#as for deedee's year it's kinda fuzzy actually... | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

peace-coast-island · 7 years

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#ChoicesCreates: "That was fun, let's do it again sometime!"

Title: Sillage (The Royal Romance) Summary: Sillage - the scent that lingers in air, the trail left in water, the impression made in space after something or someone has been and gone. Enid Zuberi (MC) recalls some of the fun times she had with her friend Sera and wishes they had more time together. Companion to Quaintrelle and Mizpah.

@hollyashton @zigisbisexual

Earlier today I passed by the old playground across what used to be Angel’s Bakery. Remember how we’d hang out there after school on Fridays? You’d order cronuts, I’d get cream puffs, and Ollie would have waffles. On days when we didn’t have a lot of homework on the weekend we stayed until five and hung out on the playground. I wonder if I can find the tree we carved our names on. That is, if I can remember where it is.

Now the playground and bakery looks like something out of an old black and white movie. It’s sort of a strange way to put it, I know. When I stepped into the playground, it was like I was in another world. Not something to explore though, it felt kind of sad, as in that place was in its own bubble. never to be disturbed by the outside. What once felt so familiar and warm now feels foreign and almost hostile. The worst part is, when I tried to picture us running around in the playground, all I could see is the rusted playground equipment covered in dirt and leaves, making creaking noises when the wind blew.

Not to mention across the street there’s no longer a trace of Angel’s Bakery but instead a boarded up building that looks like it’s going to fall apart any minute. This part of the street is basically dead. There’s no one, nothing around here for blocks and blocks, only emptiness.

Why didn’t we ever come back? Maybe we did one last time, I probably forgot. Did we know that the bakery and other businesses over there were closing? What ever happened to “One more time, for old time’s sake?”. Looking back, maybe we could have done something special when we found out. But instead we let it be forgotten and carried on with our lives.

There’s no use in trying to retrieve memories that are lost to time, we know how hard and painful that is. But still, it hurts to forget something that once meant a lot. I’m afraid of waking up one day and not remembering things like the sound of your voice or how graceful you look in the wind when you’re sailing. Hell, I can’t even remember when was the last time we were there before it became abandoned. Was it after our sixth grade graduation? Earlier? Later?

When did we get so old, Sera?

I spent the weekend in Eden Villa visiting Ollie and helping Deedee move into her dorm. Hard to believe that it’s her last year at Eagle University. She’s been so busy lately that it seems like forever since we last saw each other. So it was a nice surprise when she called me and Ollie up.

After decorating her dorm, we had lunch at Villa Downtown Cafe. I thought the place looked familiar. The wall was decorated with all kinds of clocks, and then I saw one that caught my eye. It looked like a diorama except as a clock. Soft sandy yellows and browns mixed with beachy and ocean blues. In the shadows stood silhouettes of a sail and three small figures waving to the horizon. From the top hung small birds that swayed gently. The way the clock was integrated into the scenery was done only in a way that Sera Castiglioni could do it. Then I knew why that cafe seemed so familiar.

Five years ago, we visited that cafe, back when Ollie was starting Harvard. It was during Labor Day weekend and we wanted to surprise Ollie and celebrate his first week of college. At your suggestion we took a train to Eden to meet up with you. The first place we stopped by was Villa Downtown, a timeless cafe, kinda funny since the walls are full of clocks. I don’t remember much about the cafe but we had a great time around the villa. You always make a great tour guide, showing off all kinds of places and keeping us on our feet. Walking around Eden just doesn’t feel the same without you.

When I walked in the cafe for the first time, I was taken back by all the clocks decorating the walls. Who knew that clocks can be designed in so many ways? While we were waiting for our food I noticed a flyer for a clock designing contest. Ollie and I were surprised to find out that the cafe had did something like this every year and shocked that you didn’t think you were good enough to enter. It took a lot of poking and prodding but I finally convinced you to enter the contest. Told ya you’d win!

Ollie, Deedee, and I visited the beach, the film museum, and saw a show at the theater. Eden has changed so much since that visit five years ago. On our way to the beach we passed by the art museum, which was one of your favorite places in the world. I almost didn’t recognize it until Ollie pointed it out. From the outside, the museum has doubled in size. I can’t imagine how the inside looks but I bet it’s amazing. I think you mentioned that there was talk about renovating the place.

The beach was nice. It was a bit cloudy and cold so we didn’t go in the water. I took a walk and picked up some shells. I still have the ones from our last outing in my seashell box. It’s been a long time since I added to my collection. From what I can remember, not a lot has changed about the beach.

While going through my seashell box, I found a sand dollar necklace you made for me when Ollie and I visited. On our last night at Eden we spent the night at the beach where we built a fire and watched the stars. You bought your guitar and we sang a bunch of songs. After that you led us to your favorite diving spot, where earth meets sky, as you put it. We danced until dawn before heading back to the train station.

Before hopping on the train you said, “That was fun, let’s do it again sometime!” Your words never left my mind since I got off the train. Then I saw the necklace and everything came flooding back to me. We never did a follow up to that adventure, did we?

Even after two years things like this still gets to me.

Guess who has two thumbs and nine bandaged fingers? For the past two days I made over fifty plushies for the Children’s Hospital Summer Fair. Not bad for someone who hasn’t sewn anything for a while. They’re nothing like your masterpieces but then what good would it be if I copied yours? I’m pretty happy with how mine turned out and they were a hit with the kids. By the end of the day, forty-nine of them were sold. I’m keeping the last one as a souvenir.

The fair was pretty fun, I had a great time helping out. I’ll admit that I wasn’t sure if I wanted to participate or not. I know I said that I’d keep the tradition going after you were gone but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. And then the year after that a lot of things were going on that summer so I lost track of time. Now here I am two years later, back at the park hosting games and selling plushies.

While I was making plushies, all I could think about was you. Remember how much fun we had cutting up fuzzy socks, filling them up with stuffing, and sewing on details? Doing it alone was actually kind of fun, it’s been a while since I had a day to myself. Working double shifts is not my favorite thing but hey, you do what you gotta do. At least I’m getting paid, plus extra days off so it’s a win-lose thing. There’s something about art that’s so fascinating. Turning something like a sock into a cute kitten or puppy, it always amazes me. I guess that’s why I always look up to you a lot, Sera, because you are an artist. I never realized I forgot how much I enjoyed making these little plushies. Or how a child’s eyes lights up when they get to take one home.

While I was at the booth, I saw one little girl that reminded me of you. She was full of energy and a natural leader. For an eight year old she was beyond her years, walking around with her younger siblings and making sure that no one felt left you. She asked her mom for some money so she could buy five plushies, two for her brother and sister, one for a boy in a wheelchair who lost his leg from cancer, and one for a girl who’s going into isolation soon to prepare for a bone marrow transplant. Jenny was her name, a lymphoma patient and a true trooper. She spent a few weeks in the hospital for an infection and now she’s back home and in remission. The day of the fair was the first time she went out since she was admitted. You always said the sunshine sped up your recovery, I bet Jenny’s the same too.

I’ll never forget how the little boy and girl looked when Jenny surprised them with a plushie. With a simple gesture like that, Jenny brightened up their day. Remember how you’d do the same when we volunteered? You’d see a kid sitting alone watching everyone else run around, wishing that they could do the same, and you’d come with a plushie and play with them, bringing a smile on their weary faces. I guess part of the reason why I didn’t want to participate was because I knew I wouldn’t be able to cheer someone up like that. You always had a way with people, Sera, the way your optimism can make the best out of the bleak. I was afraid because I couldn’t fill in your shoes. Then I met Jenny and I realized that there was no point in trying to follow your footsteps because you always ran barefoot in all directions. You’re one of a kind, Sera, and there will never be anyone like you. So it’s about time I stop trying to fill in the gaps with what ifs and if onlys.

Sorry for taking so long to do this. I could go on thinking about that summer three years ago, wondering if we could have known that it was going to be our last time making plushies together. But there’s no point in regretting the things we didn’t have time to do, or else we’d be wasting even more time! At the end of the fair three years ago, a nurse asked us if we were coming back next year to do it again. We both excitedly said yes. But we never did.

Three years later, Jenny went up to me and asked if I was volunteering again next year. I smiled and told her I’ll be back next summer with more plushies, which made her and the other kids very happy.

And I’ll hold myself to that promise - it’s right here in writing!

#ChoicesCreates #choices #playchoices #The Royal Romance #headcanon ramble #Enid Zuberi #i should probably call these something like letters to sera idk #more letters from enid to sera #this was originally a five times one time type of story but it changed #i didn't expect enid's entries to be a bit lengthier than usual in the other 2 there were 4 entries #i only did three since all three of them were a bit long so if i stuck to my original idea of 5 things plus 1 then it'll be really long #plus i couldn't come up with enough ideas without making it drag on #i didn't expect to make a series out of enid and sera it's actually pretty fun #i'd like to think she's still writing to sera while the events of trr is going on #maybe i'll do something on that if inspiration strikes

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