I originally wrote you something else on the way home but it feels silly to send it. Don’t worry, it was a pleasant enough trip even if it feels weird to be away from school. Away from the room we shared. It makes me feel uneasy though, because now I can’t imagine you in my room or walking along the path to school or eating a meal. You’re only here in my memories now, and on this paper, of course.

It seems my life has only gotten worse since that day you left. Slowly at first, but now I’m home and so is my father. At dinner last night he informed me that I am to be married in the spring. I don’t even know the name of the person and it doesn’t matter. I don’t want to marry him; I don’t want to marry any of them. I hate them and I hate my father.

I would give up almost anything to turn around and get back on that train. To go back to our room and just hide away from the world together. Can’t we, Violet? Please tell me we can. I miss you so much.

Yours,

Amy