»Act I - 'Girl'

»Chapter I-II 'Mute'

12E/Y381/M8/D4

New La'Rivera, Tierra de la Angeles (Reah)

As Raisa left Iryna's room, and her to her own devices, Iryna looked at the pills in her hand. She stared at them for a long time, hesitancy and doubt welling up inside of her. She moved her bed slightly, and removed a panel on the wall. Pulling out a small box with a directional padlock, she unlocked it, and put the letter, the paper containing the pills, the card, and the pin away. She locked it, and returned the box to the hole in the wall, covering it back up and pushing her bed back against it.

Laying down, the tears drying, and left feeling exhausted even after just getting home, she fell asleep.

Waking to a house safe, and sound, and quiet, the first thing that caught her eye was her phone. The little green light blinking in the dark.

2 Missed Calls, 1 Message

Laelynn

Hey, I tried calling you but I'm guessing you took a cat nap. I'm gonna take a walk later on tonight when it cools down. I'll be on our usual trail. Meet me there if you can?

It didn't Iryna long to mull it over and respond.

Iryna

Yeah, sorry. Just woke up. I'm heading there now. Wait for me by the abandoned cabin?

Laelynn

Already here <3

Iryna grabbed her hiking bag, and after filling the water bottle jumped the fence in the backyard. The very faint path made by years of making her way through the forest was comforting to her. An escape from the house, at least.

The path wasn't very long. Fifteen minutes of walking, and she came to the big, overgrown glade. The old, rotting log cabin sat in the center. She and Laelynn had continuously patched it up over the years, though the fixes certainly weren't pretty. At the very least they kept the rain and wind out. The smoke coming from the sturdy stone chimney was a sight that always brought her spirits up.

Inside, she was met with a scene ingrained in her mind since she was a kid. Laelynn starting a fire, making tea in a small pot, candles illuminating everything the fireplace didn't.

At first they raced so they could make it how they wanted to. Now they raced to make sure everything was perfect and ready for when the other made it.

"Cheater," Iryna walked in, smiling in spite of her words.

"Gotta be quicker than that." Laylynn grinned.

"Still a cheater." Iryna set her bag down.

"Maybe next time don't nap for the whole morning and afternoon and you'll win."

"Naps are so great though!"

"True but they're better with your soon-to-be wife, so next time save it for me." Laelynn hugged Iryna.

"That's a good point…" They sat down and Iryna used a ladle to fill their cups with tea. "So, what'd your family say?"

"Lots of stuff I don't think you'll like." Laelynn took a sip, and grimaced.

"Nothing new, in fairness…"

"Well, it's a bit different this time. They kept asking about my 'husband' and well… I tried correcting them. Only made things worse." She shook her head, "I walked out once my dad said 'I can't believe my daughter's marrying a fucking queer'."

Iryna stiffened up, "I'm sorry…"

"For what?" Laelynn's face hardened into a small frown, "For being the person I love? For being my fiancé? For being someone I tripped all over myself to be with because I think you're an amazing person?"

"No, just… I just cause you so much trouble is all." Iryna set her cup down, averting her gaze.

"They give me shit no matter what. They don't care. They just like being assholes."

"But, even so I still make it worse!" Iryna gave her a pained look.

"Hush it. That certainly isn't true, and even if it was, I don't care. It's worth the trouble being with someone I care about." She took Iryna's hand, "You're worth the trouble."

Iryna sighed, and smiled weakly, "You're too much…"

"Maybe. Though, I did want to ask; how are you holding up..?"

"Like… with all that stuff, or my family?"

"Both." Laylynn said, taking a long sip.

"Well, family wise it's probably about the same. Only Raisa was home, and when I woke up it was quiet. I'm guessing my aunt is out today, but I doubt she's much better than when we left." Iryna chugged her tea, and started to refill her cup, "Raisa gave me a card for clothes, and ordered some hormones while we were gone. I'm really grateful…"

"But?"

"But I just… I don't know. I'm really grateful, but even if it's something I've been aware of for so long, I'm just…" her shoulders drooped, and she sighed heavily, "It still feels new. New, and scary, and just… I don't know..."

"Hey…" She grasped Iryna's hand over the makeshift table. "Do you remember that night, when I proposed to you?"

"Yeah, of course I do."

"Do you remember what you said?"

"Yeah."

"And do you remember how I answered?"

Iryna looked away shyly, "'Don't be stupid, dumbass.'" Iryna quoted, giggling lightly.

Laelynn smiled, "I know it's hard. But, I think deep down you do know."

"And how can you be so sure?" Iryna frowned, protesting.

"Because I remember you crying that night." She paused, "And you smiled when I asked you to be my wife."

Iryna drew her eyes to somewhere in the distance, "I… well, it felt really nice to hear that…"

"See?" She gave Iryna's hand a reaffirming squeeze, "Now come on. Let's take a walk, okay?"

Iryna nodded, "Yeah… yeah, okay."