Chapter Text
“Remember to be back by eight, we have to attend Mrs Delaney Christmas gala, all the family received an invitation, so at least make an apparition, hm Irene?”
“Sure.”
“I’m serious, it’s important for Genevieve.”
“This is important for me too.” My gaze met with my dad’s, who was looking at me through the mirror as I tried to make my hair somehow decent.
He stood there in silence. And I chose to stop trying to put up my hair after I got a few strands stuck on the comb I was using so I ended up settling for a hairband. He took a deep breath.
“I’ll send Horatio to Sherlock’s if at quarter to eight you haven’t written any message that tells me you’re coming back.”
“Do whatever you want.” I opened my jewelry box and started searching for a cute necklace to compliment my clothes.
“Don’t be like that, Irene, you know that you need to give in some ways to get what you want.” He picked on his nose. “I thought you understood that.”
And so my throat burned. “I thought you understood me.” Venom spitting out my mouth without care. Did it? Did I —understand me? I blinked, hard.
Dad didn’t reach out, instead he turned his open hands into two fists and let them grow closer to his stomach. “Hope everything goes well at Sherlock’s.”
“Hope everything goes well at Mrs Delaney Christmas gala.” Was I even trying to play my part? Maybe I was just tired; I still felt like a stranger in my own skin, a feeling that always lingered inside me, and of course, it just accentuated itself after mass; even so, my words didn’t grant me any tranquility, in fact they promised future me a good scolding; but so be it.
Dad left. My mirror showed me someone I didn’t recognise. Suddenly, my clothes itched, as if I were being eaten alive by thousands of ants. Suddenly, my hair was nothing but a rope to hang myself from. Suddenly, my mouth felt dry and my nails clawed onto the vanity table. I wanted to scream, yet I found no words, so I just threw the hairband across the room with a trembling hand.
My phone buzzed.
I ignored it. I needed to take off the clothes I was wearing, so I decided to just grab my towel and head to the bathroom.
And so, after almost half an hour I took a quick shower and accomplished to comb my hair in a way that didn’t make me want to ripen it off with my bare hands. I took my phone then, and only then.
[You’ve received a new message from Sherly (16:03): Do you mind if I go pick you up? Mom’s sending me to the shop for a few things and once I’m done I could pass by.]
[You’ve received a new message from God(sent)frey Norton <3 (16:07): Hey, Adler, do you know a weird word that starts with ‘A’ and could anger my grandpa? + 2 more messages]
They ripped off a little laugh that I didn’t know I still had inside me. I had people that knew me. Just like I had told Sherlock this same morning. What a shitty adviser I would be if I didn’t take my own advice, eh?
Sherly (16:03): Do you mind if I go pick you up? Mom’s sending me to the shop for a few things and once I’m done I could pass by.
You (16:28): If you still want to, I’d be ready in twenty, but get in if you arrive sooner.
Sherly (16:28): Perfect.
You reacted to “Sherly (16:28): Perfect.” with ❤️.
I closed our chat after that and opened Godfrey’s.
God(sent)frey Norton <3 (16:07): Hey, Adler, do you know a weird word that starts with ‘T’ and could anger my grandpa?
God(sent)frey Norton <3 (16:08): We’re playing scrabble and he’s been bothering me during almost all of lunch, so I really need to make a word that bugs him.
God(sent)frey Norton <3 (16:08): Besides, no one’s fighting and I’m getting bored. Help me, please?
You (16:30): lmao full grown man who's eighty and has hair in his balls everyone ✋😔
God(sent)frey Norton <3 (16:30): I know, right?
You (16:30): also sorry I’m late, just came from mass and I was taking a quick shower
You (16:31): Because I’m having dinner at Sherlock’s today (I’ll probably leave my phone at home just so you know)
You (16:31): Do you still need ideas for scrabble?
God(sent)frey Norton <3 (16:33): It’s fine, we’re all in between family celebrations, I imagined.
God(sent)frey Norton <3 (16:34): That’s cool! I’m glad you’re going somewhere you enjoy today, say hi to him for me!
God(sent)frey Norton <3 (16:34): (I assume you won’t be making an appearance at Mrs Delaney’s gala?)
You (16:35): 💞💞
God(sent)frey Norton <3 (16:35): And yes I do need more ideas for scrabble. 🙏
You (16:35): (No I don’t really plan to go there, were you invited?)
You (16:35): Any letter requests? lol
God(sent)frey Norton <3 (16:36): Anything that starts with ‘A’ or ‘C’.
You (16:37): acracy
You (16:37): ataraxia
God(sent)frey Norton <3 (16:37): (I wasn’t invited, Laurence is though, if you were going to be forced to go I’d probably sneak in with him and keep you company.)
You (16:38): Starting with c maybe calvary
You (16:38): acatalepsy has got more letters tho
You (16:39): (aaw you’re such a sweetheart, Norton)
You (16:39): ambidextrous can get you more points but it has no c
God(sent)frey Norton <3 (16:41): I’ll manage, thanks for your words and knowledge walking dictionary. 💐
God(sent)frey Norton <3 (16:42): (Thanks, I try.)
You (16:42): It’s nothing, go win some points!! 💖
God(sent)frey Norton <3 (16:43): At it, Adler. 🫡
A new notification bubble appeared on my screen, so I opened the new chat.
Sherly (17:42): I’m outside, do you want me to enter?
You (17:42): sure, I’m still in the bathroom tho, the window’s open (I think?)
Sherly (17:43): 👍