The fluorescents are flicking overhead while I sit here and type out this document marked urgent  turnaround and I sigh, this isn't what I had in mind when I started working for the Department of Preternatural Integration, constantly stuck behind a desk copying out files but then again I still prefer it to the ‘actual’ work, that is the work involving actual human well they aren’t human they’re fae and my skin crawls thinking about having meetings with them.

I was unfortunately placed in the least desirable dept, at least to me, the Faerie department affectionately known as the fairy fort if you were being nice, or pixie hollow if you were being condescending. 

I just want to be home in my pajamas with my best friend and roommate but she was probably out exploring the city we now both called home due to it being a Friday night. 

She was much more social than I, so always out  doing something. I mean I get invited every time but I’d rather stay in my room watching cartoons with my plushies than out partying, especially what happened the first and only time I’d tried that, but that’s a story for another time. 

Who am I you might ask? I'm Lovina Marquin and I'm an absolute outcast  and a nobody. Even my birth parents didn’t want me.  I mean I faked through childhood okay until one night blew up my life entirely. My adoptive parents had never been the nurturing type but I like to think I turned out okay I mean at least I didn’t need years of therapy well I probably do need years of therapy but my budget doesn’t allow it, we don’t have the best mental health support services here in the government much less to the most underafforded unit in the department. Besides then theres a chance I might get healthy enough to get a real well paying job, one I wasn’t forced into.

You see I was scouted after one of the worst nights of my life with promises of a full ride to my choice of university with a guaranteed job in preternatural law after graduation but I doubt that was their intentions at all they just wanted a realm jumper to make their fae department look good well jokes on them I've only done it once, well technically twice, it was a return trip that I'm not keen to take again anytime soon, even if I wanted to I don't know how I did it anyway but honestly that's the least of my problems at the moment. 

I'm 26 years old with a dead end job, no family,  a single friend and not even the slightest hint of romance outside my books. No joke your girl hasn’t even been kissed, a social life isn't even on the cards for me much less a relationship it just seems too time consuming and to be honest downright exhausting after the strain of work. Honestly I'm happy with my life. I mean I'm happy with the part of my life that’s devoted to my safe little room with snacks, caffeine and of course lots of plush friends and warm fluffy bedding. The job part? I could do without, I had been working here for over eight years and they forced me into a promotion with no pay upgrade because it looked bad for them, their highly anticipated realm jumper, stuck as a clerk for their whole career apparently didn't go over well with big bosses upstairs so it was either that or Id be cut from the department entirely and as much as I hated it, I needed the job. I was lucky I only paid for half the bills and my own groceries at the apartment, no rent due to Molly owning the apartment, hell I had to convince her to even let me pay for those.

Molly has been the big sister I never had, actually she’s been the only family I’ve never had ever since that day when I was 6 and she was 9, the day a group of older girls at school had heard about my birthmark on my upper thigh and wanted to see it for themselves after hearing from a girl in my class who’d seen me change during dress ups had gleefully shared the information even though I’d begged her not to. My parents had always told me to keep it hidden and I knew they’d be mad if they knew so I couldn’t go to them or the teacher for help. The girls had cornered me I didn't even know who they were, but they knew me,

‘Comeee onn Lovina showww uss’ 

they pleaded in unison leaving me with a feeling of pure fear something told me they were going to see it whether I’d shown them or not. One of the taller girls yanked at my tights trying to tear them while they crowded around that's when a voice yelled out behind them.

“Leave the poor kid alone, look at her don't you think she's scared enough?” 

The tall girl let go and turned to her.

“Why don’t you mind your own business Molly there's a reason no one likes a goodie two shoes like you, we were just having a little fun. You know my little sister says she's got a weird birthmark, says it's shaped like a butterfly and we just wanted to see for ourselves.’ 

 Molly stood up straight with fire in her eyes

“I said that's enough, who cares if she's got a birth mark what's it to you?”

The group had turned around to watch the confrontation and that's when I took my opportunity to run. I ran as fast as my little legs would carry me, out of the school and what felt like forever to the small meadow where they told me I'd been found as a baby, my parents would freak if they had known I'd left school much less gone to the forbidden meadow but I saw no danger in it, I'd snuck off there a lot of would continue to do so for many years, I often went unnoticed around town or at least my parents never acknowledge receiving a call about my whereabouts.

I sat in the roots of a big beautiful tree and just shook and sobbed, so scared of what had just happened but still kept looking up in case I’d been followed even though I was pretty sure no one could see me in my hiding spot. I suddenly froze, my tears catching in my throat then I realised those weren't human footsteps, but teeny pitter patters. A fluffy little pup ran up to me and gently approached, it gently sniffed my hand. I  shakily pated the kind looking dog, it then gently licked my face and curled up in my lap while the tears flowed. I slowly settled and regained my composure and that's when the sweet little dog hopped off out of sight man it was fast. I whispered my thanks to the puppy as it ran off and I hoped I would see it again. After that day Molly started to seek me out and I was in shock that such a cool older girl wanted to be friends with me! The other girls left me alone after that day safety in numbers I guess and soon I was back to being invisible to everyone apart from Molly was soon spent every moment we could together and I was shocked when she agreed to be my best friend and it really has turned out to be a best friends forever thing even when she moved to the city she still stayed in contact so when I needed a place on my birthday when my parents had not so kindly and not so much as a suggestion as a demand that I leave and never come back, she was there. Within an hour she’d sent me a ticket and I’d packed a bag with as many plushes I could stuff, luckily my parents had found them childish so I didn’t have many, and my phone, all I owned that was important to me. I was on my way to the bus station, after presenting my ticket on my phone they put my big bag in the under carriage while I silently apologised to my fabric friends and I was off on the 3 ½ hour journey in the city. I held it together til I saw Molly waiting for me at the station and wrapped me in a big hug and that’s when I lost it.

“I swear I’ll get a job and pay my keep until I find somewhere to live”

“It’s okay Vina, you don’t have to worry about that, let's get your bag and go.”, she said gently as she grabbed my squishy back pack, letting out a giggle ‘Brought all your friends with you too I see?”  I looked at the ground red face and whispered “not all of them I couldn't fit everyone” the guild wracked me and I felt like sobbing all over again. These weren't just toys to me these were my friends and it broke my heart to have to abandon some. 

“Please tell me you at least saved Martha?” I smile a weak smile at that.

“Of course I did I've never been without her” Martha had been my other constant companion in life Id been given her as gift by the people who’d found me is what I’d been told. She was raggedy and old but I loved that little pink unicorn dearly even though she was more grey than pink nowadays.

I sigh and look at the clock realising I’d zoned out again, jumping a little, when I realise it’s 8pm when close of business is 5pm my saving grace is all I have to do is save the file and email it, which I do sending my sincerest apologies and try to contain the knot in my stomach I am going to be in even more trouble tomorrow, well on the bright side they may punish me by extending my no contact period on my tasks as a case manager. I was in paperwork duty after my first and last interview apparently until I gained better interpersonal skills but I say he started it. 

Grabbing my coat and flattening the hem of my long pale pink swing dress I grab my ID and keys and make my way out of the building. I chose this dress because it’s the same pink Martha that makes me happy since I can't take her to work with me. I head out the door into the cold air, thankful my apartment is only a short five minute walk away. Location location location I guess since I dont drive and I don't want to make Molly chauffeur me around. 

I wander to the complex, pressing the number on the elevator as I stand for the ride anxiously waiting to get home and be comfortable, the doors open on my level and I hurriedly grab my key from my pocket. Did I mention this dress has pockets? I rub the soft knee length fabric for a monet grounding myself before reaching for the door I hear the taps of claws on the wooden floors,  I get a flutter of excitement, did I mention I did see that little pup again and they grew to be the sweetest dog with the softest fur. You see I didn't adopt her or anything she adopted me. I quickly unlock the door and the puff ball runs at me. “Hey Molly how are you doing” I giggle as she jumps at me. “I didn't realise you’d be home.”