Disclaimer: I do not own any characters from HMC.

Sorry such a super short chapter.

CHAPTER 2

"Howl, what is the matter?" Sophie reached out to touch his arm as he stood beside her in the flower garden. He wouldn't look at her, instead gazing out at all the plants she had grown since he had brought the castle here. Yellow daisies and pink poises, giant roses and golden tiger lilies, the most popular flowers sold in the shop grew closest to the castle. Her experimental plants grew further towards the Waste, some growing almost as tall as she and seemed to suite the mood she had been in the day they were sewn into the ground. There was one such spot that held many a thorny, twisted branches from which flowers could not be sold.

"Howl! Stop slithering out of this and tell me what's going on!" The flowers around them seemed to shudder.

"You know Sophie, I don't think I want a flower shop any more." Flowers began curling in on themselves, and Sophies chest grew tight.

"What-what do you mean you don't want the flower shop any more? Its nothing you need to worry about, I can manage it, Michael is wonderful at helping-" She stopped short as he turned to face her, his eyes finally resting even with hers.

"You've broken your curse and my contract with Calcifer. Really I don't see a need to keep the shop going any more, if you understand what I mean Sophie." The plants around them grew black and shriveled, the ones closest began slumping into puddles of foul smelling liquid. She stared up at him and tried to form some kind of reply, but all she could do was feel the world she knew literally dieing around her. Finally she mumbled a response as she backed away from him.

"Your right, I don't have a reason to stay any longer. I should leave as soon- as soon as possible then."

Stupid , stupid Sophie! She screamed in her mind. Pulling her eyes away from Howls impassive face she turned and fled until she came to the border of the garden and Waste. Stopping abruptly she looked out across the desert, the wind burned her cheeks and whipped through her long hair.

Something began tugging at the hem of her dress, and looking down she saw her feet completely covered in the foul black goo . All around her the plants and flowers she had grown were dieing, sinking to the ground to cover it in their waste. Sophie tried to pull her feet up to run back towards the castle but she was stuck fast in the thick goop.

"Howl! Howl help Im stuck!" she turned around to call out for him, but Howl and the castle were no where in sight. They had disappeared, leaving Sophie alone. Her chest began to ache and her lungs couldn't seem able to take in enough air.

He left, he left me. Tears streamed down her face and her breathing became choked.

He left me..

Sophie bolted upright in her bed, covered in sweat and panting heavily. She leaned forward and snatched the curtain back to peer into the main room. There was a soft glow coming from the hearth and faintly she could hear soft snoring from Michaels room.

Dream. It was only a dream. Sophie sighed heavily and flopped back against the pillows. What did it mean?

"I know exactly what's going on, Im just to stubborn to accept it." she said to herself.

She put her hands to her face and fought back the tears that were threatening to fall.

I wont cry I wont. Come on Sophie how could you let this happen? You knew exactly what you were getting yourself into!

She sat back up in bed and looked around her small cubby. There were a few trinkets Michael had given her, some clothes and her sewing kit in the corner.

She smiled wirily, Well at least I pack light, she thought to herself.

A few moments later she had her sack filled with her few belongings and was sitting at the table writing out a letter to Michael, Calcifer, and Howl. She knew that Howl must have been ignoring her because he didn't love her. He was probably uncomfortable being around her knowing how she felt about him. After all, he was a coward and slither-outer, and when the very person he was trying to run from lived in his own castle what was he to do? She wasn't an old woman any more, things were different now.

Dear Howl, Michael and Calcifer,

Im sorry I could not have said goodbye in person, but I think things will be better this way. I have broken both contract and curse, so I see no reason to stay any longer. Howl, you really must keep this place looking at least halfway decent for Michaels sake. Michael you will make a great wizard some day, don't let me down! Calcifer, I'll miss you.

Always yours,

Sophie

Sophie folded the letter and pinned it beneath a spell book sitting out on the table.

I wonder how long it will take them to find the letter, she thought and almost chuckled to herself. No doubt Howl wouldn't notice her absence for a good week, and only because his precious spiders would be making their homes on the rafters again. She glanced behind her to where Calcifer was sleeping soundly. A part of her wanted to wake him up just to tell him goodbye at least, but she couldn't. Better to leave quietly and save herself more heart ache.

Silently she stood up from the table and tiptoed to the door, not caring what color the dial was set on as long as it wasn't black, Sophie turned the knob and slipped out into the warm night.