Elphaba slinked back into her small, windowless loft apartment and removed her cloak. Her brush with Madame Chuffrey and company had left her with a possibly broken rib. She lit a lamp, and as she slowly pulled off her shirt and began to examine her wound, she thought back to the last sight she saw before leaving the scene. Glinda's shimmering blue eyes had been staring back at her from that carriage, she was certain of that. So she'd made good, after all. She was the rich, popular Madame Chuffrey. Elphaba knew who she was, but had never seen her before today. She winced as she pressed in on the area where the guard's boot had connected with her body. Luckily, the rib wasn't broken, but it hurt like hell, and would be tender for a few more days. As she crossed the narrow room to the bathroom, she passed the only mirror she had in the place. It was an antique full-length mirror, double-sided, and gilded. The owner of the apartment kept it stored here. She hated mirrors even more now then she had as a child, and usually kept it covered with a sheet. But today, somehow, the sheet had slipped, and she caught her reflection in a small section that had become exposed. She pulled the sheet aside and examined her reflection. She was slender, fit, and tall. Her stomach was flat and feminine, and she had pronounced hip bones that barely held up the men's trousers she wore. She had small, but perky breasts. Her skin was no longer smooth and beautiful like it had been in her teenage years. An ugly purple bruise was spreading across her right side, and the scars from her encounter with the Wizard now mottled her entire body, pinkish- brown and strange. Her face was what she was most ashamed of. She couldn't hide the scars as well there, and she would have given anything in that moment to just be the "green girl" again, instead of the hideous, scarred monstrosity she'd become. The only thing that had remained the same was her eyes, which were slowly welling with tears. There was no way she could ever face Glinda again.
She stared into the reflection of her eyes a few more moments before the mirror shattered.
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Glinda sat awake as Chuffrey snored softly beside her. She knew it was Elphaba she'd seen today. Something was different about her face, but she would have known those eyes anywhere. Elphaba had the most intense amber eyes, which had always sent chills down Glinda's spine every time they locked onto hers. A tear fell onto Glinda's hand, and she stared at it for a moment. She had so many feelings ripping through her body at the same time, and she couldn't latch onto any of them. She felt lost, knowing Elphaba was out there. So many questions left unanswered. Why had Elphie left her? Why had she never come to find her? What was she doing now? Did she have a new life? New friends? A lover? Or children?
Glinda didn't know, but there was one thing she did know: she needed answers.
She needed to find Elphaba again.
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The next day, she decided to see what she could find out about her long-lost friend. Chuffrey had left for a four-day business engagement at the Ozment Towers, so she had the perfect opportunity to sneak out on foot and do some sniffing around. She put on her plainest skirt and smock, and covered her hair and face with a matching veil. She left the house by the servants' entrance in the alley, and headed unnoticed through downtown Emerald, back to the place she'd last seen Elphaba.
She arrived on the corner of Emerald Ave. and Green Street, and looked around. Several people she knew passed by, unaware that she was standing there. Everyone looked like a tourist here, buying Wizomania souvenirs and sketches of the Emerald Palace. She sat on a bench in the park and watched the sea of faces for anything or anyone that might give her a clue to Elphaba's whereabouts. Her heart began to pound as a familiar hooded figure made its way through the crowded park. Glinda watched as the figure approached a man in a tall hat and stopped. They appeared to exchange a few words, then the man handed the figure a piece of paper. The figure hurried away.
Glinda followed.
Elphaba seemed completely unaware that anyone was behind her, but Glinda kept a safe distance, just to be sure. They approached a small, nearly empty café, where Elphaba turned in. Glinda remained outside and watched her choose a corner booth in the back. Her adrenaline pumped as she debated whether or not to follow her friend inside. But, deciding she not only needed but deserved answers, she took a deep breath and stepped into the café.
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As she reached her neighborhood, she entered her favorite café. Elphaba sat with her back to the door, and pulled the paper out of her robe.
Sir Griffin Chuffrey to wed Miss Glinda Upland
By ShenShen Caprice
In the fashion of love found only in fairy tales, Miss Glinda Upland has found her Prince Charming in Sir Griffin Chuffrey. The 23 –year- old consultant for Oz Weekly Magazine recently accepted his marriage proposal at the Ozdust Ballroom in front of hundreds of friends and family. The two have announced their wedding plans at the Ozment Tower Chapel, followed by a reception at Oz Lake. When we asked the lovely Miss Glinda how she felt about marriage, her response was:
"I couldn't be happier!"
Elphaba's heart broke as she read those last words. She could imagine Glinda's smile lighting her face as she spoke them. She closed her eyes and thought back to Shiz. The day she left, she had longed to kiss Glinda…to hold her and tell her she loved her more than anything in the world. But in the end, she was too afraid of how Glinda would react, and instead chose to let her walk away. It was her biggest regret in life, for now she could never face her again…not with her scars. Elphaba could still remember the exact spot where Glinda's lips had bushed against her cheek so softly, and the way she'd smelled. If she thought about it hard enough, she still smelled her. In fact, she smelled her right now. A small smile curled the corner of Elphaba's mouth as she floated in her own memory.
"Elphaba Thropp. I do believe we have some things to discuss."
