May 1, 1873

Dear Aunt Philipa,

Today I went to the market with my father to run some errands. As we passed by Main Street I saw a girl my age. She was wearing a bright red frilly dress and was holding a basket of flowers. She looked like she came out of a fantasy movie. I could hardly believe such bright colours existed, not in this society. I must have been staring at her a little too long because while my father was at the butcher’s, she came up to me. She rustled through her basket and pulled out a nice bright yellow chrysanthemum and handed it to me. She said smiling, “Here it matches your lovely eyes.” Honestly, I got pretty flustered and awkwardly thanked her, briskly turning away. I hid the flower under my jacket all the way home. I thought about what she said, but people would always sneer in disgust seeing my eyes. Amber eyes weren’t lovely, they were something to be ashamed of. But something about her seemed so sincere. She was such an odd girl but aunt, I can’t stop thinking about her. When I looked at her it felt like seeing the sun for the first time.

Hope to hear from you soon,

Charles

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June 12, 1873

Dear Aunt Philipa,

It’s been a bit over a month since I last wrote you. I’ve been going to the market nearly everyday now to see the odd girl. I’m lucky no one’s questioned where I’m off to. I learned her name is Azalea. Azy for short. She shines so brightly, she’s constantly smiling. We talk about everything but also nothing. None of it has any significance, yet It's amazing, it's like etiquette is a foreign concept I’ve never needed to worry about. When I’m around her, I forget there was ever anything wrong in the world. She seems to skip everywhere she goes. I know it’s corny but aunt you know you're the only one I could share this with.

After about two weeks of meeting she took me to her garden. She told me she wished to share it with the world but unfortunately society could never accept it and if anyone found it, it would surely be taken away. She said she was glad to finally be able to share it with someone. It’s beautiful beyond anything I’ve ever seen. It’s something I think you would like. I didn’t know flowers could be so colourful. I’m convinced she was grown in the garden. Now we both meet there everyday. I now have trouble understanding how I used to live. I can't imagine my life without colour. Without her colour.

Hope you’re well,

Charles

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April 22, 1874

Dear Aunt Philipa,

Azy and I are very well. I’m a little busy helping my father with his business so I don't get to visit her as often anymore but I still go to the garden once a week. She’s started inviting me to help her at the market. She goes everyday with a basket of fresh flowers and tries handing them out. I didn’t realize it before but she gets plenty of dirty looks and disgusted scoffs. Sometimes people want to pick a fight and rant nonsense aggressively towards her but every time she just smiles at them sweetly until they move along. To be honest I can’t see any difference in anything we do, it’s the same everyday. I don’t completely understand the purpose but it seems important to her so I do my best. She says people are just angry at the world. She says the world has become so gray it’s hard to see all the beautiful things there are to smile about. I suppose she’s right. I’ve never really thought about it but other people aren’t really all that different to her. She always seemed like some sort of estranged being but really she’s just another girl. So how can she find so much to smile about? She still never fails to amaze me.

Hope you’re smiling,

Charles

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January 19, 1877

Dear Aunt Philipa,

I know it’s been a while since I’ve written about Azy. I've realized I can’t picture living in a world without her. Everything about her; her walk, her laugh, even when she goes on and on about flowers and their meanings. She says chrysanthemums are her favourite, especially the yellow ones, they represent friendship, happiness and well-being. I can't help but smile every time she starts mumbling over their beauty. She must know some sort of secret language of flowers. For her birthday I got her a flower sticker packet. They were all black and white unfortunately, but of course she found a way to colour them and now everything she owns has stickers somewhere on it. Even my things are somehow always covered in stickers. She likes sweets so I often take her out to cafes. She discovered chocolate cake for the first time. Now it’s all she ever wants. Yesterday she made me a flower crown of poppies. Typical of her but I walked to work smiling ear to ear. I can't wait for you to meet her. I think you’ll both get along splendidly. I worry I might go crazy for her.

Hope you’re smiling as much as I am,

Charles

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Dear Aunt Philipa,

You are invited to celebrate the wedding of

Charles Higgens & Azalea Verwelk

On March 21, 1877 13:00 - 16:30

At Welsure’s Garden Chapel

Please dress in anything colourful if you own any

Hope to see your smile,

Charles & Azy

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February 7, 1883

Dear Aunt Philipa,

Hope you are well. A few weeks ago someone new came into power in the autocracy. Things got much stricter. I don’t think I was ready for the change. I didn’t think it could get any worse. I’m not sure that Azy was ready but either way she didn’t show it. She’d already faced enough discrimination as it was but now it’s practically unbearable. It started with local businesses shutting us out. She can't even get groceries in her dullest outfit. It’s been rough but we have each other and we’ll make it work. We’ve been keeping our own spirits high. I've learned to bake and Azy always loves trying my creations. We hang out together in the garden much more now. Like we used to. I get anxious sometimes but then I look at her face and there isn’t anything I would need to change. So long as we’re together.

Always smiling,

Charles

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March 12, 1883

Dear Aunt Philipa,

Yesterday the fuzz came knocking at our door, they handed Azy a warning notice, she was to stop dressing and expressing herself ‘inappropriately’. The file stated, if  she did not stop her behavior, first would come a fine, next execution. Azy gripped the note tight. Seeing her face, I thought she might start a commotion. Their blaring gray uniforms certainly did nothing to help the mood. Instead she just thanked the officers, turned around and shut the door. Immediately she shred the note in two, letting the pieces fall to the floor. I wanted to stop her, ask her to follow the law. At least to tone it down for a little while but if you had seen her face, you too wouldn’t have dared. I can't help but worry, yet somehow Azy’s still smiling.

Still smiling,

Charles

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April 16, 1883

Dear Aunt Philipa,

Another notice came today. The fine. This is our last chance. This time I couldn’t let Azy do it. I got on my knees, I begged her with all my heart, not to continue this. She just knelt down, put her arms around me and whispered “I could never live in the gray world. I don’t belong here if I can’t share light.” Then she looked me in the eyes and smiled. It broke my heart but I know I could never repress her. She was right after all. If she can’t blossom she’s destined to wilt. Now all I can do is my best to protect her.

Keep smiling,

Charles

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August 27, 1883

Dear Aunt Philipa,

She’s gone. Azy’s gone. I couldn’t protect her. No, I failed to protect her. Again they came to our door. I answered, they asked for Azy. I told them she wasn’t home. I prayed she was safe in the garden. They stormed in and searched the entire house. After about 20 minutes they all moved out and I followed. I don’t know how but they discovered the garden. They found her. They took her away from me. I desperately shoved at the officers restraining me but Azy didn’t resist. She looked at me. No, she looked into my eyes. As if somehow trying to convince me it was alright. And in her eyes, I could see she regretted nothing. I think that just pains me more. Like she knew this was the outcome all along. Like it wouldn’t have mattered if I had done anything differently.

A tear ran down her face but she was still smiling. Still smiling, how can she still be smiling? As she was being dragged away out of the garden I only saw her mouth, “Thank you.”

I sat in the garden for the next three days. I couldn’t leave. I needed to be with the last part of her.

An officer in a bleak gray uniform barged into the garden looking very out of place in the colourful sanctum. He carelessly stepped on a stray pansy. He was accompanied by about 6 others, all wielding shovels. They paid me no mind and started digging up everything. Like a kid destroying artwork for the fun of it. In my mind I screamed at them. I was desperately shouting at them to leave. They had no right to even step foot here. I imagined myself kicking and screaming at them. But in reality, I just sat there. I didn’t move. Didn’t say a word. I just watched them dig up every colour I had discovered one by one. Like it was nothing. It had always been nothing. They kept digging up every remaining plant, thoroughly stomping on each flower and bud. Last of all her chrysanthemums. Our chrysanthemums. Bright yellow petals carelessly discarded and crushed under muddied soil. And for the first time in years, I swear, through my eyes, the world turned gray again. I guess all beauty is really destined to wilt.

Charles.

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You are invited to attend Azalea Higgens memorial service

October 7th, 1883 18:00 - 20:00

In loving memory of Azalea Higgens

May 13, 1860 - May 1, 1883

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*i've no idea if this is from a challenge or if so whose, or whether it was worked out and was actually posted... it's in my drafts from August 5th, 2020. i added a word or two here, a phrase there and line at the end, in sum.

Because. Don’t start with because.

Because? but there it was. The Be; and the Cause. Looming large and for a fraction of a second I went back in time, in my mind. To the beginning. The Big, and fuck! Atom. or Adam. The unraveling of Time.

But I’m no Einstein. I’m trapped as much as anyone can expect in this tiny cell of a factory. Manufactory. It is fear that drives us on? ...the production line.

Last night the moon turned its back on me. It got me thinking that maybe there was an out to this negativity.

Reflections of the Sun.

01.09.2023

Credence Inkwater Revival arsenal @AJAY9979

It’s been so damn long

And I still miss you

I can’t believe it took me this long to know

You’re what I’ve always been missing

I can never seem to forget you

So I'm drinking whiskey tonight like you do

Playing sad country songs and singing along

I’m not going anywhere without you

Our paths always crossed

Always passing my thoughts

You’re my greatest loss

You’re what I’ve always been missing

I’ve been everywhere and then some

I’ve searched everywhere for someone

But you’ve been right here all along

And I’m not going anywhere without you

If you’ve been missing me too

Let’s drink whiskey tonight like you do

Let's dance to old country songs and start singing along

I'm not going anywhere without you

On Campus was a story I began writing for a Murder Mystery challenge back in, I think, March. I had honestly forgotten about it after I had missed the deadline to finish, but looking back, I really like it, and I am happy I was given this excuse to dig it up.

"What time is it?" I tiredly ask no one as I stretch myself out of my bed. I don't know what I drank last night, but it left me with one hell of a hangover. I don't think my head has ever hurt this bad. I'm still wearing my day clothes and haven't even removed my rings. I check my phone for the time just to find that I forgot to plug it in last night. "Fuck." I plug it in and start my search for Tylenol and water.

My dormmate, Cassidy, isn't here right now. It's still relatively dark outside, so she either just headed to her morning class, or spent the night with her girlfriend. Regardless, I'm still grateful for the empty room. After failing to find my Tylenol, I plopped back on my bed and opened my laptop. Finally seeing the time at the corner of the screen, I'm pleased to see that I still have about 2 hours before I have to go to my class. I check my email for any updates on my grades when I notice a mass message from my professor.

"Dear Students,

this week's lectures have been canceled due to the unfortunate death of one of our students. Everyone please stay safe and remember that the counselors and my own doors are open if anyone needs guidance to help navigate through this dark moment.

My thoughts and prayers to the young lady's friends and family.

See you next week."

HOLY. SHIT.

I'm suddenly lightheaded and shaking. Someone died?

I do a quick search to see if I can find out who it was, as well as any other details left available. I discovered that the body was found in one of the shared bathrooms at the end of a dorm hall. In my building.

Now, I'm more panicked than before. I try to see if the cause of death has been released, but nothing has been released yet. All I can find are stir-crazy rumors on the school's blog.

"I heard they found her with a knife in her gut."

"Probably just another dumb blond that got drugged at a frat party."

"There is no way this was an accident."

"So scary to think there could be a murderer on campus."

Murder?

My head is throbbing, my mind jumps back to Cassidy. Did I see her last night? I check to see the battery on my phone, but it won't charge.

Ha, of course now, when someone close to me could be dead, my phone decides it wants to stop working.

I quickly get dressed, there's no time to wait, I have to try and find her. Cassidy may not be my closest friend, but she still means a lot to me. Even if she's not dead, I don't like the idea of not knowing her whereabouts while there's a potential murderer on the loose.

I now know there is no way she's in her class, we have the same professor, just different subjects. That leaves her girlfriend's house. It's only a block or so away from the dorms, but this still felt like the longest walk ever.

I knock on the door anxiously. It only took about 10 seconds before the door was opened by a tall woman.

She had tan skin, curly brown hair, the facial structure of a Greek god, and was well-toned and muscular.

Yup, that's Beaverly.

Beverly and Cassidy had been together since their sophomore year of high school when Cassidy flipped off some chick who was calling Beverly fat, and since then it was history. Cassidy was there for her through everything; if she was gone, I imagine Beverly would break.

She stands in the doorway for a second; she looks really tired, and her eyes are puffy like she has been holding onto tears.

"Hey Beverly, is Cass with you? Some girl died at the dorms, and I haven't---" she slammed the door in my face. Wtf. I knocked again, but she just yelled through the door to leave her alone.

I don't know why she is blowing me off, but I really can't stress about that right now. Beverly would have told me if Cassidy was there, even if she was upset with me. I began to head back to the dorms, hoping that Cassidy would have returned to the room by the time I got back, but when I got there, the entire entrance was surrounded by curious students talking about what happened there.

I recognize one of them as someone from Cassidy's class. "Hey! Have you seen Cassidy?" I asked. She doesn't reply. I try again, but she walks away.

I don't understand why everyone is ignoring me today, but it is frustrating the hell out of me. All I can do is take a deep breath, I need to focus on finding Cass.

About 20 minutes pass, and I'm still outside the dorms. The place is crowded, and the authorities aren't letting anyone in. I try to rack my brain and remember if I saw anyone inside the building this morning as I was leaving, but I was too focused on getting to Beverly's.

Then I see her.

Cassidy looks stressed as she talks to who looks to be a detective. Does she know something about the girl who died? Before I can process what I'm doing, I've already run towards her. She shivers as I wrap my arms around her. Now that I am closer, I can better observe her features. Her hair is unbrushed, and her eyes are framed with dark circles. I start mindlessly rambling about how scared I was and how grateful I am that she was safe. As I'm talking she bursts into tears. "Cass, what happened? Where have you been?"

That's when I see it.

Two solemn paramedics carry out a stretcher covered by a white sheet, and my heart drops to my stomach. A pale hand dangles from the side, and on her fingers, are my rings.

"So you say you found her with a couple of empty bottles of Tylenol?" I hear the detective ask Cassidy

"Yeah, I-I didn't know what to do, all this time. I was living in the same room as her- How did I not pick up any signs? How could she just kill herself?"

“I doubt that’s how its supposed to work, Safiyyah.” Flower, my youngest sister, said as she watched me mess with the fridge that went out recently.

“Shut up, Dummy! I know what I am doing.” I snapped at her as I messed with the wiring.

I hooked one wire up to the motherboard and heard the fridge running again. I smiled as I stepped out from behind the fridge. Celestial walked in, heard the fridge running and pointed at it.

“Has the repair man come by already?” Celestial, another sister of mine, asked as she leaned up against the counter.

“Nope. Safiyyah here thinks she can fix anything, including the fridge that needs replaced, not fixed.” Flower said as she rolled her eyes.

I snarled as I launched myself at Flower. She and I tumbled through the doorway to the living room as I held her by the neck. I started putting pressure on her neck as I slammed her head to the floor and I had her pinned to the ground. She started tapping on my legs and my body as my anger was past the limit it should have been. I heard Celestial yell for help as she tried to pull me off of Flower. I felt another set of hands on me as Flower’s face started to turn purple. I felt them yank me upwards as Flower took a deep breath and started to cough. I started to wriggle through the hands as they spun me around and made me face them. I looked to see it was Celestial and Torfir who held onto my arms.

“Calm down, Deera. She meant no harm by whatever she had said.” Killer said as he grabbed my face.

“Breathe, Deera. In, Out, In, Out. Calm down and breathe.” Celestial said as I copied what she told me.

I turned to see that Death was checking on Flower as our parents walked in from going to the store. They stopped by the door and dropped the groceries.

“What happened? ” Our Mama said as she walked over to Flower.

“Safiyyah fixed the fridge and she got mad at me when I said the fridge needed to be replaced instead of repaired. She yelled at me she had read the manual for that fridge over and over again. She lunged at me and tried to kill me by choking me to death.” Flower said quietly.

“Why didn’t you control yourself, Deera?” Our Papa snapped at me.

“I... I... I DON’T KNOW, OKAY?!?!? I doubt that you could have fixed the fridge.” I snarled at Papa.

I didn’t care at all. I felt tears running down my cheeks as I walked to the door. I grabbed my jacket, put the hood up and walked out the door. I slammed the door shut and took off running. I walked on the beach for awaile as I watched happy couples running, laughing and jumping around with no care in the world.

‘I doubt no one would like or even love me for... well, me.’ I thought to myself as I noticed something on the horizon.

“Boat!! Boat!! Everyone off the beach!!” I heard someone yell as people whizzed passed me as I watched the boat get closer.

As I watched it get closer, I started walking toward it. My eyes locked onto the boat as I heard my family yell at me. I felt someone grab my arm and I looked back to see it was Death. I pulled my arms out of the sleeves and walked away from him as my jacket dropped to the sand. I changed into my Draginucous form and took to the sky, sand flying from the gust of wind my wings caused.

I flew to the boat and circled above it to see two men were dead and a man wounded with another man with a gun. I roared and dived down, grabbed the man with the gun and winked at the injured man to slow down. He slowed down to a stop as I flew upwards with the guy with a gun. He screamed and yelled at me as I flew back to the beach. I landed on the beach and changed back into my human form as I held onto him.

“Take him away.” I said as I tossed the guy at a Police Officer.

From then on, I walked away, doubting everyone and everything they said. I trusted no one and no one trusted me. Papers were hung in the streets of Belguim, saying they want my head. I stayed hidden even from my family, and eliminated anyone who needed to be executed. My name has been changed so many times, I do not know my real name. I walked into a Tavern known as The Wanted Flame. I kept my hood up until I sat down as a table next to a female elf named Reina. She was cleaning a cup when she made me a cup of Ale and set it in front of me with her magic.

“You okay, dear wanted fellow?” She asked me as I looked at the cup of Ale.

I ignored her as I took a big gulp of Ale and slammed the cup down onto the table. Everyone in the Tavern turned and looked at me. I felt their eyes digging into my skin. I took my hood off, spun around and glared at them. They turned back around and started talking amongst each other. I took a deep breath in then out as I turned back to the table I was sitting at.

“You wouldn’t understand my situation, Reina.” I said as the Tavern got quiet.

“Try that again, wanted fellow.” Reina said as she set the cup she was cleaning onto the table.

“What do you mean by that?” I asked as she filled the mug up with her magic.

“This fellas in here have been looking to get you for the reward money.” She said as she took a drink after she finished.

I felt a tap upon my shoulder and I turned around to see a guard from the Belguim Kingdom standing there. I scoffed motioned them to go away as I turned back around to the table. They grabbed my shoulder and spun me back toward them.

“Deera Safiyyah Freedom, you are under arrest for the murder of innocent lives all over Belguim. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say or do will be used against you in the court of law.” One of them said as they grabbed my left wrist.

“Well, shucks. I will cooperate with you from here on out.” I said as I stood up and they noticed that I had a scythe upon my back.

“Drop that weapon, or there will be trouble.” The Guard said as he moved his jacket aside, showing his gun.

I slowly grabbed my scythe from my back and brought it to my side. I grabbed it with my other hand near the blade and stared at him with a smile.

"How much trouble would I get into if I just hurt you and took off from here?" I asked as I smiled at them, still holding onto my scythe.

"Death sentence would be put on your trial file. Don't get any bad ideas, missy. Cooperate or I will have to use brute force." He said as I stood the end of the Scythe up, blade pointed toward him.

"What will I ever do without the help of my fellow wanted crew?” I asked sarcastically as I walked over to a table with a guy known as Skull Crusher.

Skull Crusher stood up as he smiled at me. He walked over to the guard and shoved him outside.

“Come here again and I will crush. Your. Skull. Understand?” Skull Crusher snapped as he stepped through the door.

He slammed the door shut as the Guard stood up and took off running. Everyone cheered as Skull Crusher walked up to me.

“Thank you, Skull Boy. You are such a big help. Here’s your payment for helping me.” I said as I set a small bag of silver into his hands.

“No problem, Assassinator Deera. Get out of here before he comes back with more men. Take your silver and head to The Arid Land. There is a small town called Shelldera, live there and do not forget your past. Hang your Scythe up and devote yourself to helping those in need. Remember us, all of us.” Skull Crusher said as he handed the small bag of silver back to me.

I nodded, put my hood up and put my scythe onto my back. I walked to the front door and a knock came upon the door.

“Open up!! This is the Belgium Guards!!” A guard yelled.

“Hide in here, Deera.” Reina the elf said as she opened a door to the wine room.

She closed the door and walked over to the front door. I heard it open then, footsteps walking in and around the place.

“Where is she?” A guard asked as he walked to the room I was in.

“She’s not here, sir.” Reina said with a small stutter.

The door to the wine room started to open and I took a step back, knocking cups over. The door swung open and someone grabbed me by the hood.

“Let go of me!!” I snarled as I was thrown to the floor.

I grabbed my Scythe and swung it at them as I stood up.

“Do you not know who I am?” I snarled as I put the scythe on my back and looked at them.

“Get her!” The Lead Guard yelled as he ignored my question.

I slipped out the door and changed into my Draginucous form. I took to the sky and flew above the clouds in the dark of the night. I heard them yelling below me. I dove down and hid in a tree beside the beach. I changed into my human form and walked into a shop nearby. I bought a long sleeve shirt, pants, and a jacket with a hood. I bought a duffel bag and put my assassin clothing in it and made my scythe smaller. I put it in the duffel bag and boarded the boat named The Great Escape. As the boat left, Guards got to the dock and yelled at me to come back. I never looked back from then on. The boat got to the small town of Shelldera, docked and I walked off the boat. People here were friendly and didn’t care that I was different. The first thing I noticed was that Tara Diera was here and he noticed that I was here. He invited me to live with him and I said yes, of course. We have lived together in Shelldera from 1999 to the day.