Similar and Yet… So Different.

Chapter Two: The Way Your Typewriter Sings. The First Smile You Ever Gave Me.


Do you remember the day I started to work there? Running letters wasn't my forte, so I just wrote copies of letters. A backlog in case they got lost. Of course, there weren't many letters I had to write from you.

"Have you guys noticed how similar Violet and Lukas are? They're all work and no play, but he's the only one who really understands her under all that." Benedict asked the others as they watched the pair in slight amazement.

I loved the way you typed, it was slow and methodical, your eyes were closed… did it help you reiterate the emotions in the letters? You always smiled and stayed positive.

The way you typed was fast and steady, an orchestra of keys and dings from the change in lines. I could listen to it all day.


"So… Violet, do you like Lukas?" Miss Cattleya asked me.

"You mean as a friend, yes?" I answered as you looked up at me with those grassy green eyes, shining in the light from the windows.

"No, I meant do you love him?" Miss Cattleya clarified as you fiddled with your metal leg.

"What does Love mean?" I asked earnestly. You hid your face, your green eyes peeking out as I noticed your blushing.

"Love is when you bond with a person so closely that you dream of being with them forever," You said.

Was that your definition of love, Lukas? It seemed to not be so earnest…

I was so naive back then… I fell in love with you almost instantly. Of course, Miss Cattleya noticed.

"It seems Mister Wilkstromm loves her…" she crooned as I hid my blushing face from you.

"What does Love mean?" you asked as I looked back up, my jaw working as I said.

"Love is when you bond with a person so closely that you dream of being with them forever," I said, my eyes darting down to my food. I ate slowly, my eyes closing as the creaking of my leg was the only thing I focused on. I couldn't tell you that I did love you… because you wouldn't understand.

"Hey, earth to Lukas! Lukas!" Benedict piped up, shaking me gently.

"What?" I growled.

"President Hodgins wants to talk to ya, somethin' about a movement?" he said as I darted up, grabbing my cane and hobbling to his office like I had ants in my trousers.

Mister Hodgins is a kind man. He almost instantly gave me the job once he found out I was kind of like you… I always dedicate my books to you and him. I always do with this: With all my love, V.E. and with my eternal gratitude, C.H. Many fans have sent me letters about you, about how we met and all of that. That's why I'm compiling these letters from you and to you… because I love the ravenous curiosity that drives readers to read and to think for themselves, If you find this where you are… know that you changed my life for the better,

Love, Lukas.

"Is there something you need, Mister Hodgins?" I tentatively asked as his scarred and gentle face stretched into a smile.

"From what I hear, you're quite close with Violet, yes?" he ventured.

"I-is that a problem sir?" I stuttered.

"No, not at all… it's just you two seem so similar." he chuckled.

"I just… my father taught me to bottle up my emotions… but now that I met Violet, I've been trying to help her feel emotions…" I sighed.

I found your book sitting among the bestsellers at the bookshops here… I like the title: Letters To Violet. I felt so… what's the word? Nostalgic? Some of the letters made my heart quiver and my breath to hitch. And those odd droplets to fall from my eyes. You compiled the practice confessions Miss Baudelaire gave you that you never told me… I liked the angel one. That one sounded the most earnest and true out of them all. The odd humorous limericks that you'd write with Mister Blue were quite humorous, considering that they were all about the company and me.

The afterword made me 'cry' as it is called.

Love, your Violet.

Afterwords always are the time to tear away what you've been hiding all of this time… and I loved you and still do. Remember the first day you smiled at me?

It was raining, pouring as I jogged to work, the puddles under my feet splashed as my umbrella swayed. I wasn't late, It's just I had to hurry. Our prosthetics aren't waterproof at all… When I came in, you weren't there.

"Hey, Benny! Where's Violet?" I asked Benedict.

"I don' know where your girlfriend is… ask Hodgins," Benedict huffed as I moved over to Mister Hodgins.

"Oh! Mister Wilkstromm, Violet's outside," Hodgins said as I almost ran out there, remembering to refasten my waterproofing. Which was just a sheet of plastic tarping.

You were soaked to the bone when I brought you into one of the back rooms to dry you off.

"You could've rusted your prosthetics… Violet, look at me…" I sighed as I dried your hands, your eyes were forlornly staring towards the door as if you were expecting someone to be there.

"Thank you, Lukas." You said, and there was that subtle and perfect smile. I started to dry your hair gently, looking into your eyes and finding no emotion. No anything. All I found was a girl that was torn up by something dark and horrible.

Something I'd come to know all too well.

Lukas, why do I not get your letters? They're so beautiful, each and every single one is like a symphony all it's own… and I miss hearing it and reading it… Where are you?

Violet… I'm coming home. Wait for me at the end of the dock, that's where I'll be. I love you, Violet Evergarden… and I can't wait to see you again.

Love, Lukas.

Love, your Violet.