The Lost Legacy

Chapter 1: Tête-à-Tête

"I think I'm falling in love with you."
"Always."
"I would never-"
"If I ever court someone, it is going to be you, Sophie."
"And I cannot wait to do it."
"That, Sophie, is supposed to bring about peace."
"You have a charm around that."
"It's going to be hard with you staring at me like that."
"You'll always be with me."
"Sophie!"

"Sophie! Sophie!" The teenager shook the shoulders of the woman lying on the floor who was hugging themself to sleep. The woman was slowly seeing the most important person in her life fade away from their eyes when one final shake broke her forever. "Sophie, wake up!"

Sophie sat up straight, gasping. Her eyes were slowly opening from the stinging pain that were brought by the lack of sleep that she had been experiencing again. She looked around her and saw the girl wearing the gray cardigan in front of her. "You were sobbing in your sleep again," said Lucy, who had had gotten ready for the ready and heard Sophie whimpering in her sleep, still getting used to the different timezone.

"Oh, Lucy!" Sophie buried her face in her hands. "I'm so-" Her hands trembled as they touched her face. She really had to get control over her anxiety and the stress that she was going through. But how could she? After everything that had happened?

"You don't have to apologise." Lucy gave Sophie a one-arm hug, letting her rest her head on her shoulder. "Are you ready to talk more about it? Believe me. You'll feel better once you do."

"I'll continue later in the afternoon. Mrs. Scrubb will want my help now." 

Sophie stood up immediately, not wanting to cry like a fool about something that was entirely out of her control now. She started to fold the bed sheet and thought about Nina. Her legs stumbled as she remembered her dream. She had heard him again. She had been close to him.

"You don't have to sleep on the floor, you know? I really don't want you to feel cold."

"I like it. It makes me feel safe somehow." 

After everything that had happened in the last two years, Sophie couldn't sleep on a soft surface. She couldn't let herself feel any sort of comfort. The worry of losing control over the emotions that was driving her crept into her mind. Holding on to her sorrow was keeping her intact. She wouldn't let that go, even if a weight formed on her chest from fighting tears.

Lucy nodded, clearly not convinced by Sophie's answer. She could see that Sophie needed to talk to someone and she wanted to help her, but didn't know how to. "But just know that the left side of the bed is always open." 

"Thank you. I'll keep that in mind."

After Sophie had a bath and got dressed, she rushed to the kitchen to help Mrs. Scrubb with her daily chores. Sophie kept to her word about helping around in the house as discussed in church, a place that was only a way for Sophie to contact the being that created the earth that she lived on. 

"I've asked Edmund and Lucy to go to the market in a few minutes." Mrs. Scrubb informed as she started to wash the vegetable tray, wanting to clean all around the house before something could happen.

"Can I accompany them? It's been a while since I went out."

"Of course, dear. I was going to suggest that as well. It will do you some good. You spend all your time helping me." She laughed.

"I don't know how to repay your kindness and-"

"It's completely fine, dear. Like Harold said before, we love helping people."

Right then, Eustace entered the kitchen. "Good morning, Eustace." Sophie wished him but he was dumbstruck as he always was when she tried to talk with him.