Flora wandered the streets aimlessly. She didn’t have any friends and spent most of her time outside -when she wasn’t at school- to avoid arguing with her mother. She knew her mum loved her, but it didn’t feel like it often. Her mother’s attention was mostly on her brother nowadays due to his rising temper and growing impatience. She didn’t blame her mother for not paying much attention to her because she knew she was stressed enough with Alfred and didn’t need Flora’s problems too.
Flora hadn’t been paying attention to where she was wandering and looked up to see a familiar brown door. You can come again anytime. Flora reached for the doorknob before she could stop herself. A chime welcomed her in, one she must have not noticed the first time, too absorbed by the many wonders in the room. She craned her neck up to see the familiar night sky again. She smiled, as much as she hated to admit it, she was happy to be here again.
She noticed a bookshelf she didn’t see last time and wandered towards it. She stroked her hand along the cover before pulling out an enticing red book. She dragged her fingers along the etched cover and read the title aloud. Infinite lives. Flora wondered what the story could be about when she felt a brush against her neck. She turned her head slightly and noticed a small blue butterfly on her shoulder.
“Cute isn’t he,” a voice whispered. Flora turned her head to her right and saw two very recognisable eyes studying her own.
She jumped back and gasped. The crazy woman’s eyes lit up, and she let out her ebullient laugh.
“Oh, I wish you could see your face right now,” she giggled, then her eyes brightened even more, “Wait you can!” she ran away into another room Flora hadn’t noticed.
Unsure what to do Flora looked at the book she was still holding. Infinite lives. Flora had always wished she could live as someone else; someone with friends and a family that always noticed them. She sighed, maybe the woman would let her borrow it. No, are you crazy why would she do that. Flora shook her head and froze when she heard a thundering crash. She ran towards the room the woman disappeared into.
Flora was surprised by a shimmering mirror in her face. She saw her bloodshot eyes and black curls coming loose from the bun she had done in a rush that morning. Her cheeks went pink realising what a mess she had been all day. She tried to fix her hair using the reflection when the woman pulled it back and giggled.
“I can do your hair for you if you’d like,” The woman asked, the gentleness in her voice could have made the grumpiest man alive smile. Flora felt an awkward smile grow onto her face.
“I’d like that,” she answered and the woman’s face twisted into a pleasant grin. She looked down and saw the book in Flora’s and her eyes twinkled briefly.
“Interesting choice,” she decided, “Very interesting.”
Flora was going to ask why but before she could the woman tossed the book out of her hands and pulled her to a pile of cushions under the grand tree. She pushed Flora down and sat behind her. She glided her hands through Flora’s curls and started humming a sweet little melody that could have led thousands of men to their deaths.
“What’s your name?” Flora asked politely. The question had been running round her head ever since they first met. The woman began to chuckle.
“Of course, we never did introductions did we,” She grabbed Flora by the shoulders and turned her, so they were eye to eye and reached her arm out.
“I’m Esmeralda but you may call me Meralda,” she declared.
“Why not Esme,” queried Flora.
“Why not Meralda.”
“True I suppose, I’m Flora Evergreen,” Flora accepted Meralda’s hand.
“Nice to meet you Flora,” Meralda accentuated her name as if she were evaluating the taste of it in her mouth.
Meralda turned her back around and started to plait Flora’s hair. Flora wondered if this is what it felt like to have friends. If it was, she was really missing out. Meralda continued her humming and Flora felt like she was going to fall asleep.
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