Luisa: The Orphan Tale

Part XVIII: Parting

Luisa awoke first that next morning. She got up slowly as to not rouse the other two, as she usually did as she rose first most days. She stood by the window, it was raining that day and she looked out over the gray and murky streets of Paris.

Her eyes welled up as she thought that most her friends were gone, Marie had stayed but she was busy with her new man and Frederic was training and had no time to see her. They'd said their goodbyes at the dinner.

"Mignonette." She said sadly as she gazed her mind's eye back to her, her favorite friend and her babe as she called her.

What were three sixteen year old girls going to do in this big and terrible world?

She began to cry, she had no clue what to do and now she was alone and had the weight of Chloe and Elise's well being on her shoulders now.

"Lusia?" Chloe asked as she rose and looked at her.

"Go back to bed, love." She grumbled quietly

Chloe silently got out of bed and walked over to Luisa. She hugged her and Luisa turned and buried her face into her bosom.

"I don't know what to do." She cried.

"We'll be ok!" Chloe said.

"I hope so." Lusia said.

"Come back to bed, dawn is too early to rise." Chloe said as she led her back. They laid down and rested again and all three awoke a few hours later.

They spent that day joyfully together and that evening dined on some leftover food from the party last night.

Elise looked jittery and anxious the whole time.

"Something the matter dear?" Chloe asked.

"Just... something I need to speak to you both about." Elise said. "I've received a letter."

"From whom?" Lusia asked.

"A Herr Johann from Prussia. I've been invited to be a French teacher at a school there and also a caretaker for the younger children of the boarding school." She said.

"That's great!" Chloe said.

"No. No no. It's not." She said as she went pale with apprehension. "They'll only pay for me..."

Elise said this and Luisa and Chloe's hearts dropped.

"What?" Luisa asked. "We can't come?"

"No. I uh I don't know what to do!" Elise said. "The pay in good and I get free boarding, but I love you two and I couldn't bear to be without you!" She began to get upset.

"You certainly can't go!" Luisa said.

"Maybe it's best she does, Luisa." Chloe said delicately.

"Why? She can't leave us!" Luisa protested as she stood up.

"I'm sorry!" Elise cried.

"Lusia! Calm that Spanish temper!" Chloe scolded. "Don't scare Elise."

"I'm sorry." Luisa said with a sigh.

"What chance does she have with us?" Chloe asked her. "I think you should go." She said caressing Elise's hand.

"Won't it hurt you two?" She asked as she took Chloe's hand back.

"Immeasurably!" Chloe said with a choked up giggle. "But I want you to be safe and happy. And if that's without us then so be it." She said as she kissed Elise.

"Luisa?" Elsie asked looking up at her, her arms were crossed and she was looking to the floor.

"It's your choice." Luisa said. "I'll not love you any less but you know my opinion." She said coldly. "But Chloe is right, it's best for you." She said looking up at Elise.