Olivander’s morning started just as any. He did the same routine everyday though his did differ from others in many ways. Olivander woke up at four am as always and got dressed up and looked at himself in the mirror until six am when he then took a shower and put on his clothes for school.
He always took care to gently rub lotion on the words engraved on his skin from his sister and then would go into the kitchen, eat breakfast, and leave to walk to school at six thirty am. Now, here is where his routine truly differed from others.
His route to school had two detours. The first to a small barely open flower shop. This shop was probably only still running because of his daily routine. At six forty five everyday he entered and bought a bouquet of daffodils from the kind old shop owner who looked older than time but held more beauty than her flowers still. He always complimented her and she even gave him makeup tips some afternoons when he helped her out. He said his goodbyes to Annie; as he’d come to know was her name, and continued to his second detour.
His second detour wasn’t as pleasant though; for him it was the best part of his day. His sister. He carefully approached her grave and placed the Daffodils (his sister's favorite) in front of her grave.
He knelt and as tears formed he whispered “I’m staying strong sis. Like you asked. I’m sorry that I can’t follow through with your whole wish, but I’m trying. I’m being brave. I hope it’s okay for me to be your brave little-” he choked on his words and realized he couldn’t say it. Not to her. Not right now. But he wanted to, so badly. It’s one word he told himself, trying to coax himself into it repeating ‘it’s just one word’ to himself. All he had to say was the one little word… Sister. But he couldn’t. He didn’t want to disappoint her. So he sobbed and said goodbye and left again with the weight of the unspoken words weighing him down and another failed chance to tell her the truth.
-
Em stood hoodie and jeans leaned against the school entrance waiting for him. Her gaze was calculating and judgemental it seemed. She glanced at him and then she lifted her sleeve and looked up and glared at him. “Just ask me next time good gods. ‘Her judgemental stare is frightening’ that’s honestly pathetic. How long have we known each other?” used to this question Olivander replied quickly “four years ma’am” she scoffed and walked up to him.
She looked him up and down and her features became gentle and she murmured “Olivia, hm?” Olivander blushed and backed away “u-um.. I-” “I know girly. We’re best friends and I’m not letting it go.l” she interrupted him ruffling his hair. “Tonight got it. I’ve got a secret to show you and then will dress you up” Em glanced at her bag when she said secret and then returned to Olivia
“I’m gonna use the name and pronouns. You can’t stop me.” Olivia blushed with embarrassment again and knew it was pointless to fight and underneath the fake glare at Em she was thankful to be allowed to be the girl she is. Em unfolded her arms and took Olivia by the elbow and dragged her into hell.
How had they become friends? This gothic, Angelic, princess and Olivia or Olivander simply a pathetic roach in comparison. In Olivia’s eyes their strange friendship seemed impossible. But of course, Olivander is valuable to Em’s research, or… her not-research as she called it.
Em would deny with her life that the words were a blessing, but the government flaunts it as a blessing and a beautiful thing known as “inscriptat” basically inscription tattoo because of course no one seemed to be creative nowadays.
The government wasn’t wrong though. They could be a blessing. If you got zero hate and only love you had kind messages scrawled upon your skin. But as the destructive comments disappear with positive ones, positive ones without emotional ties disappear with destructive comments.
Olivia believed that all in all it was a rather good curse if it truly was a curse. If it were a curse it wouldn’t be as pretty then would it? Or at least that was her take. When a message “disappeared” from Olivia’s skin the message and counter message were etched as if one were dancing around the other and after twenty four hours they were replaced with Daffodils and stars which then faded over another twenty four hours.
The permanent messages are supposedly only good, but for Olivander the message was somewhat painful as reading it made her sisters voice ring in her ears ‘little brother’
Perhaps tonight’s secret and makeover will change things.
Comments (0)
See all