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[sylla]

Dear Damon,

I must send my apologies for not having written more frequently, and do hope you know it has nothing to do with my unwillingness to do so. I suppose in a silly way I was waiting for my mood to improve and to write you from a happier state, as I would hate to bore you with my discontent in being far away from you. But alas, my impatience with myself won out.

Mummy says the way I feel in my last term is quite common; the restless boredom of routine, disinterest in what my classmates are all excited by, a disconnect and malaise that I know I will regret when this time has passed. I can't imagine you ever felt such a way, as I have always admired your charm and your personable demeanor. I admire much more about you, and wish I had more of those traits which I see in you. I should try to be more like you in those moments when conversation with my classmates feels like unbearable small talk, or gossip and chattering seems like a tiring drudge. Even if the more I think of you, the more I miss you. I have that to look forward to at least when this school term is over - no more curfews and rules and prefecture, no pretending, no homework for dull classes, just free to spend my time how I wish to. With you, of course, is how I wish to spend much of my time once I return home for good.

Apart from final term restlessness, nothing terrible has happened here, and nothing out of the ordinary either. It is altogether too ordinary, which may be the problem. We have just returned from a weekend trip to Paris, chosen by vote of the senior class. I should like to return for a visit with you, I think, once your new work allows a mini-break. All the same, it was rather pleasant to disappear into the city, to sit in cafes with a book and wander through churches and shops alone. That is a kind of loneliness I seem to prefer - the anonymity of cities that are not my own. But the call of curfew and organised trips impeded on it, only slightly. It would be nice to return and explore the city with you, I kept thinking. Things are much better with you.

Now back in Utah, things remain the same. Dueling and Fencing marks a bright spot of every week, those which I count off as one less spent until this term is over. Calvin seems to be well, as far as I can tell. The juniors are a strangely close knit group, it seems, and I do not wish to pry. I have been working on several new dueling spells and perimeter charms for my senior project, and feel little stress regarding this that many of my classmates seem to express. All the mundane usual boring talk of a student, I'm afraid, which makes me yearn for the freedom of graduation.

I hope your new job is treating you well, you deserve to have your innumerable talents recognised and respected. I also hope to see you over the Christmas holidays, as I may have several presents for you that I would not trust to intercontinental post.

[. . .] I am sorry for having troubled you with my unhappy thoughts, but there is nobody here who w I feel better already having written them down. I promise I shall be in better spirits over the holidays, you do have an uncanny ability to affect that and make me very happy, to make me forget why I was ever melancholy. [. . .] I miss you terribly, and I cannot wait to see you.

Love,

Sybilla

Comments

[godzillabutworse]

My Sylla,

I had assumed you were simply busy, and while it was a pleasure to receive your letter, it's also disheartening to hear that you're not doing well. I will make a point to write you more, then, and hopefully provide some distraction. And in the meantime, please never hesitate to share with me how you're feeling. It's better to talk it out with someone, and I am always eager to hear from you. In fact, I miss you terribly.

It's the same as it always is here, which is not a bad thing - just, a bit boring, a bit overcast. My new position is a much better fit than shop-keeping and I'm learning a great deal about the technical aspects of photography. I won't bore you with the details, but suffice it to say, I've been keeping busy. Still, I often find myself thinking of what you might have to say about this or that, day to day. And I promise the you-in-my-head is always very clever and charming, though it doesn't hold a candle to the real thing.

And speaking of, I'd be lying if I said I haven't been counting down the days to December and I'm very glad to hear you'll be home for Christmas. Seeing you, finally, is something I've been looking forward to since you'd left for school. I'd love to take you out somewhere special while you're here. And perhaps a day to just wander together, if you'd be up for that. I'd like to monopolize as much of your time as I can, while you're here, before you're off, again.

I know it's hard, but your mum is right: those doldrums strike everyone in their last year of school. I'm flattered you think I'm immune to such things, but truthfully, it's part of why I decided to leave Hogwarts for Gooseberry in the first place. I don't recommend making the leap to Castelobruxo, though - seems like too much of a hassle. Sylla, it's not much longer, and I promise, we'll go to Paris together. And other places, as well - Athens or Rome. Maybe both. We'll see the world, eventually. After school.

Eagerly awaiting your return home. You are always on my mind.

Love,

Damon