Three Things I Forgot About Evelyn

Evelyn was due home any minute from her work trip to Paris with Colette and Francois, a week-long indulgence of all the fineries Paris had to offer plus the biggest fashion extravaganza in all of Europe. I could envision her wandering around wide eyed in her sailor outfit, looking about as out of place in that sea of fashion perfection as possible, but Evelyn wouldn’t care how out of place she was. One of her greatest strengths was how little she worried about whether she looked like she belonged somewhere or not, deep down I envied that part of her. Since she had been back she had helped me build myself back up and without her I wouldn’t have the confidence I did and neither would I be with a guy who finally treated me well.

I wondered how she was going to react to her new room? The only downside was that the furniture for the Sunday chill room had failed to turn up. Only one of the chairs had arrived so far but then again at least she had a blank canvas to work with when she unleashed her creativity to decorate that room for us. Darkness had descended across Ljianstipol and the sound of an approaching car perked me up a little as I checked quickly again to make sure all signs of Jan’s visit the night before were gone. If she even caught one hint of his stay that enormous smug grin would appear and she would mentally blackmail me with that smile into telling her every single detail of his stay.

A deep clunk echoed and signalled that she had just gotten out of Francois' car and as they exchanged good night wishes and thanks for the trip my thoughts shifted. The house had been oddly quiet without Evelyn around, from her excited talks in the morning to the soft and thoughtful chats we had each evening, silence had replaced her sweet tones. Our home hadn’t been this quiet since Evelyn headed back to the forest to collect the sole keepsake memories of her parents. That strange Christmas tree, that odd stuffed cat and the only picture she had of her parents inspired her to make that dangerous journey back through the mountains and into the forest.

Bravery was certainly something that was true of her, I had stood on the Zyvalian mountain range and seen the near vertical path down into the basin far below. Unlike Evelyn I couldn’t develop the courage to even attempt that deadly descent that would have taken me to her home hidden away in the depths of that forest all those months ago. Of course those keepsakes weren’t the only thing that she had brought back with her from the forest, the mysterious woman that she called the queen had brought her back. Almost as if she insisted upon checking that I was going to look after Evelyn and care for her I could never forget the look as she analysed every single thing I did or said in her presence. However the queen was one thing but that lamp I found buried inside her backpack was quite something else. Beautifully made of what looked like precious metals it haunted me as no matter what I tried it just didn’t light? No matter how long I put a flame to that wick it just refused to ignite, there was something very odd about that lamp and I couldn’t fight my eagerness to ask Evelyn all about it.

The gentle closing of my front door followed by soft footsteps echoing round the rooms below caught my attention. “I’m upstairs Evelyn” I called down to her and soft but quick footsteps began to loom ever closer and the distinct drone of suitcase wheels rolling across the floor. Her suitcase was nearly as large as Evelyn and the soft thuds as she ascended the stairs started to make my excitement grow. Excited footsteps echoed down the hall and the rolling of her suitcase increased in speed and tone as she loomed closer. How much I had missed her presence became obvious as I could feel my palms begin to sweat and my spine tingle as each footstep grew louder. “My new room!” she called out loudly and with excitement before flinging her suitcase to freewheel down the hallway to her new room and she stopped dead in her tracks in the doorway. Turning and standing with her hands grasping at her sides and trembling with excitement as she looked at me across the room. Suddenly her excitement erupted upon her face as a huge smile adorned her face and her beautiful green eyes opened wide and she erupted “Fae!”

Without a moment's warning she began to run at me across the floor and I realised that over the last few months I had forgotten three things about Evelyn. The first thing was I had forgotten just how excited she could get as she ran towards me at full pelt with her arms stretched out as wide as she could manage. The second thing was I had forgotten just how fast she could run, especially when she was excited and within seconds she was just a few steps away from me. The final thing was even though she was just 4ft 8 tall and tiny and delicate in every way I had forgotten just how hard she was going to hit me when she hugged me. Right now if she jumped then she would knock me to the floor, even Tony at over 6ft tall had been floored a few times by Evelyn’s run and jump hugs. However if she didn’t jump then her head would hit me straight in the chest and knock the breath clean from my lungs. Wide eyed and with an addictive smile adorning her face I braced myself for the force of her impact and steadied my feet as best I could before she finally hit me.

Slamming straight into my entire body and grasping me as hard as she could as her head hit my chest so hard that it took my breath away. Gasping as she erupted in the chaotic and excited way that only Evelyn could manage. Her mind and mouth accelerated as she talked so quickly and frantically only stopping to either laugh or take an equally excited breath before she began again. While I caught my breath and tried to understand what she was saying I realised that for all the things I had forgotten about her there was one thing that I hadn’t ever forgotten. That sole thing was just how good these almost alien moments felt as every single ounce of Evelyn’s being was projected into demonstrating how close our bond was.

Warmth deep within me began to erupt as I wrapped my arms around my hyperactive little friend and held her as tightly as I could manage. Gently she eased her grasp and just looked up at me with a little tear in her eye and I softly held her head as she smiled sweetly “I missed you Fae” in the softest tone I had ever heard. Leaning my head down to her as she rested her chin against my chest “I missed you too Evelyn” I softly replied as I gently held her. Minutes felt eternal whenever these gracious moments happened with time almost stopping even if just momentarily it was times like these that the bond we had developed was at its most magical.

Standing hugging each other in silence as we found ourselves reunited with our soul-mate before she turned her attention to the sole piece of furniture that now adorned the otherwise empty room.