Elsa's Gift - Episode 5

Novella Thursdays

Chapter Four

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Elsa couldn’t help but feel anxious as the rain poured down so heavy outside. The maids had assured her that there was nothing to worry about, for this mansion was built as strong as a castle, but when one grows up in a shack which teeters on the edge of destruction with nearly every typhoon to hit the Philippines, a fear that had built up over time simply wouldn’t dissipate with a few reassurances.

Elsa got out of her bed, left her room and headed down the hall in her silk nightgown, Maybe a little conversation with one of the other girls would get her mind off the thunderstorm.

Mimi’s door was open, her light on as Elsa picked up on the voices coming from the bedroom. She and Ken had arrived late from the airport, so she hadn’t had a chance to see her colleagues yet, whom she had started to look towards as sisters now that they were getting close and she had never had any.

She walked into Mimi’s doorway in time to see a maid giving Mimi a pill and a cup of water, Meg nearby watching over. ‘Ah, Elsa, glad to see you made it home despite the bad weather. Did you get the plate of dinner we saved for you?’

‘Yes, thank you. I was just going to say goodnight to Mimi.’

Mimi ran over and hugged Elsa. ‘Goodnight. It’s nice to have you back.’

‘Are you feeling ok? I saw you take a pill,’ Elsa asked.

‘Oh, yes. Meg says it’s just to help me rest-’

‘Alright ladies,’ Meg interrupted. ‘Why don’t we get to bed. We have an early day tomorrow.’

The two girls hugged again, then Elsa, Meg and the maid left Mimi to sleep, Meg turning to Elsa as she closed the door behind them.

‘So your father is doing better?’

‘Yes. The doctor says he’s strong, but needs to take it easy now that he’s nearing retirement age.’

‘That’s great news. Mr. Fujimoto was very impressed with your work last week. He has more for you in the morning if you think you’re ready.’

‘Yes, that would be great. I’m eager to get back to work.’

They had now reached Elsa’s bedroom. ‘Very well. Have a good night.’ Meg then walked off. Odd how she could be so pleasant one moment yet so cold the next.

Elsa settled into bed once more, nerves a little less on edge now that she had distracted herself with some company. Over the sheets of rain pelting the windows she thought with some excitement on what her next work assignment would be.

But these thoughts weren’t the ones she finally fell asleep to. The images in mind when those light tingling sensations of sleep began to sooth her into the unconscious were actually of Ken. Of the time they had spent together over the past few days. On the way from the airport he had told her, had joked with her that she would have a break from him until next week, as he was now to take a few days off.

To her surprise Elsa had felt a little sadness towards the news, only realizing at that moment that she now felt some sort of bond with him. It could have been due to the fact that he had spent time with her and her family but it seemed the feeling went beyond this. A longing in the heart, not wanting their time together to end.

Maybe she was just being too sentimental, the fresh sorrow of once again leaving her family causing her to feel closeness to the one who had been there with her. But then again she had never really experienced a connection when it came to attraction, her lovers from the age of having thoughts of one merely existing in the fictional literature she would sometimes read from her world of academics.

Is this what it felt like to like a boy in the flesh? What would he have said if she would have asked him if she could