The room was quiet except for the soft clink of chess pieces. Hecate moved her knight with meticulous precision, her fingers slightly trembling as she did so. But her mind? Her mind was miles away.
Pippa glanced at her, a grin tugging at her lips. "You’re distracted," she said cheerfully, her voice light. "What’s going on in that head of yours, Hecate?"
Hecate stiffened slightly, her eyes darting back to the chessboard. “It’s… nothing,” she muttered, her voice trailing off. “Just… a small matter with Mildred.”
Pippa raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "A small matter? You’re looking all serious and mysterious. I know that look—something’s bothering you!"
Hecate cleared her throat, shifting in her chair. "Mildred came to me… for advice," she said, her voice soft. “About her first period.”
Pippa blinked, then a bright smile spread across her face. “Oh! That’s definitely a big deal! But, wait, you didn’t know what to say?”
Hecate’s face flushed a deep shade of red. She shifted uncomfortably, avoiding Pippa’s gaze. “I—I didn’t. I had no idea how to handle it. I felt—” She swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. “I felt like I was completely unprepared. I fumbled through it.”
Pippa chuckled lightly, her tone warm and teasing. "Oh, don’t worry about it! Everyone feels awkward about this kind of stuff. It’s not like you were supposed to be a pro at it. I mean, even I was totally clueless the first time!"
Hecate’s hands tightened around her teacup, feeling the heat from it, but the warmth didn’t reach her cheeks. "I just… felt ridiculous. Like I should’ve known. But it all felt wrong."
Pippa leaned back, grinning. “You’re overthinking it. Seriously, Hecate, no one’s ever prepared for that kind of thing.”
Hecate’s face twitched as she tried to compose herself. “I’m supposed to be a teacher, Pippa," she said, her voice shaky. "I’m supposed to know what to say. How could I not know something so… basic?”
Pippa, ever the optimist, waved her hand dismissively. “You’re not perfect! And hey, you’re not alone. You’ve got me. And trust me, I remember the first time I got my period.”
Flashback:
A younger Hecate stood in front of the bathroom mirror, staring at her reflection, her stomach in knots. She was fourteen, and everything about this felt wrong.
Her mother hadn’t said a word. No advice. No gentle talk. Just silence. The only sign that something was happening was the small package left on the counter.
Her mother had walked in, set it down without a glance, and walked away. The click of her shoes echoed as Hecate stared at the box, wondering if it would just disappear if she waited long enough.
But it didn’t.
Hecate opened it carefully, her fingers trembling. She didn’t even know what she was expecting, but it wasn’t this. The package felt foreign, alien, as though it belonged to a different world.
She had no idea what to do with it. She had no idea what to do with anything.
“Hecate?” Pippa’s voice was light, and Hecate blinked, realizing she had spaced out again. “What are you thinking about? You look like you’re in a whole other world!”
Hecate cleared her throat, straightening in her chair. “I was… thinking about my first time. Getting my period, I mean.”
Pippa grinned brightly, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “Oh! I remember mine! I didn’t know what to do either. I thought I was going to faint, honestly.”
Hecate shuffled awkwardly, her fingers playing with the edge of her teacup. “I thought I was supposed to be ready. But I had no idea what was happening. I—"
Pippa grinned even wider, cutting her off with a laugh. "Oh, you definitely weren’t alone. I was totally clueless too, you know? We all are."
Hecate blinked, feeling oddly comforted by Pippa’s cheer. “I guess… it’s just something you don’t really get ready for, huh?”
Pippa nodded enthusiastically. “Exactly! You just sort of… figure it out, I guess.”
Hecate allowed herself a small, almost imperceptible smile. “I suppose.”
For the first time that evening, the awkwardness seemed to fade just a little. Pippa’s warmth had a way of making things feel less impossible, even if it was only for a moment.