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There’s a big sister that Millie couldn't help but notice every time, one who lingers in front of her family’s store simply staring at the sweets and candies that they sell.
She’s there, standing by her lonesome and never buying anything. Sometimes, she comes in and takes a look but leaves without anything for herself. She’s there, every first of the month and every time the town is holding a festival.
She’s strange for someone who is as old as her big brother. She wears clothes like the rich people do when she doesn't look like one, not really. But she does look comfortable in them which is what matters, as her parents always say.
She rarely smiles, Millie notices every time. There’s always that far away look in her eyes, a hand placed on the glass wall. They would have been worried, but surely there's no reason for a girl like her to do anything like steal? And she’s nice. Millie knows that because she sees her feeding the stray animals by the streets whenever she comes by.
But today is the New Year’s Eve, orange already tainting the skies above and the bustle of the town is ever more lively with the coming of the next year. More people are in the streets than usual and yet once more, Millie’s eyes are on the girl wearing a suit and a tophat who is standing in front of their shop.
“Big sis.”
The girl’s eyes meet her own.
“It’s New Year’s Eve,” Millie states because it is and it also means new beginnings — maybe she can befriend the big sister who always comes around during the town’s celebrations. “Would you like some candies?” She offers, already thinking about telling her parents about it later. They won't mind.
The girl blinks. She stays silent for a good few seconds before she shakes her head, “I’m sorry. I’m just looking around, I’m not here to—”
“For free,” Millie insists, already making her way to one of the jar of candies that her parents had tried to give to her but she’s not a child anymore, she’s eight and she likes to think that she’s old enough not to want more of their own candies. “Like a gift, from me. Because you always…”
She pauses, and then looks closer.
Millie is the one blinking this time.
The big sister who always came with eyes rimmed with exhaustion and loneliness no longer looked like such.
When did that change?
The last time she saw her was a couple of months ago, when the skies were stormy and the sound of raindrops accompanying her.
Was a few months enough to make a change? Maybe something good happened. Whenever something good happens to Millie, she always feels very strong and like nothing in the world can stop her. Is that how the big sister is feeling?
“You don’t…” Millie tries to start, struggling how to say the words right because her parents always told her to be nice to strangers and not say anything so suddenly that might upset them. “You don’t look lonely anymore.”
There . She said it.
She hopes she didn't come off as rude, it’s not her intention at all. She just wanted to say that the big sister’s eyes are brighter than they were. That there were marks on her cheeks that told Millie she’s been smiling a whole lot more. That she doesn't look like there’s an unsolvable problem she’s facing against the same way Millie still can't do her divisions and multiplications properly.
She looks up at the big sister, a bit shy because she hasn't said anything for a few seconds now and what if what she said made her cry? She hopes the big sister doesn't start crying — she doesn't know how to help with that. She’s always been the one crying and not the one comforting because her older brother is always there for her.
But the big sister doesn't do anything. She only gives her a soft smile before lowering herself down to Millie’s eye level. “Is that so?” She says, like she’s going to start laughing but she doesn't laugh and at least it won't make Millie feel bad about herself. “I’m Vertin, what’s your name?”
“Millie. Mama says not to give my name out to strangers but you told me your name is Vertin and does that mean we’re friends now?” Millie blurts out, her words coming out rapid fire from nervousness. She fidgets with the fabric of her dress, drawing lines on the ground with a foot. “We’re friends now, right?” She asks again, just to be sure.
Vertin lets out a small laugh and Millie parts her lips in amazement. Smiling suited her. But laughing fits her even more. She never did like whenever she sees older people frowning, it makes her sad too. “I suppose we are. And you know what friends do, Millie?”
Millie thinks for awhile before shaking her head. “I dunno.”
“Gift each other things without having to be asked,” Vertin says and then she’s reaching for her pocket and while Millie can hear the jingle of the coins, Vertin takes longer to get what she needs and then—
“For the candy jar,” she gives her the proper payment for it, Millie raising her head to object because that’s her gift for her—
“And this is for you.”
A crystal the shape of raindrop is placed on the palm of her hand, glittering in a way that Millie’s never seen before. It’s the same color as the skies whenever the sun sets, painted purple. “You can keep this, as a gift from me.”
“But…”
“I have more where it came from, don't worry,” Vertin tells her as she takes the jar of candies that Millie had offered her earlier while she straightened her back. “Please keep it for me?”
Millie opens her mouth.
“... Okay!”
Vertin places a hand on her head and gently pats it, the same way her dad always does whenever she does something good. “See you later, Millie. Thank you for the candies.”
“Thank you for the pretty gem, big sister!” Millie says after her as Vertin steps out of the shop. “I hope you have a good day!”
She tries to chase after Vertin, to at least see her off but she stops in her tracks just by the doorway of their shop.
“Oh, there she is! Vertin, you jerk! Why did you suddenly disappear— I can’t believe you left us for candies, again !”
“Regulus, I don't think that you should be shaking Vertin. What if she drops the candies?”
“Miss Druvis is right! That’ll be terrible for the candies, indeed! Here you go, Ms. Vertin. Let me carry it for you!”
“Sorry for leaving without any warnings, and it’s fine. You should be buying other things to carry yourself too since we're already here.”
“Timekeeper, if not Sotheby then please let me—”
Vertin’s surrounded by people.
It’s a weird sight to see for Millie, always accustomed to seeing the big sister without any company. But for some reason, it feels just right too.
Vertin catches her gaze and with a small smile, she waves at Millie goodbye while still carrying one of the other girls on her back who looks like she’s going to end up strangling her if she doesn't get removed soon.
Millie also waves back, beaming.
“I think you’re choking her, Captain.”
“Shush, Mr. APPLe, hide yourself again! We can't let anyone see you or else they’ll start calling for our heads!”