reminiscences of last summer
| xxx |
As June rolled around, so came pride month. In a nearby little town, that the Littoreus’ would often visit to shop and socialise, every year there’d be celebrations during pride month. A small gathering, no more than a few dozen people, it all took place in the town hall. Nevertheless, it was a cozy and fun evening, with lots of games, laughing and friendships forming. The pure-blood family would join the town in celebrating queerness, with the purpose of finding some friends and chatting to other seamen. The Littoreus’ kids would get the chance to have fun with some other townsfolk children, as back at their family’s beach it was only them five.
This year was no different. The family once again prepared to go there for the evening. It was also Mary’s little brother Dominic’s first pride celebration, as he was only a newborn when the family went last year. With the little boy’s hand in hers, Mary excitedly led him to the town hall, where there were already people gathering at the entrance. The rest of the family followed behind.
As they entered the place, calm music and chatter hit their ears. The lights were dim and warm, there were people dancing, some were chatting by the tables, drinking or snacking. People of all backgrounds and ages gathered there, everyone’s faces were lit up with smiles, it looked like the celebration was going great. Everything felt peaceful and soon the family settled in: the younger kids ran to the dance floor with a couple of newfound friends, the parents reserved a table and grabbed each a glass of kombucha. Mary wandered around with a glass of kombucha in her hand too, but she didn’t feel like talking or playing – which was unlike her. But she’d been drawn to silence that evening and so she wandered around the hall, listening to the music. At some point she left to get some fresh air and then came back inside again. Her mind was filled with thoughts and memories that seemed to require processing on that very evening.
Recollections of last year’s summer filled her mind to the brim. She had been in summer camp last year. It was a summer camp for wizarding children – two weeks of adventures, games, activities and friends. Everything an active and social child like Mary needed, instead of being stranded on a beach, with no one else for company except her family, and their family friends that came and went occasionally. The camp was great, in fact even better, after on the second day she made friends with a girl named Sofija. Sofija was from Koldovstoretz, and barely spoke any English. Though, because Mary’s maternal grandparents were from Belarus, it meant she’d gotten familiarized with some Russian terms, and they came in hand when conversing with Sofija.
Sofija was extraordinary, or at least in Mary’s eyes she was. Sofija was intelligent and mature. Despite them being the same age Sofija didn’t fool around or stupidly march into danger like Mary did. Sofija was down to earth, thoughtful, and practical. In fact, that made her all the more interesting to the young Ms Littoreus. Surprisingly, their personalities clashed perfectly well together, and after they’d combined their wits and bravery in a game of broom racing over obstacles, they became inseparable. Best friends, and an unlikely duo, they were called among other campers over the span of the few weeks they spent there. Though something kept bugging Mary in her mind, because to her it was a little more than just friendship. Because every time Sofija and her would spend time together, whether it be taking a walk by the pond, running off into the woods secretly, or hiding a tent mate’s stuff, Mary always felt the need to impress. Around Sofija she wasn’t her usual careless self. No – she cared about how she looked, what she said and what Sofija thought of her.
One night, she remembered, the girls were laying in Mary’s tent. Sofija was reading some book, and Mary just watched her, for once in her life – quietly. It was a strange feeling that arose in Mary’s chest, that moment when she registered the face she was looking at and the person that Sofija was. An angel, though Mary in that moment, an angel sitting in front of me.
On the last day of the summer camp Mary looked at Sofija for a long time. She looked at her during breakfast, while they were packing, while they were saying goodbye. It was a longing look, because Mary knew they’d probably never see or talk to each other again. They lived so far away, no owl could fly from Russia to Scotland, and yet some naive burning light of hope remained in her chest when she hugged Sofija for the last time.
Now, thinking about it, a lump seemed to form in her throat. She didn’t know why it appeared, or why she was even thinking about some girl she’d barely known for two weeks during summer. But for some reason she was. Was it ever more than a friendship between them? If so, what was it? A crush? …No way. Mary assumed she just wanted to spend more time with Sofija. Sofija was so sensible and grounded, maybe Mary could’ve learned something from her… But that was the only reason, she was sure, the girl now reminisced about that summer, along with a pang of disappointment in her chest.
She was curious what Sofija was doing in Russia now? Was she also standing in a room full of love and warmth, yet feeling kind of lonely. Was she thinking about Mary, or had she long forgotten Mary’s name and moved on with her life?
| xxx | @solo ; mentioning@solo ; interacting; ooc notes |
STA 5 | EVA 4 | STR 8 | WIS 7 | ARC 6 | ACC 5
Prodigal Flying Learner