MBS - Distances
This is a sort of prequel to my other story: The Lemon Juice Letters.
Chapter 1 (Reynie's POV)
Railway stations had a certain bittersweet nature to them. They were the site of either painful departures or joyful reunions. And yet...this station held neither emotion for me. It was simply…
Empty.
Doormeington was a city I'd never visited before; no one was waiting for me here. No friend at least… It wasn't sweet. But with no one to tell goodbye, it wasn't truly bitter either, was it? The thought of Stonetown station, some four hours away, certainly conjured a bittersweet feeling. The sting of goodbye still felt hot against my skin, but the thought of that place also felt comforting. I knew the next time I saw it, I'd be home...
Stepping down from the train car I took a moment to stare down at my feet. As an adult, I always assumed they would take on a confidant stance, but they'd only grown...larger. Stepping forward, I found my footing nonetheless, because I was an adult now. That was why I was here, wasn't it?
To fulfill the apprenticeship that would begin my career?
"Make us proud out there!" Kate had said with a playful salute. It was the precursor to the last hug goodbye. The hug I'd not minded being so incredibly tight.
"We're already proud…" Amma had whispered, tenderness so evident in her eyes.
Even Sticky's handshake had been unusually firm, courage hidden behind his misting eyes.
Constance, for her part, had slipped a poem into my jacket pocket. The few verses easing the departing ache as the train pulled away. Her words had been flattering for once, and it made me smile.
And Mr. Benedict… The small gift he'd given me was still resting safely in my luggage. He'd said to open it once I'd gotten settled, so its contents were still a mystery to me. That word brought some hint of an ironic smile to my face. Both for the past and the present. For I was here to be a detective's apprentice.
So I forged ahead, some bit of courage stirring in my heart. The streets of Doormeington twisted into winding stone paths, autumn leaves framing each as if a well-composed painting. The slip of paper in my hand had an address scrawled across it, 572 Walnut Lane. I found the doorway with just such an address etched in gold trim. The sign also read: William Gilbert, PD. I knew those words surely stood for private detective.
Pulling open the door I was met with the sight of a small lobby of sorts. A few comfortable armchairs were scattered for what I assumed to be waiting clients. From a small desk a secretary worked diligently. Waiting for her to look up, I waited silently. Within a few moments, she glanced up at me from over her thin-rimmed glasses.
"May I help you, young man?"
"I'm Reynard Muldoon, I was to see Mr. Gilbert today. I've come from Stonetown."
Her thoughts seemed hesitant at first, before things aligned. "Ah, the new apprentice?"
"Yes, ma'am. May I meet with him now?"
"He's away on case-related business for the afternoon, I'm afraid. But he did leave me instructions for you. You're to lodge in the guestroom just up the stairs and to the left. Feel free to go up and acquaint yourself with it until Mr. Gilbert returns."
I nodded, grateful for the respite. "Thank you, I think I'll do just that."
The room was small, but all together neat. I was grateful for the small quiet space to gather myself again. It was already a cozy place. And yet...packing the dresser with my clothes seemed...so permanent. I sighed deeply, some sudden fear minging with doubt and loneliness. It was the sort of feeling I'd never completely forgotten, but… Having my friends so close at hand had often kept such depression at bay.
It only made sense to put my things away...I was to be here for two years. To learn enough from Mr. Gilbert to open my own practice in Stonetown. It had been like a dream when it all aligned, Mr. Gilbert accepting me. But now...it was not without some doubt and...loneliness. That was the inevitable price, it seemed.
My eyes glanced toward the phone, as I wondered if it was too soon to call home. It would seem needy, wouldn't it? And I...now that I was away, it suddenly felt like intruding…
So instead, I turned my attention to Mr. Benedict's gift. The wrapping was humble, just wax paper and twine, but seeing it now warmed my heart…
Swallowing deeply, I pulled at the string. The paper slipped away until a familiar form appeared.
A certain chess piece.
I smiled softly; misty emotion tugging at my eyes.
Sitting the Knight atop the dresser, I carefully framed this moment inside my mind.
I desperately wanted to remember it.
Because this was...the beginning of so many things…
Thanks for reading, more to come. Feel free to tell me what you think thus far.