Flashback - Lessa
[This piece also belongs to the Lorton City arc, but I decided to list it under Wallflower Valley, since that is where it takes place.]
I remember that, on the bus ride to Wallflower Valley, I’d thought of nothing. Not a single thing went through my mind.
But when I stepped off of that bus, I couldn’t help but think…
Her escort went down the steps first before turning to offer her a large, masculine hand; Alessandra pretended he didn’t, ignoring its presence entirely in favor of the rail to her right. Her green eyes focused unerringly on the steps that led off the bus so that she wouldn’t fall, and she couldn’t help but worry that maybe falling was inevitable.
Luckily she made it down to the ground with no unwelcome incident. Settling her feet on the gravel, Alessandra kept her green gaze away from the man who her mother had asked to take her to this place, where she would be passed along to a brother she’d never met... a brother she hadn’t even known existed until a week before. Even when she sensed the approach of another person - presumably her brother - Alessandra refused to raise her eyes.
One, two, three, four… As the two men spoke, the black haired child chose to count the rocks on the ground. Twenty six, twenty seven, twenty eight… They, like the conversation that was going on nearby, seemed to go on forever.
“So, Alessandra… ready to go to Wallflower Valley?” The girl still didn’t respond. “Alessandra?”
Her escort sighed and waved a hand flippantly. “Told you she didn’t talk, didn’t I? Have fun with that, kid. And, uh, good luck.”
With that, he disappeared back onto the bus, and the vehicle sped away on the empty road.
She listened to the bus’ retreat, the brother’s breathing, and her own heartbeat. Once one of those sounds ceased, Alessandra began to wonder how long she’d be allowed to live in the ghost town her mother called Wallflower Valley. The man now living with her mother had warned her it’d be a bit of a walk to get to the town - or, rather, he warned her mother while Alessandra was in hearing range. Few people talked to her personally, and those who did often stopped after a short while.
“Alessandra… My name is James. I’m your brother.” One hundred and seven, one hundred and eight… “Well, half-brother, anyway. You’re going to be living with me now.” One hundred twelve, one hundred thirteen… When would he stop talking to her? It wasn’t like she had any response, no matter what he said…
Just as this thought crossed her mind, James knelt down beside her so he could study her downcast face. “…Look… I know you can hear me. I know you understand me. I don’t mind if you don’t have much to say.” One hundred twenty five, one hundred twenty six, one hundred twenty seven… “So, Lessa - you don’t mind if I call you Lessa, do you? We’re going to go back to Wallflower Valley, and I’ll show you the room you’ll be staying in.”
Lessa… She considered this for a few moments. Did she mind that kind of nickname? No one had ever given her a nickname before. One hundred thirty nine… Finally she nodded, and though Lessa never met his eyes, James smiled gently and genuinely before holding out his hand for her to take.
One hundred forty two. Gingerly, Lessa reached out, slipping her small hand into his grasp.
How long until she wasn’t wanted there either?
I remember that, on the bus ride to Wallflower Valley, I’d thought of nothing. Not a single thing went through my mind.
But when I stepped off of that bus, I couldn’t help but think…
Her escort went down the steps first before turning to offer her a large, masculine hand; Alessandra pretended he didn’t, ignoring its presence entirely in favor of the rail to her right. Her green eyes focused unerringly on the steps that led off the bus so that she wouldn’t fall, and she couldn’t help but worry that maybe falling was inevitable.
Luckily she made it down to the ground with no unwelcome incident. Settling her feet on the gravel, Alessandra kept her green gaze away from the man who her mother had asked to take her to this place, where she would be passed along to a brother she’d never met... a brother she hadn’t even known existed until a week before. Even when she sensed the approach of another person - presumably her brother - Alessandra refused to raise her eyes.
One, two, three, four… As the two men spoke, the black haired child chose to count the rocks on the ground. Twenty six, twenty seven, twenty eight… They, like the conversation that was going on nearby, seemed to go on forever.
“So, Alessandra… ready to go to Wallflower Valley?” The girl still didn’t respond. “Alessandra?”
Her escort sighed and waved a hand flippantly. “Told you she didn’t talk, didn’t I? Have fun with that, kid. And, uh, good luck.”
With that, he disappeared back onto the bus, and the vehicle sped away on the empty road.
She listened to the bus’ retreat, the brother’s breathing, and her own heartbeat. Once one of those sounds ceased, Alessandra began to wonder how long she’d be allowed to live in the ghost town her mother called Wallflower Valley. The man now living with her mother had warned her it’d be a bit of a walk to get to the town - or, rather, he warned her mother while Alessandra was in hearing range. Few people talked to her personally, and those who did often stopped after a short while.
“Alessandra… My name is James. I’m your brother.” One hundred and seven, one hundred and eight… “Well, half-brother, anyway. You’re going to be living with me now.” One hundred twelve, one hundred thirteen… When would he stop talking to her? It wasn’t like she had any response, no matter what he said…
Just as this thought crossed her mind, James knelt down beside her so he could study her downcast face. “…Look… I know you can hear me. I know you understand me. I don’t mind if you don’t have much to say.” One hundred twenty five, one hundred twenty six, one hundred twenty seven… “So, Lessa - you don’t mind if I call you Lessa, do you? We’re going to go back to Wallflower Valley, and I’ll show you the room you’ll be staying in.”
Lessa… She considered this for a few moments. Did she mind that kind of nickname? No one had ever given her a nickname before. One hundred thirty nine… Finally she nodded, and though Lessa never met his eyes, James smiled gently and genuinely before holding out his hand for her to take.
One hundred forty two. Gingerly, Lessa reached out, slipping her small hand into his grasp.
How long until she wasn’t wanted there either?