Sofia the protected

Chapter 20

Hugo's perspective before The Anniversary Party.

I'm so glad I got here early. Perhaps I can help Sofia and Amber set up. It's their parent's 10th anniversary and they're throwing a surprise party for their parents. I'm excited to help. But mostly just excited to see Sophia. I'm so glowing from yesterday. Sofia is my true love. My smile so big my face actually hurts. Take the last two steps up to the third floor 4 at a time. I'm just so excited to see her.

I hear a soft sniffling as I'm about to knock on Sophia's door. I open the door slowly to see Sophia with her knees to her chest, hugging a pillow, and staring out her window.

I walk toward her."Sofia? Are you okay?"

" I'm fine." Her voice cracks and it's clear that she's been crying.

" Sophia oh, it's okay."I put my hand on her shoulder and sit with her on her window seat.

I'm sitting so I'm facing her with my left hand on her right shoulder. She turns her face away towards the window so I can't see it.

"What's going on? You can tell me."I speak softly, my voice almost a whisper.

"Hugo."Sophia dissolves into sobs. Gently, I pull her close to my chest and she drops the pillow she was hugging to the floor. She sobs into my neck with my arms around her.

I've never had this feeling before. Like I need to kill whoever did this. I have this overwhelming desire to make her pain go away.

When she finally pulls away. She grabs the pillow off the floor and starts hugging it again.

" Clover... Clover died today. I just. I miss him so much."Her words are broken by a sob. "So I decided to visit the village and see all the spots that we played during our early years.

I ran into Ruby and Jade. I waved hello and they ignored me. I thought maybe they just didn't see me. So I walked up to them. And they told me that we were no longer friends. They said I had been neglecting our friendship too long and that they didn't want to be friends with me anymore."Sophia starts crying into the pillow, her sobs convulsing her shoulders.

I move closer and envelope her into another hug, her knees shoulders, and all.

"That's awful," I murmured into her hair.

"Don't you get it now Hugo? All of my ties to my previous life are gone. Every last one."She continues crying and I pick her up and shift her into my lap. Rocking her back and forth. I have no words but I hope my actions comfort her.

" With Ivy on the loose. everyone I love is in danger. I feel so helpless."

"We'll stop her Sophia. I know we will."

An hour passed with Sophia crying in my arms. When she finally stops she looks into my eyes.

"Thank you," she whispers.

"Anytime, Sof." I lean down and kiss her forehead.

"You know Hugo, there's another reason why I wanted to go to the village today."

" Why is that? Clover is not the only one I was trying to remember. My dad, it's been thirteen years since he was lost at sea. Clover was actually his last gift to me."

"I don't remember my dad much. I have this one memory of him laughing and throwing me into the air and catching me again. But that's all. Mostly I remember our yearly tradition of going down to the shore and lighting a candle for him. Other families came as well to light a candle to their lost loved ones. I remember the song we sang. It was strange. My mother was humming it yesterday. Then I remembered it was the anniversary of his death."

"It feels strange to miss someone I don't remember. Especially when Roland has been an excellent dad to me. I love James, Amber, and my dad. But sometimes I wonder what my life would be like if I never became a princess. I'm so bad at it anyways. I grab her hands and look into her eyes.

" Listen Sof, we'll get through this. Together."

Let's stay here. We don't have to go down the stairs. I pulled her closer and kissed her forehead. She smuggles closer to my chest but says nothing for a while.

"Amber and I worked really hard to plan a surprise for my mom and my dad. I want to be there."Sophia says as she hugs me tighter.

"Okay let's go downstairs then," I say. But neither of us move for another few minutes.