[DARROW] Christmastime

 One of my favourite things about Darrow was its bookstore. Of course, I'd read plenty before, back at Hailsham and in the Cottages and to the donors I was caring for but I'd never had quite so much time to do it on my own towards the end. It seemed back home (it still feels strange to call it that, Hailsham was the only home I am certain of) I was always in between places, trying to care for the minds and bodies of others instead of my own.

But between the volunteering and general errands, I had a lot of time. I'd read a lot of books. Books I'd never heard of, too. It made me wonder if I'd somehow been sheltered by the program, if for some reason there were things that they didn't want us to read, or watch (or think, or feel.) On that particular day, though, I'd found something I was assured was a classic and headed back to my apartment to read. It was a little too cold to read in the park much to my disappointment, but I had the makings of hot chocolate in my kitchen and figured that was almost just as good. I really did enjoy the cooler weather, just not so much when it prohibited me from getting fresh air.

I should have been paying attention but I was so wrapped in the blurb on the back of the book - To Kill A Mockingbird it was called - that I didn't even notice the figure until I bumped into them. "I'm so sorry," I said, before I'd even taken in their expression.

[DARROW] Christmastime

We didn't talk much, but I liked Paul. I'd been hoping for a while that I'd encounter him - I had a card in my purse and a small gift that I'd meant to mail and kept forgetting to - when I spotted him outside the store. Smiling, I adjusted the strap on my bag, made my way over and offered a small weave.

"I've been meaning to find you. I've got your Christmas present."

It wasn't much. Just a card, like I said, that thanked him for helping me my very first day in Darrow, and some chocolates. I figured chocolates were universal enough and more people liked them than didn't, but I was still slightly nervous the gesture would be ill received.