When the right words just wouldn't come out

Sometimes, you would find yourself unable to say what you really mean to say – no matter how badly you want to say it. (Timeline: VotDT)


"I'm glad to see you again." The sentence echoed in Edmund's head.

That was what he wanted to tell. It was the perfect thing to say after all, since they had not seen Amelia for a long while – especially when war broke out. Plus, she wasn't with them in Lucy's room when they got sent to Narnia, so Edmund wasn't expecting to see her standing in front of him.

"How have you been?" Edmund asked instead.

Amelia flashed a smile at him. "I'm great, actually."

Edmund nodded. "How did you get here?"

"Well, I don't know how actually," she explained. "One minute I was walking on the street. The next think I knew, I'm swimming in the middle of the ocean."

"I've missed you."

"We've missed you," he said, revising the sentence he initially thought of.

"I missed you too, Ed," she replied.

Edmund suddenly felt something strange – something he couldn't explain. He bowed his head as a result, suddenly feeling not quite himself. "Amelia…" he trailed off.

Amelia looked up, her eyes gleaming with expectation. "Yes?" she asked.

"It's nice to know you're all right."

"I wanted to see you."

"I'm relieved you're here."

Those were the list of things Edmund wanted to say. Over the last couple of months he thought of saying it – and he really wanted to – when they meet again, but currently found himself tongue-tied. His gaze was just locked on Amelia instead.

"Edmund?" Amelia's voice snapped Edmund out from his thoughts. "Are you all right?"

"Y-yes," Edmund confirmed, stammering in the process. "I'm… just…"

"What?"

"I…" His voice faded once again.

"I'm glad you're here" – that was really what he wanted to tell her from the start. The sentence just kept echoing inside his head, and he couldn't take it any longer. Edmund needed to voice it out somehow. So he looked up at her and opened his mouth.

"I," he began, "think you're getting taller." Edmund finished his sentence with a smile to conceal his frustration.

Amelia arched a brow. "Really?" she asked for his confirmation and laughed. "I guess I hadn't realized it."

After that, Amelia informed Edmund that she would like to go back to her cabin. She excused herself and left a frustrated Edmund behind.

Edmund also decided to head back to their cabin. As he walked, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "'You're getting taller?' That's the best thing you can say?" he scolded himself, irritation evident in his voice. "That's just great!"

"I'm glad you're here."

He thought of the sentence, and wondered why he found it hard to say. Edmund stopped and turned, looking at a walking Amelia from a distance.

"I'm glad you're here," he finally said, but she wasn't looking.

And she couldn't hear it.