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Violets wafting through the air, Darling rested her fingers against the cool knob. She caressed the smooth surface, her blue silk gloves feeling the serenity of the knob. Her heart drummed against her chest, clearly not following the tempo. A bouquet of violets, wrapped in a bow gently clasped between her left fingers.
Lightly placing the violets on the floor, she slipped off the delicate gloves that wrapped around her fingers, putting it on the floor. There were small spots of purple on her long fingers, callused and cracked. A reflection of the abberated activities she’s been doing clandestinely. She picked up the bouquet in her bare hand, feeling the veins of the stalks.
The leaves weaving against each other in the wind, she and Apple sat down in a meadow surrounded by violets, all alone. Time passed clemetly. Their fingers brushed against each other; a sirenic, snake-like, stimulating sense that heightened the mood.
“Would you mind?” her own voice rang in her head.
Apple’s slow shake of the head, eyes shining with curiousity yet a furtive glint in them made Darling hesitate. Their breaths matching pace, each exhale was a teasing tug to Darling’s heart.
Darling smiled, the fond memory filling her with joy. She looked around the hallway’s walls — yellow swirls gently etched with apples — a soothing sight for her eyes. She looked back down at the flowers in her bare hand. Under the blue lace of her gown, her body dripped with sweat.
“Not now,” she thought to herself.
And slowly, Apple came closer. Darling’s eyes dart down to the lips of the girl in front of her. Round. Rimmed with the red of a poppy.
Her eyes slowly wandered back up, Apple’s eyes now sparkling. Implored. Insistent. Darling gave a gentle nod, pulling her body closer to Apple, the petals of violets floating around them.
Their breaths match pace, and eventually, the gap closes between them. Soft. Succulent. Sensual. Darling closed her eyes, blood rushing through her head as she held Apple tight. She felt her hair getting tangled as each lock wraps itself around her lover’s fingers. Darling gingerly bought her hand around Apple, feeling the princess’ body getting hotter from the touch. Opening her eyes slowly, she pulled away. All across her tanned face, a smile filled the corners.
Apple’s eyelids, covered in silvery eyeshadow fluttered, a gentle smile on her pursed lips. Darling rubbed her hand down from Apple’s neck to her hand. They’ve clasped.
“Don’t leave me” Apple whispered, gripping onto Darling’s gloved hand tight. The three words silently escaped from her mouth, a ting of uneasiness washing over her.
Darling shook her head, a confirmation of her endeavours.
With that, Apple let go of Darling’s hands slowly. She reached her neck, unclasping a string of pearls. Closer, she leaned to Darling. Clearing the now-tangled strands in the way, she carefully put it on for Darling.
The scent of Apple pie radiated throughout her neck as the warm pearls sat. She smiled, her hand reaching up to the pearl.
Now, the pearls were cool. Darling turned them around, the warmer side sitting on the back of her neck. Taking a deep breath, she put her glove back on, picking up the bouquet. She twisted the doorknob, her anxious eyes scanning the crack of the doorway. Emptiness. Her muse would usually be resting on the sofa, a monocle on her soft cheekbone.
Pushing the door open even more, she stepped inside. The chandelier’s warm lights filled the room, catching the light of the monocle by her resting couch. It sparkled much like the first time she gave Apple a single violet. A gaze of humility that entranced compassion.
She stepped around the yellow-walled room, her heels gently thudding against the floor. Her finger ran across her vanity, a small copper cup of water with dried, naked violets in them. The petals — shriveled, desaturated, crisp — sat on the red-painted wooden surface. Each fragment of the petals stood still like Sappho’s poetry.
She heard a familiar ring a few rooms away. The faint, sweet smell of her perfume radiated throughout; however it could just be a silver from the pearl necklace that sat on her neck.
“We’re destined to be…” a whisper repeated itself like a mantra. A shaky breath escapes Darling, slowly stepping out to see the sight.
At first, her eyes didn’t drink it in properly. She blinked a couple of times. Her eyes were lying, weren’t they?
Apple’s curls bounced slightly as she looked up at Darling’s brother. Less poised than usual. Her round fingers which once held a promise fidget against each other as her arm linked with her destined prince’s. Despite it all, she had an air of confidence.
Tightly, Darling bit her lip. Her chest heaved heavily, her eyes twitching. She attempted to suppress it, yet a tear cascaded down her cheek. Her grip on the bouquet loosened. The petals dispersed. A shuffling sound was made as the bouquet landed on the floor.
Her fingers dance against each other, her feet quickly taking her out of the room. The pollen filled her nostrils, a stark constrast to the impact she had on Apple’s life.
“You’d have to stop the world just to stop the feeling” she whispered, turning her head back and watching the couple enter the room. A warm scent of Apple pie radiated throughout her body. Notes of cinnamon nudged her nostrils, her eyes threatening to spill tears. Her fingers slowly wrap around the string of pearls around her neck. A deep sigh escaping her lips, she yanked the string, making each stone bounced on the ground as it scattered. Without another glance, she walked away, hearing the pearls roll toward the yellow room.