AN: I don't write about Valerie near as much as I want to.
Ah, another one.
Every now and again, she'd run across them; the little tokens of her old life. Before everything had flipped around and landed her on the bottom of the social grapevine. They weren't much to look at; a glittery hairpin from Paulina, a picture of her and Kwan at the yearly carnival with Star. She'd even found a blouse that managed to survive the purge for the yard sale when they'd moved.
She couldn't decide whether she liked finding them or not. It was like biting into a strawberry; sometimes they were wonderfully sweet and nostalgic, and sometimes they left a bitter taste in her mouth. She could remember the bliss of not having to worry about if they would have food on the table until the next time both paychecks came in; but with it, came memories of abusing others for the fun of it, and the shallow way she'd looked at others, as if they were less than human for not being as pretty or popular or as rich.
There was the loss of her innocent view of the world, of not being involved with ghosts and revenge and mind games. There was the way she'd learned to stand on her own two feet, of learning the value of working for something and earning it herself.
Valerie had come a long way from the girl she used to be, and she honestly wasn't sure whether that was a good thing or not.
Hope you all enjoyed!~