I put on a dark pink sundress and a white hat and looked in the mirror. My face looked plain despite my smile so I proceeded to put on some make-up. A little blusher and some sparkly lipgloss made me look and feel perkier and when I reached the bottom of the stairs I was greeted with a beautiful sight... Justin had Markl sat on his knee and was conjuring characters from Markl's favourite book who were having a great battle. Markl was completely still as he watched the story unfold before his eyes. I let my body lean against the wall and my hand went to my chest. This is what I could never give Markl. I would never be able to show him something that would take his breath away. At that moment tears sprung to my eyes and I quietly left the room and sat on the stairs regaining my composure. I couldn't let them see me like this.
Once I'd calmed down and re-entered the living room I knew what I wanted to do. I wanted to take Markl and Justin to the place I used to live. I wanted to show them my old hat shop but first there was business to take care of. I told Justin and Markl that I was off to pick some flowers for the shop and Markl asked if he could go and play with his friend. I couldn't really say i was surprised that he didn't want to pick flowers with me so I told him to go ahead.
"Sophie do you mind if I come with you? I'd really love a walk."
My heart skipped. Of course I wanted to come. I just nodded and chose a basket to carry my flowers.
When we reached the garden my nervous disposition suddenly disappeared and i found it easy to talk to him. We talked for hours about the smallest of things, the weather, the colours of my flowers... everything was going so well. Until he mentioned the day he saved my life and the fact that i chose Howl over him. We were sitting in the shade of a blossom tree when he spoke of it.
"Ah Sophie, the blossom petals falling like that resemble wedding confetti don't you agree?"
"Uhm, yes i suppose they do."
He moved closer to me and into the sun, his hat casting strange shadows over his porcelain face. He reached for my hand and i obliged and offered it to him.
"Sophie, i..." He sighed.
"I have been thinking alot about the day the war ended. When i woke up back to my human self i assumed that you would become my wife and that i would no longer feel so alone. Tormented by watching my brothers in love.
I cringed at his words without knowing why.
"Pri..." He interrupted me.
"Sophie let me finish..."
At that moment Markl could be seen running down the hill. I retracted my hand and stood up, running towards my boy.
"SOOOOPHHIIIEEEE!"
"Markl! Whats wrong?!"
I stopped and waited for Markl to crash into my arms and when he did we fell to the floor in fits of giggles.
"Sophie, someone is at the house for you."
I tried to think of who it could be for moment before giving up and making my way towards the house. My heart started to race as i considered the possibility that it could be Howl. He could be there waiting for me with a new strange contraption for Markl and one of his smiles for me. Then my heart sank. Markl would have said if it was Howl.
When i reached the house i was surprised to see the Witch of the Waste sitting neatly on the armchair she occupied during her recovery. Howl had finally forgiven her and they had come to an agreement that if he healed her and made her able to move again, she would keep her distance unless an emergency occurred. This is how i knew that this was not just a friendly visit.
"Hello Sophie my dear, how are you doing child?" I nodded and replied "I am very well thank- you, and yourself?" She looked almost through me.
"So it's true."
I was puzzled, all she had asked was how i was.
"Is what true ma'am?"
"Howl. He's gone to her."
My heart skipped a million beats. Howl had gone to who? Who was she? My insides were shattering as if they were made of glass as the image of Howl being held by another woman entered my mind.
Sensing my distress, she touched her hand to my cheek.
"Who is she?" I managed to choke out.
"I'll get straight to it shall i? She used to teach him... Before the war. She taught him how to control his powers."
My heart started beating again and i became hopeful.
"So he has gone to her... to learn?"
"I wish that was all Sophie. I was completely heartbroken when i heard that she was a changer. It meant that Howl could be in love with her. She could trap him like she trapped the others."
"But she didn't?"
"Child, she couldn't. He didn't have a heart for her to take."
Hearing this broke my heart and troubled me greatly. Prince Justin chose to walk into the room at that moment and so i told my guest we could return to our conversation later. I walked to the kitchen to make tea, he followed me and offered to help.
When the tea was ready i decided i was ready to show them my old house. The witch decided to come with us. We decided to travel the human way despite the protests of Justin and drove in my human car to the hat shop. I smiled widely as i saw the striped boxes in the window- the same ones that had always been there. As soon as i stepped out of the car, my old work friends rushed into my arms.
"Sophie!" they all chanted.
I held every one of them to me and was surprised to see my sister in the line of people. "What are you doing here sis!?" i exclaimed.
"Well when you went away a spot opened up in the shop and i missed you. Besides you know how much i hated that bakery."
"Lettie... You were terrible at making ha..."
"I know, i know don't worry Sophie i am managing the shop, not making the hats."
I breathed a sigh of relief. "Well it's nice to see you."
After the introductions we decided on having lunch at the cafe we used to hang around at as children. She told me that she was doing okay and whilst we caught up I looked around at my companions. Markl was riding around on Justin's shoulders swatting at magical butterflies and Justin was smiling broadly. The witch of the waste sat on the sidelines and watched them frolic- a look of torment in her eyes.
Even as Lettie prattled on with her story and laughed at the bits she found hilarious, a deep melancholy set over me.