Farah Dowling WRITOBER 2O22

What did I do last night?

With wine, with poetry, or with virtue, as you choose. But get drunk.

CHARLES BAUDELAIRE, Twenty Prose Poems

You opened your eyes slowly, wincing as you tried to adjust to the bright sunlight spilling in through the curtains. You groaned and rolled over, about to bury your face in the pillow, when you noticed the sleeping woman next to you, her arm curled possessively around your waist. You choked back a squeak when you recognized that long, golden hair, the high cheekbones, the thin lips and the couch you were sleeping on.

The Headmistress' office?

Oh, shit. What did you do last night?

YESTERDAY NIGHT

It was the night of Samhain, and alcohol was flowing at the faculty private party when a small group of students came knocking at the teachers' lounge.

"Trick or treat?" they asked in chorus, holding out black bags.

"I told you already that the Headmistress does not approve of such mundane ways of celebrating" Ben Harvey said patiently. "Go and have fun at your party, but don't bother us or the rest of the staff with First World traditions. You're fairies, not mortal!"

"As you wish, professor" one of them said, and they all laughed as Ben closed the door.

"Every year the same story" he chuckled, sitting on his armchair. "I wonder what it will be this year."

"My favorite was the year they let that huge red dragon in the Greenhouse" said Saul, grinning. "I will never forget the look of sheer terror you had on your face."

"You mean the dragon that Farah tamed as if it was a kitten?" remembered Ben, shivering.

"What?" you asked, amazed. Good gods, was there anything the woman couldn't do?

As if your catastrophic crush on your mentor and boss needed more fuel.

"Story for another night" Ben answered, with a fond smile.

"Well, my favorite," interjected Andreas, "is still the year Saul tried to trick or treat Rosalind, walked on her kissing Farah, and to get back at her convinced you, Ben, to turn all her office a bright shade of pink."

"Oh, that was good" replied Ben, bursting into laughter. "She never suspected me!"

"Yeah, and I got detention for the rest of the year" murmured Saul, darkly.

"Come on," said Andreas, punching him on the shoulder, "don't tell me you're still mulling over Rosalind stealing Farah from under your nose, after all these years!"

"She's my best friend and I value what we have" Saul replied, serious. "But a part of me will always love her. And I will never forget Rosalind for what she did to her. Farah never healed. You never fully recover from that kind of betrayal-"

"Hey" interrupted Ben, frowning. "Are you alright?" he asked, looking at you and placing a hand on your back.

"Yes" you whispered, pale as a ghost. "Yes, I- I'm fine. I'm gonna get something to drink."

"You idiots" hissed Ben as soon as you were out of earshot. "You know she's in love with Farah-"

"So?" Andreas shrugged. "She should go and get her, Farah would like nothing better than to get fu-"

"Andreas!" Ben and Saul exclaimed together.

"Oh, sorry, I forgot your delicate ears can't take an honest-"

"All I was saying," interrupted Ben, "is that I don't think she knew about Ros. It might have been a shock" he muttered, watching you gulp down a glass of Samhain punch and immediately refilling it.