9 Mar 2018, 06:48
A New Lonely Life
The screeching of the train pulling into the station brought her back to the moment. The smell of the hot coals and the fresh steam occupied the station, Lucette nervously swaying on her toes. *This is it.* Today was the day she would leave for Hogwarts. She tugged tighter on her beige overcoat, glancing around at her fellow wizards. It was odd to even think of herself as on the same status as them all. The clamors of families expressing their last goodbyes and the chatter of excited first years rung in her head. But all she was doing was standing there, watching them all in a blur. She didn't choose to go, but Peter had insisted that this was for the better.
Just a few days ago, she had received her acceptance letter. She detested it. She wanted to ignite it. She would never leave. For many days, she tried without success to hide it away, until her brother Peter found it. She still couldn't get the picture of his lit up face when he ran to her, hugging her and words of jubilation pouring out. Her lips pulled and thinned into a light smile as she recalled her final day with him.
"Aren't you excited, Luce? You're finally going! Mother and Big Sister can doubt all they want, but you will be the finest witch ever!" His warm hands grabbed hers, and the two of them twirled, the dust of the attic scattering about. She giggled, following her brother's lead, both illuminated by a soft light coming through a small circular window. She held onto him, before they tumbled over onto their bed, both giggling. Their laughter died down before reality set it: Lucette would be leaving. Peter would be alone. The two of them sat up, scooting next to each other.
"Lucette, when you go to your new school, please don't forget me." Lucette's eyes widened, and she looked at her brother. His happy face was missing, and he biting down on his lower lip. She knew that action too well: he was trying not to cry. Her arms instinctively wrapped around his small body, pulling him closer. Her fingers combed through his hair, an action that always made him content.
"Listen to me, Peter. I will never forget you. Any moment I get, I'll think of you." She cupped his face, making him look at her. He was already crying, and her thumbs worked to wipe his tears. "Promise to stay strong for me, okay? Soon you'll go too, and when we graduate, I'll get us out of here. No more mom. No more Liliana. J-Just, please... Stay strong."
"Okay, Lucette." He smiled sadly, his lips parting into his lopsided smile. His image blurred with the tears that unwillingly sprung forth. They sat there for some time, comforting each other with their embrace. Lucette would never know it was the final time they would. The next morning, her mother sent her off to Diagon Alley and pushed her in the direction of the Hogwarts Express.
Just a few days ago, she had received her acceptance letter. She detested it. She wanted to ignite it. She would never leave. For many days, she tried without success to hide it away, until her brother Peter found it. She still couldn't get the picture of his lit up face when he ran to her, hugging her and words of jubilation pouring out. Her lips pulled and thinned into a light smile as she recalled her final day with him.
"Aren't you excited, Luce? You're finally going! Mother and Big Sister can doubt all they want, but you will be the finest witch ever!" His warm hands grabbed hers, and the two of them twirled, the dust of the attic scattering about. She giggled, following her brother's lead, both illuminated by a soft light coming through a small circular window. She held onto him, before they tumbled over onto their bed, both giggling. Their laughter died down before reality set it: Lucette would be leaving. Peter would be alone. The two of them sat up, scooting next to each other.
"Lucette, when you go to your new school, please don't forget me." Lucette's eyes widened, and she looked at her brother. His happy face was missing, and he biting down on his lower lip. She knew that action too well: he was trying not to cry. Her arms instinctively wrapped around his small body, pulling him closer. Her fingers combed through his hair, an action that always made him content.
"Listen to me, Peter. I will never forget you. Any moment I get, I'll think of you." She cupped his face, making him look at her. He was already crying, and her thumbs worked to wipe his tears. "Promise to stay strong for me, okay? Soon you'll go too, and when we graduate, I'll get us out of here. No more mom. No more Liliana. J-Just, please... Stay strong."
"Okay, Lucette." He smiled sadly, his lips parting into his lopsided smile. His image blurred with the tears that unwillingly sprung forth. They sat there for some time, comforting each other with their embrace. Lucette would never know it was the final time they would. The next morning, her mother sent her off to Diagon Alley and pushed her in the direction of the Hogwarts Express.
Her hands gripped harder on her luggage as the train's intercom disclosed that it would depart from the station shortly. Bringing up her fortitude, her boots started forward, clunking on the floor as she strode through the entryway. With a small ding, the automatic doors clicked shut. *No turning back now.*
Lucette let the atmosphere settle in: the dingy and lively hues, the stuffy smell of the ancient train, and the intense chatters appearing from all sides. She shuddered, but she drove on, dragging her baggage along. She passed by many individuals, characters she would never understand. They were beaming, even laughing. How were they so content? They had to leave behind their families for a foreign world, so how could they even smile? She pressed on, the looks of the surrounding folks registering in her mind as daggers intent on ending her life.
Then came the compartments. It was an introvert's hell: Jam-packed little cabins, full of children shouting to their companions, or even just hollering at new ones. Luce cringed: is this what all adolescents are like? *What a nightmare...* She pressed onward, determined to locate a compartment for herself.
It wasn't simple though. Every single of the cramped compartments had a soul or more, and Lucette grew more disheartened by the second. The mere prospect of having to sit next to someone caused her heart to pound in anxiety, and she wouldn't surrender herself to such torment for a few hours as the train ride went on. But she was running out of time.
To her luck, Lucette was blessed: in a far corner lay an unoccupied compartment. She felt her lips stretch into an elated smile before bounding it. Who cares if it there was a peculiar smell, or that the window decorated a spiderweb of a crack? This empty train compartment equaled the most reassuring thing she had ever seen since she came here.
Putting her baggage against the door to prevent anyone from joining, she collapsed into the seat. She discovered this little haven just in time, for the train heaved forward. As the hissing of the locomotive's whistle filled the outside, she leaned back, glancing out of the window. The little consolation the train terminal granted her was withdrawing from view, her irises accosted by a pristine blue sky, that enticed her to soar. She declined to smile nevertheless. She gritted her teeth, growling words through them. "Hogwarts... Liliana... Here I come..."
To her luck, Lucette was blessed: in a far corner lay an unoccupied compartment. She felt her lips stretch into an elated smile before bounding it. Who cares if it there was a peculiar smell, or that the window decorated a spiderweb of a crack? This empty train compartment equaled the most reassuring thing she had ever seen since she came here.
Putting her baggage against the door to prevent anyone from joining, she collapsed into the seat. She discovered this little haven just in time, for the train heaved forward. As the hissing of the locomotive's whistle filled the outside, she leaned back, glancing out of the window. The little consolation the train terminal granted her was withdrawing from view, her irises accosted by a pristine blue sky, that enticed her to soar. She declined to smile nevertheless. She gritted her teeth, growling words through them. "Hogwarts... Liliana... Here I come..."
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