Perfumed Secrets | Kurt Cobain

Have you underneath all of my beliefs

"Faye! Faye! Wake up!"

A soft whisper accompanied by a tug on the blankets stirred Faye from a deep slumber. For a moment, she felt disoriented, the remnants of sleep still lingering around her. She opened her eyes to find Olive beaming down at her. Dressed in her school uniform, she looked like a picture of innocence and excitement. The crisp white blouse had a ruffled collar, neatly tucked into a wine red pleated skirt that fell just above her knees. A matching blazer, adorned with the school crest, was draped over her shoulders, giving her a slightly sophisticated look for an eight-year-old.

"Hey, little one," she murmured, pushing herself up. The sight of her sister, with her sparkling blue eyes and infectious smile, made her heart swell despite the heaviness she still felt.

"I missed you!" The little girl exclaimed as she climbed onto the bed, bouncing lightly. "I wanted to say hi before I left for school!"

Faye couldn't help but smile back. "I missed you too, Olive. Did you sleep well?"

"Yeah! I had the best dream! I was flying in a hot air balloon, and you were with me, and we had cupcakes!" 

She couldn't hape but feel light-hearted at the sheer joy radiating from her. "That sounds amazing! I wish I could fly in a hot air balloon with cupcakes too."

"I'm sorry, Faye," Marie appeared at the door, her expression apologetic and amused. "Olive insisted. She was hysterical since yesterday."

Faye chuckled, brushing a few strands of hair from her face. "That's okay. I couldn't leave without giving my sister a hug."

"Can you come with us?" Olive asked, her eyes sparkling with hope.

Marie stepped into the room, shaking her head. "Faye is tired, sweetheart. She needs to rest."

Faye glanced at the girl, feeling the warmth of her innocence. "No, that's fine. I can come with you."

Olive squealed in delight, jumping up and down. "Yay! You're the best!"

As she swung her legs out of bed, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror, tousled hair and tired eyes staring back. But with Olive beside her, she felt a flicker of blissfulness within her, enough to temporarily push aside the shadows clouding her mind.

"Let me get my sweater," she said, glancing back at her sister, who was now rummaging through her backpack, eager to show Faye her school supplies.

"Can I show you my new lunchbox? It has unicorns on it!" Olive chirped, bouncing on her toes.

"I can't wait to see it!" Faye replied, smiling as she headed downstairs, holding her hand.

Surrounded by the simple joy of an easy morning, the weight on her shoulders felt a little lighter, she could hold onto this small slice of happiness. They headed into the car, the cool morning air making Faye shiver slightly as she slid into the passenger seat. Olive was already settled in the back, kicking her feet excitedly as she zipped up her unicorn lunchbox.

They pulled away from the house and Olive couldn't contain her excitement. She chattered away happily, filling the car with her little voice.

"What's your favorite subject?" Faye asked, genuinely curious as her sister's energy brought a faint smile to her face.

"Reading!" Olive exclaimed. "Mommy and I love to go to the bookstore, and she always lets me pick a new book! Last time, I got one about fairies. I love it so much."

"That sounds fun," she replied warmly. "I love reading too. It's always been my favorite. What kind of books do you like the most?"

"I like adventure stories. And stories where the girl is the hero!"