My Mr.Holmes

Chapter 2: A new start

Sofia's POV:

I woke to the gentle flutter of butterflies and the distant song of birds. For a moment, I imagined myself back in the gardens at home, among the ivy-covered walls, the warmth of late evenings beside Father. It was a lovely dream, one I might have lingered in longer...

If it weren't for the bickering.

"You're not even listening to me—"

"Because you're saying nonsense again!"

I groaned and sat up. Of course. Enola and Flower.

"Stop shouting, idiots—I'm trying to sleep!"

"Sorry, Sofia," my brother called sheepishly. "But we saw a carriage go by and thought it might be heading to London. We just... weren't sure how to wake you."

"You could've shouted once, instead of staging a full domestic argument."

Now that I was awake, though, the urgency returned. We had to get to London. So we gathered our things, flagged the next wagon heading that way, and piled in.

⸻

The ride was bumpy, and the morning passed in a blur of green fields and dusty roads. Before we knew it, we had arrived. London, sprawling and loud, lay ahead, both exciting and utterly daunting.

And it was time to part ways.

I turned to Enola, heart tugging. "It's been a pleasure getting to know you. I hope we meet again soon. And... I hope you find your mother."

Enola offered me a rare, genuine smile. "Thank you, Sofia. That means a lot. You stay safe too. And," she gave Tewkesbury a pointed glance, "keep an eye on your nincompoop of a brother."

"We will," I laughed. "Goodbye, Enola."

"Goodbye, Tewkesburys."

And just like that, she was gone, vanishing into the crowd with the confidence of someone who'd always known how to stand alone.

⸻

With Enola gone, reality set in fast. My brother and I were now two runaway siblings with no home, no job, and barely a plan.

"Luckily," I said, pulling a small pouch from my coat, "I brought money. We can afford somewhere to stay tonight, but tomorrow, we start looking for work."

"I'll do my best," he said earnestly. "Besides, everyone's looking for help these days."

We wandered through the streets until we found a modest building with a room for rent and a lovely market nearby. It wasn't much, but it was safe.

"There's only one bed," I said, sighing. "But it'll do. Hopefully we'll earn enough to afford something better soon. For now, let's go look for jobs. Meet back here in an hour. You still have Father's watch?"

He held it up. "Always. And you've got Mother's?"

"Tucked safely away." I smiled. "Now don't go too far. Be back by six. I'll try to have dinner ready."

"I missed your cooking."

"Same," I said softly. "Now go. These jobs won't find themselves."

He turned left. I turned right.

⸻

I wandered for a while—honestly, getting a bit lost—until I came across a charming little bookstore nestled between two cafés. It had ivy on the windows, dust in the corners, and the warmest glow.

I stepped inside.

"Excuse me, sir," I said to the older gentleman behind the counter. "I was wondering if you needed help. I'm available to work for a few shillings, any hours at all."

He looked up, eyes kind behind round spectacles. "As a matter of fact, I could use some help. Why don't you stop by tomorrow and we'll talk more, Miss...?"

"Tewkesbury. But please, call me Sofia."

"Sofia. Lovely name. I'm Thomas."

⸻

With a hopeful heart, I returned to the market and bought a few ingredients to make Father's stew. I thought Flower would like that—he'd always loved it.

When I finally returned to our room, my brother was already there, cheeks flushed and arms full of flowers.

"Oh! You're finally back," I said. "How was the job hunt?"

"Amazing! I found a flower stall looking for help and got the job right away. I ended up staying longer to help out—sorry."

"That's alright, Flower," I said with a smile. "I'm just glad you're safe. And I got a job too—at the bookshop just down the road."

His eyes lit up. "That's great! If we're both earning, maybe... maybe we can build a life here."

"Maybe we will," I said softly, glancing out the window at the lights of London. "A new life. Just the two of us."

And for the first time in a long while, it felt like hope.