forgotten

[mute_pen]

It's past dark, but when you need the outhouse, you need the outhouse.

Isabel picks her way across the yard of her father's house in the moonlight, hoping to sneak back into bed without waking him.

Comments

[growcrooked]

"I don't think he cares. About anything. He just wants us to play along, and if we don't, he makes us."

[mute_pen]

Etty wipes her eyes with her good hand.

[growcrooked]

"I'm sorry," she murmurs.

[mute_pen]

Etty bows her head.

"I can't even write. Not left-handed in the dark."

[growcrooked]

"I'm sorry," she says again.

[mute_pen]

"Tell me what I need to do," Etty says in a low voice, "that you can promise and mean it - tell me who I need to be -"

[growcrooked]

"...I don't think I can do that," she says. "You're already yourself, and I love you, don't I? I just don't know how to make promises about it."

[mute_pen]

Etty drops her forehead onto her knee and sobs again.

[growcrooked]

Nona curls up a little closer.

[mute_pen]

When they touch, Etty flinches back with a strangled squeak.

[growcrooked]

She settles back a little and doesn't say anything.

[mute_pen]

"I'm sorry," whispers Etty.

[growcrooked]

"Why?"

[mute_pen]

"For - I know you're not him."

[growcrooked]

"Me too. It's okay."

[mute_pen]

Etty scrunches in on herself a bit more.

"I hope my wing is okay in the morning," she murmurs, cradling her hurt elbow.

[growcrooked]

"I don't know if it will be."

[mute_pen]

"I don't either. But if it is I can -" She shakes her head ruefully. "Try flying."

[growcrooked]

"I bet flying is fun."

[mute_pen]

"I bet."

[growcrooked]

She sighs.

[mute_pen]

Etty holds her arm in place and is quiet.

[growcrooked]

They could probably stay like that for a while.

[mute_pen]

They could.

Etty's certainly not going anywhere.

[growcrooked]

And Nona doesn't want to leave her alone, and she's slept in worse places. So.