An unexpected guest
As the days turned into weeks, Vi began to notice small changes. Caitlyn's dismissive eye rolls became less frequent, and she seemed to tolerate Vi's presence a bit more. Though it was a slow and challenging process, Vi held onto the hope that she was making a difference, even if it wasn't immediately visible.
Vi was carefully dusting and organizing Caitlyn’s photos on the table when her eyes landed on a particularly striking picture. In the photo, Caitlyn was wearing hunting gear, her face lit up with a big smile. Standing beside her were her father and mother, both beaming with pride and joy.
“Ionia,” Caitlyn’s voice suddenly interrupted Vi’s thoughts, causing her to jump. She spun around to see Caitlyn behind her, watching her intently.
“I’m sorry, I was—” Vi started to apologize, feeling caught off guard.
“Looking at my photos,” Caitlyn cut her off, her tone sharp and accusatory.
“I didn’t mean to—” Vi tried to explain, her voice faltering.
“You must feel pity, don’t you?” Caitlyn continued, her voice filled with bitterness. “You ask yourself, how did she go from that to this? It must be awful.”
Vi felt a surge of emotions—anger, frustration, and sadness—all at once. She put the photo down carefully, taking a moment to compose herself. Without saying a word, she turned and walked out of the room, feeling Caitlyn’s gaze on her back.
As Vi entered another room, she let out a deep breath, her mind racing. She knew Caitlyn was lashing out, perhaps using her words as a defense mechanism. But it didn’t make the sting of her comments any easier to bear. Vi leaned against the wall, closing her eyes for a moment to gather her thoughts.
She had come into this job to pay for her sister’s education, but Caitlyn’s constant hostility was wearing her down. Vi understood that Caitlyn was dealing with immense pain and frustration, but she wasn’t sure how much more she could take.
That evening, feeling the weight of her frustrations, Vi decided to visit her sister at the college she was enrolled in instead of going home. She arrived at Powder's dorm room, the bustling energy of the campus a stark contrast to her own tumultuous emotions.
Vi flopped down on her sister’s bed, staring up at the ceiling. “Every time I speak, she looks at me like I’m stupid,” she vented, her voice tinged with exasperation.
Powder, who had been engrossed in her studies at her desk, turned around in her chair and shot Vi a teasing grin. “I mean, you kinda are,” she said, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
Vi grabbed a pillow and playfully threw it at her little sister. “Ouch!” Powder exclaimed, laughing as she caught the pillow and hugged it to her chest. “Hey, I’m just playing.”
“I know, Powder,” Vi replied, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips despite her earlier frustration.
Powder’s expression softened as she looked at her older sister. “I mean, it’s not like you’re going to quit,” she said gently, trying to offer some perspective.
“Watch me,” Vi shot back, her tone defiant but with a hint of humor. She knew deep down that quitting wasn’t really an option, but the thought of it provided a momentary escape from the challenges she was facing.
Powder got up from her chair and sat on the edge of the bed next to Vi. “You’re tough, Vi. You’ve always been. And you’re doing something really helpful. She just needs time to see that,” she said, her voice filled with support.
Vi sighed, appreciating her sister’s words. “I know, it’s just... so hard sometimes. I feel like I’m not getting through to her, and it’s frustrating.”
Powder reached out and squeezed Vi’s hand. “You will get through to her. It’s going to take time, but she’ll see how amazing you are. Just keep being yourself and don’t give up.”
Vi felt a surge of gratitude for her sister’s unwavering support. “Thanks, Powder. You always know what to say,” she said, feeling a bit lighter.
“Of course. That’s what sisters are for,” Powder replied, giving Vi a warm smile. “Now, let’s do something fun to take your mind off things. How about a movie or a game?”
Vi chuckled, appreciating the distraction. “Alright, let’s do it.”
The sisters spent the rest of the evening laughing and enjoying each other’s company, providing a much-needed sense of comfort.
“Violet,” called out Cassandra, her voice echoing through the hallway.
“Yes, Mrs. Kiramman?” Vi responded, hurrying over to where Cassandra stood.
Cassandra sighed, her expression a mix of concern and urgency. “Some of Caitlyn’s friends are visiting today. This is unexpected, so please pretend you’re just a worker of the house and not a personal caregiver for Caitlyn.”
Vi nodded, understanding the importance of maintaining appearances. “Yes, alright,” she said, her tone respectful.
Cassandra continued, her demeanor thoughtful. “Caitlyn hasn’t seen her friends in a while, and I think it’s important for her to reconnect with them. But I want everything to go smoothly, and it might be easier if her friends see you as part of the household staff rather than her personal caregiver. It might make Caitlyn feel more comfortable too.”
Vi absorbed the instructions, feeling the weight of the task ahead. “Understood, Mrs. Kiramman. I’ll do my best to blend in and not draw attention to myself.”
“Thank you, Violet. I appreciate your understanding,” Cassandra said, giving Vi a small, grateful smile. “Let’s make sure everything is ready for their visit. We’ll need to prepare some refreshments and ensure the living area is tidy.”
“So, any improvements?” Morgana asked, her voice carrying a hint of hopeful curiosity.
“No, Morgana, no improvements,” Caitlyn responded, clearly uncomfortable. The tension in the room was palpable.
Maddie tried to lighten the mood. “Well, you look great.”
Caitlyn smiled sarcastically. “Thank you, Maddie. So, what’s the occasion?” she inquired, her tone edged with bitterness.
“Well,” said Morgana, glancing at Maddie for support, “we’re inviting you to our wedding.”
Caitlyn looked at both of them, her expression unreadable. “Please say something, Cait,” Maddie pleaded, her voice filled with concern.
“Oh yes, I’m sorry. Congratulations,” Caitlyn said with biting sarcasm. Her words stung, and Morgana’s face flushed with anger.
“We should probably go, Maddie,” Morgana said, her tone terse as she stood up, clearly upset.
Morgana left the room, leaving Maddie and Caitlyn alone. Maddie’s face was a mix of sorrow and frustration. “I’m sorry,” she said softly, her eyes searching Caitlyn’s for any sign of understanding.
Caitlyn didn’t respond. She turned her chair around and left the room, her silence speaking volumes.
Vi, who had been nearby and heard everything, entered the living room. Maddie was still there, looking dejected. “I tried,” Maddie said, catching Vi’s attention. “I really tried, but after the accident, she just pushed me away.”
“Congratulations,” Vi said, her tone serious.
Maddie managed a small, sad smile. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. She looked at Vi, her eyes filled with unspoken emotions. “It’s just... I wish things were different. I wish she could see that we’re still here for her.” Maddie turned and left.
Vi watched Maddie close the door but was suddenly startled by the sudden sound of glass breaking, her heart racing in alarm. “Caitlyn!” she called out, her voice filled with concern. Without hesitation, she dashed to the next room, her footsteps echoing in the quiet house.
As she entered the room, she found Caitlyn beside the table, surrounded by shattered glass and broken photo frames scattered on the ground.
“Caitlyn, don’t move until I clean that up,” Vi said urgently, her eyes scanning the mess for any potential hazards. She quickly made her way to Caitlyn’s side, her worry evident in her expression.
Caitlyn's face was a mix of frustration and anger, her hand trembling slightly. Vi could sense the emotional turmoil that had led to the outburst, and she felt a pang of sympathy for the girl. She wanted to help, but first, she needed to ensure Caitlyn’s safety.
Vi grabbed a broom and dustpan from a nearby closet and began carefully sweeping up the broken glass, making sure to get every tiny shard. She worked quickly but meticulously, not wanting to leave any dangerous pieces behind. As she cleaned, she couldn’t help but glance at the photos, wondering what had triggered such a strong reaction from Caitlyn.
Caitlyn sat silently, her eyes fixed on a spot on the floor, avoiding Vi’s gaze. The room was filled with an uncomfortable tension, the air heavy with unspoken emotions. Vi finished sweeping up the glass and carefully disposed of it, making sure the area was safe.
Once the mess was cleaned up, Vi turned her attention to Caitlyn. She could see the pain and frustration etched on her face, and she knew that this was about more than just the broken glass. “Are you alright?” Vi asked softly, her voice filled with concern.
Caitlyn didn’t respond immediately. She finally looked up at Vi, her eyes reflecting a storm of emotions. “I don’t need your pity,” she said, her voice strained.
Vi took a deep breath, trying to remain calm and empathetic. “I’m not here to pity you, Caitlyn. I’m here to help. If there’s something you need to talk about, I’m here to listen.”
Caitlyn’s expression softened slightly, but she still looked guarded. “You don’t understand,” she said quietly.
“Then help me understand,” Vi replied gently. “I want to be here for you, but I can’t do that if you don’t let me in.”
Caitlyn just looked away.
“It was horrible,” Vi said, recounting the day’s events to her girlfriend. “Her best friend and her ex-girlfriend are getting married.”
Vi sighed, laying back on the couch as she spoke. “Can you believe it? She was so sarcastic and cold, and then her friend Morgana got mad and left. It was just... awful.”
“Sarah, are you listening?” Vi asked, noticing that Sarah seemed a bit distracted.
“Yes, yes I am. Here, look,” Sarah replied, handing Vi her phone.
“What’s this?” Vi asked, looking at the screen.
“It’s for our anniversary. We’re going to Bilgewater,” Sarah said, her voice filled with excitement.
“Bilgewater, um, yay,” Vi said, trying to match Sarah’s enthusiasm but feeling a bit puzzled. “Why, though?”
“There’s a large shooting competition, and I was accepted for it!” Sarah explained, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
“Oh, congratulations,” Vi said, her voice lacking the enthusiasm Sarah had hoped for. She felt a pang of sadness, realizing that their anniversary trip was centered around a shooting competition rather than spending quality time together.