7 May 2021, 23:14
Goodbyes Aren't Forever
WARNING: THIS THREAD DEALS WITH DEATH AND DEATH OF AN INFANT AS WELL AS A SLIGHT PANIC ATTACK. PLEASE STAY SAFE AND KEEP YOURSELF HEALTHY!
Elizabeth had completely forgotten about the letter she had received in the mail that morning. She had carried around in her bag for most of the day. It was a late spring afternoon. The snow had melted long ago and the grounds were green and lush with flowers and plants of all kinds.
Liz spent the day out on these grounds. It was a Saturday and she had made the most of her free time and the great weather. As she walked back into the castle, saying hello to people she recognized, she immediately remembered the letter. She pulled it out of her bag and examined the back. It was addressed to her with no return address, but it had been delivered by her families owl.
She decided that one of the cozy chairs in the Library would be the best place to read it. She assumed it was probably just updates about her families lives. She quietly crept through the rows in the Library until she found an empty chair.
She set her bag on the ground and climbed into the chair, getting comfortable. She opened the letter, pulling the contents out and began to read.
The ink was smudged in some places, where Oliver's tears had hit the paper.[font=Lucida Console]May 7th, 2021
Dearest Elizabeth,[/font]
Your mother went into labor last night. The baby was not due for another month or two, but her she'd started contractions late in the afternoon. We of course, immediately called the doctor. The doctor was concerned at the early nature of the child.
The labor was long and difficult, your mother spent 14 hours in labor. More doctors were brought in. The baby was born, however he was not breathing. They did everything in their power to revive him, but he was not revivable. Your mother named him Theodore, after your uncle.
Soon after she began to have... issues... and well....I will spare you the details. She left us early this morning. I am so sorry you had to hear this through mail. Your siblings are devastated. I...really don't know what I will do without her. Your mother was everything to me.
I am contacting the school about you leaving for the funeral. Please write back as soon as you see this. However, I need you to focus on your studies. I know it is hard, but I need you to keep your grades up for me Lizzy.
I love you more than you know,
Dad
Liz stared at the parchment. The first time she read it through, she didn't register very much. As she read it for the second time her hands shook and her face was white as a sheet. Her grip on the paper began to tighten as her breathing became labored. She only realized what she was doing to it when a loud ripping sound pulled her from her trance.
She was thankful she was in a seat, or she may have fainted. Tears started to well in her dark eyes. She let out a sob that came straight from her gut. She clasped her hands over her mouth, dropping the letter.
She had just read the end of her life in a letter from her father. Her world had crashed down in one foul swoop. At that she was just a girl sitting in a chair in the Library, eyes flung wide open, tears spilling over her hands which clasped over her mouth.
Last edited by Elizabeth Isaacs on 16 Jun 2021, 23:36, edited 1 time in total.
Be careful who you trust. Salt and Sugar look the same.
8 May 2021, 04:27
Goodbyes Aren't Forever
Cooping herself up in the library was hardly an uncommon thing for the third year. Ever since she'd come to Hogwarts, this had been her haven. Plently of book to read on nearly everything she could hope to want to know, and (usually) plenty of quiet to get her work done. As per her usual routine, Illowy made herself comfortable in one of the arm chairs, her books splayed opened as she scrawled away in her notes, occasionally flipping through pages in her journal and going back again.@Elizabeth Isaacs
That was, until something broke the usual peace of the library. The quivering of breath, the unbridled ripping of paper, and then a painful sob that quickly tore Illowy's attention; as well as probably half the rest of the library. It wasn't difficult to find the source, who was one of the first years in her own house. While Illowy didn't exactly posses a reputation for being the nicest, much less approachable looking, member of her house... she did have a soft place for the first years. They were still new and shiny and mostly untouched by the cruel ways of the world... usually.
The snake quickly stood from her table and hurried over towards the girl, abandoning her thing, "Shhh, shhhh," she hushed softly, taking much more care then usual to keep her tone gentle, "Hey, what's wrong?" Illowy crouched next to the girl's chair, hoping to get something out of the girl before she noticed the ripped letter at the child's feet. Perhaps it was a bit rude to read someone else's letter, but if it helped her figure out what was happening, surely the girl would forgive her. As ghostly eyes scanned over the letter, Illowy could feel the colour drain from her own face, "Merlin..." she muttered.
Turning her attention back to the first year, she tried to at least get her to calm down, not that she could blame the girl for being in hysterics, "You've got t'try to calm down, Elizabeth, okay? Before you make yerself sick." she spoke gingerly, reaching into her pocket to retrieve her handkerchief and making the attempt to mop at some of the girl's tears if she let her, "Take some deep breaths fer me? In through your nose, out through yer mouth." she guided. She wanted to offer the girl some comfort, tell her that it was okay, that she was okay... but in situations like this, it didn't feel right.
I was told I was dangerous. When I asked why, they said, "Because you don't need anyone." That's when I smiled.
16 Jun 2021, 23:09
Goodbyes Aren't Forever
Elizabeth was so out of it she didn't even notice the stares of the other students or the ghost like figure who had come over to see what was wrong. All she could think about was how she would never see her mother again. She had been hurrying to leave during Christmas break and had only given her mother a quick kiss and an annoyed hug as a goodbye. Now she wished she had held onto her mother. She wished she had taken the time to hold her mother tight and let her know how much she cared.
She knew her mother loved her dearly. She knew her mother loved all her children with the fiery love only a mother could have. However, what if her mother hated her? Hated her for rushing off at Christmas? Hated her for her brash personality and loud exclamations of their family's glory? Hated her for not wanting to stay home and have the same life her mother had? As the thoughts raced through her head, her breathing only grew worse. She began to hyperventilate, her face going even paler.
Elizabeth was snapped back to earth by the feeling of something soft on her cheek. Her brown eyes focused on the figure in front of her. Elizabeth almost thought she had died for a moment. She was not expecting to be met by pale blue eyes and long flowing hair that framed a pale face. She stared at the girl, hands slowly falling from her mouth to. Her perfectly manicured fingers gripped the hem of her skirt.
She didn't catch much of what the girl said before she asked Liz to take some breaths. Elizabeth's breathing had come down from her recent hyperventilation, but was still uneven and it felt like her lungs weren't actually receiving the air she was sucking in. Tears still streamed down her pale face, but her pale face began to regain normal color as she listened to the girls advice. Breath in through her nose and out through her mouth.
Despite the air finally reaching her lungs like normal, Liz's stomach was still churning and she felt nauseous. She blubbered out incomprehensible words to the older girl in front of her. Her face screwed up as she let out another heart-wrenching sob. She leaned forwards and closed her eyes, wrapping her arms around her mid-section and just sitting like that.
Finally she managed to say something, "I-I'm sorry t-t-to bother you...I'll b-be f-fine."She didn't want to burden another with her own problems. This girl should just leave and try to have a better day than Liz was having. The fact that Liz had been so loud that half the library was staring at her finally settled in. She could feel the eyes on her and it embarrassed her immensely.
She stayed in her fetal position, hoping the girl would leave so that she wouldn't have to keep being a bother. She opened her eyes slowly and raised them to peer up at the girl, waiting for her to go.
@Illowy Magnard
Be careful who you trust. Salt and Sugar look the same.
18 Jun 2021, 05:14
Goodbyes Aren't Forever
Illowy did her best to try to comfort the girl as she tried to calm herself, once in a while silently shooing off an approaching or gawking student. After all, the last thing the poor lass needed was a crowd, and luckily Illowy was well practiced in looks that could kill, warding off most who tried to approach. There was a small twinge of nerves when the first year did look up at her for a moment, and Illowy half expected a worse reaction; first years didn't exactly have the best reactions seeing her up close for the first time. Beyond her high contrasting features, Illowy had inky black veins that crawled over her collarbone and shoulder, up her neck and across her face, slightly marring what would have been the promising face of a girl who'd grow to be quite a beauty someday.@Elizabeth Isaacs
When the rejection didn't come, Illowy continued to try to calm the child, resting a thin hand on the girl's back as the other holding the handkerchief kept gently dabbing at her wet face when she could. As Elizabeth tried following the older girl's direction, some colour came back to her face, then tried uttering some sob-filled words that made no sense; though Illowy still nodded as though she understood, at least trying to make the other feel heard as she doubled herself over.
"Yer not bein' a bother." she assured softly, not moving from her place. Sure that statement probably wasn't exactly true... not with the scene just made, but if she could get the outburst a bit more under control, at least until Elizabeth was back in the sanctuary of the Common Room, it would be fine and the other students would go back to whatever they'd been doing, "Yer a Slytherin now, an' we look after each other." the brunette offered a small smile, wiping again at the girl's cheek, "Now then, sit up. Keep yer chest open so you can get some good breaths in. You'll make yourself sick folded over like that."
I was told I was dangerous. When I asked why, they said, "Because you don't need anyone." That's when I smiled.
16 Jul 2021, 09:00
Goodbyes Aren't Forever
The girl didn't leave. She didn't abandon Liz. Instead she reassured Liz that she wasn't bothering anyone and that Slytherin's stick together and that she should sit up so that she could breathe better. Liz took her advice, as the girl seemed a bit older than her and Liz was not really in the fighting mood right now for obvious reasons.
Liz took deep breaths, trying not to focus too much on the sadness boiling in her stomach and the dread of attending her mother's funeral. Liz in fact didn't want to go. She wanted to stay here at Hogwarts and pretend nothing ever happened. If she was here she could pretend that her mother would be waiting to greet her when she got off the train with the ginger cookies she had promised Liz as a reward for completing her first year. Liz could pretend everything was normal for a little while longer.
The blonde girl took some more breaths and took the handkerchief from the older girl and dabbed at her eyes herself. She continued to sniffle and no matter what she tried, she couldn't stop the tears. They considerably slowed down, but she was in one of those states where the tears just kept coming, no matter what. She twisted the handkerchief around in her hands and stared at the other girl.
"I-I'm g-g-g-", she sighed loudly and took a few more breaths before reattempting talking, "I'm guessing you read the l-letter." she said softly, her voice dry from sobbing. She sniffled again, nose starting to run. She looked around, trying to find anything to wipe her nose on. "Sorry...I'm disgusting."
Her long pale blonde hair had fallen loose from it's simple pull-back style. She tucked some wet strands behind her ear and finally got a good look at the girl. She was not frightened by her, but Liz hadn't ever been the one to scare easily, instead she was mildly intrigued. She studied Illowy which seemed to calm her down enough to stop the tears.
Realizing she was being quite rude, Liz lowered her eyes back down to her skirt. She wiped the remaining tears from her eyes and was only left to sniffle gently. She took in some more shaky deep breaths, trying to calm the rumbling of nausea in her stomach. It was the only thing that hadn't gone away and Liz hated throwing up, so it was not good that it was still lingering.
@Illowy Magnard
Sorry for the wait!!! P.S. Liz's Ability is Fearless.
Be careful who you trust. Salt and Sugar look the same.
22 Jul 2021, 00:40
Goodbyes Aren't Forever
Illowy wasn't really the comforting type. It never had been her strong suit. Even with her own teammate in dueling, she was fairly certain she'd made the poor girl more nervous and scared instead of giving her an actual pep talk. Part of her blamed her mother; the woman was the same way. Her heart was in the right place, but her words and instruction often lacked tenderness and tact. Her aunt was the tactful, emotional one; and right about now that was who Illowy was trying to mirror in her behavior towards the heart broken child.@Elizabeth Isaacs
When the girl straighter up a little, and asked in her trembling voice if she'd read the letter, Illowy nodded, "I didn't mean to pry. Its just easier t'know how to help when ye know what's happened." she tried to explain, hoping the girl wouldn't be upset about it. The last thing Illowy had wanted to do was accidently put her foot in her mouth and make the situation worse.
Elizabeth sniffled and apologized for 'being disgusting', the older girl simply redirected her to the soggy handkerchief, "Yer fine to blow yer nose in it. That's what a handkerchief is for. It can always be cleaned." she assured.
The child's eyes seemed to settle on Illowy's marks as the best distraction to calm herself. As terribly uncomfortable as it made her feel, Illowy feigned like she didn't notice, taking care that not a hint of discomfort graced her features or body language. If it got the girl to calm down, she could deal with it. However, when the child seemed to finally catch the rude behavior and look away, Illowy offer a small smile, "Don't worry. It isn't catching." she remarked about her scars. She never expected the younger students to know or understand, especially the ones that came from a more muggle than wizard background. Which this girl came from, she wasn't entirely sure, but it didn't make much difference to her.
I was told I was dangerous. When I asked why, they said, "Because you don't need anyone." That's when I smiled.