( 𝗖𝗨𝗥𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗟𝗬 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥 𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 )
𝐈𝐍 𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐂𝐇
⸻ Cordelia Winterbourne's ordinary life with her mother was shattered by the onset of war, prompting Cordelia's mother to make a gut-wrenching decision by sending her daughter away for...
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"Cora, time to go!" Mrs. Macready's voice reverberated through the mansion.
"Coming!" I shouted, quickly tucking my hair beneath my hat and grabbing my luggage before hurrying downstairs.
Today marked the day to return home, back to my mother's embrace. It had been a week since we returned from Narnia. Lucy, especially, had been trying relentlessly to revisit that enchanted world through the wardrobe, but unfortunately, it seemed the magical wardrobe had lost its magic.
As I descended the stairs, I noticed the four Pevensies gathered by the door, their faces marked with sorrow and quiet tension.
Their departure was still scheduled for next week.
Silently, we all stepped outside the mansion to find Mrs. Macready already mounted on her horse, a cart hitched behind.
Without uttering a word, Peter approached and helped me place my luggage onto the cart, reminiscent of our first encounter.
Turning back to glance at the Pevensies, with whom I had developed a deep bond, I felt a sudden embrace from Peter. His tight hug conveyed emotions he struggled to contain, evident from the stifled sniffles as he fought back tears.
I fought back my tears, pulling away from the blond Pevensie. "Thank you, Pete… for everything. You've become the brother I never had. Even though I never asked for it, you still stepped up, and… I’ll always be grateful for that."
Peter, visibly emotional, held my gaze for a moment before responding, his voice slightly strained. "You've been part of our family, Cora. We'll miss you more than words can say." He paused, swallowing hard. "Take care of yourself, alright?"
I nodded at Peter's words, and he stepped back, making way for Susan, who enveloped me in a warm embrace.
"Take care of yourself out there," she whispered before letting go.
Before I could fully process the moment, the youngest Pevensie threw herself into my arms, her tiny hands clutching me tightly. Tears glistened on her freckled cheeks as she buried her face against mine.
"I’ll miss you so much," she murmured, her voice choked with emotion. "Please… promise me you’ll take care."
I held her for a moment longer, pressing a soft kiss to her hair. Returning her hopeful smile, I whispered, "I promise. Always."
As Lucy stepped back, the brunette Pevensie caught my gaze, a mix of emotions swirling in his eyes.
He gazed at me for a moment, then advanced, enveloping me in a hug that left me slightly off balance.
The boy remained silent, fearing that uttering a single word might lead to an emotional breakdown in the presence of his siblings, a scenario he sought to avoid.
When we finally parted, our eyes met again, glossy and heavy with unspoken words, a quiet understanding passing between us.
"Come on, Cora, you're about to miss the train," Mrs. Macready interjected.
Glancing back at the Pevensies one final time, I boarded the cart. No one uttered a word; they simply observed as I departed from their side. My heart sank slightly, a flicker of disappointment creeping in as the silent brunette Pevensie didn't utter a single word.
The cart commenced its movement as Mrs. Macready urged the horse forward. As it advanced, the figures of the Pevensies grew smaller and smaller until they disappeared from my sight.
Sitting in my seat, I sighed, slipping my hands into the pockets of my coat. To my surprise, I felt something unusual. Furrowing my brows, I retrieved a piece of paper from my pocket.
A letter?
Without a second thought, I unfolded it.
Cora, I hope this letter reaches you on your journey away. This explains why I needed paper and a quill from you last night, but that’s beside the point now.
I wanted to say thank you for everything while we were in Narnia. It was… well, it was amazing. I don’t think I’ve ever been somewhere that made me feel like we could really be ourselves and still matter to each other. You made it feel like more than just an adventure, we all grew up a bit there, didn’t we?
Hearing that you were leaving… it hit me harder than I expected. Me and my siblings... we all felt it. I guess it’s because we’ve shared something that’s more than just being friends, and I don’t really know when we’ll meet again, or if we will. That thought… it’s kind of hard. Time has a funny way of taking people to all sorts of places, I suppose.
Your being here has been such a big part of our Narnian story. Your courage, your kindness, they kept us going through all the scary and confusing times. It’s hard to think this part of our story might end without knowing what comes next.
I just want to say thank you. Really, thank you for everything. Your leaving leaves a hole, and I don’t know how we will fill it… maybe with new adventures, maybe with meeting again someday.
Wherever you go, Cora, I hope it’s full of happiness, exciting things, and friends as good as the ones we had here. I’ll always remember our time together, it’ll be like a little light guiding me when things get hard.
Sorry I’m writing this instead of saying it out loud… I’d probably start crying in front of everyone, and Peter would never let me hear the end of it.
My hands are growing numb now, so I must bid you farewell. I wish you a safe journey back to your home, to your mother's embrace.
Take care of yourself, Cora. Remember the snow, the laughter, and all the adventures we had here. I’ll never forget you, not for as long as I live.
