CARDIGAN, K.G

fourteen

JUNIPER STOOD CONFLICTED as she gently wiped george's mud filled face with a wet rag after scolding reynolds. she couldn't help but think of what her life would now be like as she watched george softly sleep.

the next morning she learned princess augusta had come as she went to ask her questions. "princess augusta." juniper says greeting her. "your majesty." princess augusta says. "i want to know what is wrong with george." juniper says simply.

"dear, there is nothing wrong with george." augusta says. "ne me mens pas." she says angrily. "i'm not sure i understand french your majesty." augusta says smartly. "i said do not lie to me." juniper repeats.

"well, there is no reason to lie is there?" augusta shrugs. "the day george moved in... all the knives were replaced with duller ones— the windows glued shut, all sharp objects hidden away." juniper says as augusta seems visibly irked.

"well you don't have to worry about any of that anymore. george has gone back to kew." she says as juniper looks up. "what?" she asks quickly. "he has returned to kew, his own wishes." she says.

"i'd like you to leave." juniper says as augusta stares her down. "i just have one question if i may.." she says as juniper gives a her a 'go ahead' look. "are you with child yet?" she asks as juniper holds back a scoff.

she doesn't answer as augusta stands waiting for an answer. "ça ne vous regarde pas." juniper says. "once again your majesty i do not under-." augusta begins. "i said it is none o-." juniper begins as she's cut off by a feeling in her throat.

she then rushes to an empty pot as she vomits into it. "that answers my questions, goodbye your majesty." augusta says as she walks out.

juniper walked out of the room upset. she had breakfast upset. she then read a book alone- and you guessed it, upset. she didn't know why george left. she wanted to talk out whatever had happened.

for the next days juniper would write letters to george, hoping he'd respond but he never did. she thought he got them, seeing as she made brimsley personally deliver them. but she couldn't stand to feel stupid so the next letter she wrote, she ripped to pieces.

as brimsley walked in he saw juniper to her room before returning. he sat for about an hour piecing together the letter as he read it, a sad feeling overcoming him.

Dear george,

                you have not yet responded to my other letters... the four of them to be exact. so i guess it is a bit dumb to send you more. i was just wondering if you saw the meteor shower last night... i watched it from my room. alone. i miss your presence george. and even if you hated being here so much that you left for kew twice, i just really wondered if you ever.... liked me? not in an intimate way— but as a friend.. a person?— anyway this whole letter is stupid and dumb. you won't even respond. but i don't hate you for it. in fact, i don't hate you at all george.

i lov—

that's where the letter stopped. it was where she set her pen down and ripped it to shreds. because she couldn't love someone who didn't love her. she wouldn't. she had looked between the heaven and the earth to find her peace, and he was there. he was her peace— the missing piece.

n,
cardigan back😨😨