"𝐎𝐍𝐋𝐘 𝐁𝐄 𝐀𝐅𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐃
𝐎𝐅 𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐇 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐄 𝐀 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐍
𝐓𝐎 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄"
{ in which an outsider searches for a place to belong and finds it in the place he least expects }
• • • • • • • • • •
Started: Wednesday 25th April 2...
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Tonight was the village fête. I'd been waiting anxiously all week for it to arrive and now that it was here, I was beginning to get cold feet.
Kate had told me to dress nicely and preferably in something blue. Her request confused me, but I was certain there was a method in the madness.
When I was ready, I stared at myself in the mirror, weighing my outfit up and down: a navy-blue three piece suit with a dark-purple and white checked shirt. It wasn't something I'd usually go for, but the most appropriate out of my rather boring array of clothes.
I ran a hand through my hair, flicking it over to the side in order to make it look more presentable. As I did so, it scared me how much I was beginning to look like my father when he was my age. It was, however, something I wished wouldn't happen. My parents weren't the best people to be like in more ways than one. Although, I did prefer my father to my mother.
That would never change.
My mother would never change.
At half-past five, I made my way to Kate's house, repetitively fiddling with my tie, tying and untying it again and again. I remembered doing to the same thing the night I met Russell and Marina for tea and so I stopped, taking a deep breath and prayed that everything would be fine.
When I arrived at Kate's, passing other smartly dressed people in the street on my way down, I was puzzled and surprised to see her answer the door in her dressing gown, but with her hair immaculately done up in waves and secured with what looked like a silver sunflower pin. She'd done her makeup, too: glittering blue eyeshadow with her lips painted red.
She looked beautiful.
"I'm sorry I'm not dressed," she said hurriedly, embarrassed that I was ready and she wasn't. "My mum insisted that I helped her with something earlier on and I overan-"
"It's okay," I interrupted reassuringly. "D-Don't worry."
Kate sighed, smiling awkwardly. "Look, I won't be long now... Oh, do come in, Edgar! We can't have you standing in the doorway. I'll try and be as quick as I can... You look very handsome, by the way."
Sheepishly, I smiled. "Th-Thank you."
Kate stepped aside to let me in and she shut the door before turning back to me, saying, "you don't mind waiting here, do you?"
I shook my head. "C-Can I ask you a q-question first?"
