11-10-2025, 10:11 PM
It had only been around a year since Elyse had left, but it felt like it had been so much longer. Still, the streets of Helsingør were completely familiar to her. She had walked these streets since she had been a little girl. Back then, she had often held the hand of her father and mother. She had always felt safe here. Even now, after all of it, she still felt safe. She had debated whether or not to even make the trip to her hometown, but deep down, she knew she had to do it. She needed a final page to close this chapter of her life, and the end of the year seemed an appropriate time to do it.
Elyse had asked Rachel if she wanted to come with. It hadn't surprised or upset Elyse when Rachel had said she wanted to, but didn't think she could handle it. Rachel was doing so much better now that she had been only a short time ago, but she still struggled. Elyse thought she would see this trip as sort of an extended date. Rachel wasn't ready for that, and truth be told, Elyse wasn't either. They both needed to heal more even if they both liked each other. Elyse gave a brief smile as she crossed a street. Thinking of Rachel usually did. She was glad that they both liked each other well enough that Rachel felt comfortable speaking the truth with her and Elyse felt comfortable accepting it.
Elyse wasn't alone though. Anna had accepted her invitation to come. It had been Rachel's suggestion to Elyse to invite Anna. Elyse was glad for that. She didn't want to be here alone. The pair had flew into Copenhagen the night before and this morning had traveled into Helsingør. Elyse was showing Anna around.
"That's Kronborg Castle," she said, pointing at the large building that could be seen over the houses. "Where Hamlet takes place."
Anna gave her a smile. "Can we see it while we're here?"
"Of course! They have tours. Let's do that tomorrow." Elyse said, directing Anna down a side street.
The pair followed the street for several more blocks. The houses were getting farther apart as they got into a more affluent neighborhood. There was a park nearby, and Elyse led them into it. She wiped the snow off of a bench and sat down. Anna sat next to her as Elyse looked across the street. A house sat there, well maintained with a "For Sale" sign in the front. Elyse didn't say anything. Anna knew why she was here, and she knew the importance of the house that kept Elyse's gaze.
Seeing her childhood home with a sign out front hurt. It also brought back memories - most of them happy, but now tainted with the pain of her father's betrayal. Elyse had made the decision to sell the house. Sage had assisted in making that happen and taking care of the rest of her estate. Elyse already had some liquid assets from that. The house was all that was left that (technically) still belonged to her.
Elyse wasn't aware that she had started to cry until she felt Anna's warmth wrap itself around her. Elyse leaned into her, resting her head on her best friend's shoulder. Anna was as perceptive as always said nothing. She was just present in the moment and that was what Elyse needed. The sting of betrayal hurt, but Elyse was glad she had come. There was a peace she was beginning to feel that had been a long time coming. Elyse wiped at tears, stinging in the cold. She would endure for now.
Elyse had asked Rachel if she wanted to come with. It hadn't surprised or upset Elyse when Rachel had said she wanted to, but didn't think she could handle it. Rachel was doing so much better now that she had been only a short time ago, but she still struggled. Elyse thought she would see this trip as sort of an extended date. Rachel wasn't ready for that, and truth be told, Elyse wasn't either. They both needed to heal more even if they both liked each other. Elyse gave a brief smile as she crossed a street. Thinking of Rachel usually did. She was glad that they both liked each other well enough that Rachel felt comfortable speaking the truth with her and Elyse felt comfortable accepting it.
Elyse wasn't alone though. Anna had accepted her invitation to come. It had been Rachel's suggestion to Elyse to invite Anna. Elyse was glad for that. She didn't want to be here alone. The pair had flew into Copenhagen the night before and this morning had traveled into Helsingør. Elyse was showing Anna around.
"That's Kronborg Castle," she said, pointing at the large building that could be seen over the houses. "Where Hamlet takes place."
Anna gave her a smile. "Can we see it while we're here?"
"Of course! They have tours. Let's do that tomorrow." Elyse said, directing Anna down a side street.
The pair followed the street for several more blocks. The houses were getting farther apart as they got into a more affluent neighborhood. There was a park nearby, and Elyse led them into it. She wiped the snow off of a bench and sat down. Anna sat next to her as Elyse looked across the street. A house sat there, well maintained with a "For Sale" sign in the front. Elyse didn't say anything. Anna knew why she was here, and she knew the importance of the house that kept Elyse's gaze.
Seeing her childhood home with a sign out front hurt. It also brought back memories - most of them happy, but now tainted with the pain of her father's betrayal. Elyse had made the decision to sell the house. Sage had assisted in making that happen and taking care of the rest of her estate. Elyse already had some liquid assets from that. The house was all that was left that (technically) still belonged to her.
Elyse wasn't aware that she had started to cry until she felt Anna's warmth wrap itself around her. Elyse leaned into her, resting her head on her best friend's shoulder. Anna was as perceptive as always said nothing. She was just present in the moment and that was what Elyse needed. The sting of betrayal hurt, but Elyse was glad she had come. There was a peace she was beginning to feel that had been a long time coming. Elyse wiped at tears, stinging in the cold. She would endure for now.