Chapter 22
Elphaba woke to knocking. She blinked, momentarily confused, before remembering last night. Galinda was still asleep beside her, blonde hair spilling over the pillow, her breathing soft and even.
Careful not to wake her, Elphaba slipped out of bed and padded to the door.
When she cracked it open, a familiar face greeted her.
“Mirn?” she whispered.
The baker’s son grinned up at her. “Morning! Thom told me there was a pretty girl here, so I wanted to see her.”
Elphaba sighed, glancing back at Galinda. “She’s still asleep.”
Mirn’s face fell. “Oh. Can I meet her later?”
Elphaba smirked. “I suppose I can arrange that.”
Mirn grinned.
“Wait here,” she instructed, stepping back inside.”
She moved quickly, sitting at the small desk and pulling out a scrap of paper, she began writing.
Dear Nessa,
I can’t meet you for lunch today. Galinda arrived yesterday, and I need to stay with her.
Her parents found out about us. And it didn’t go well. They told her to leave, gave her no choice. She showed up here yesterday with nowhere else to go. She’s barely holding herself together.
I can’t leave her alone.
I’ll explain more when I next see you.
Love,
Elphaba.
She folded the letter and set it aside before scribbling another note.
I’ve just popped downstairs. I’ll be back soon.
- E
She left it on the bed where Galinda would see it, then grabbed the letter for Nessa and returned to the door.
Mirn was still there, rocking back on his heels.
“Can you take this to my sister?” she asked, handing him the letter along with a few coins as payment.
Mirn pocketed them with a grin.
“Sure thing, Miss Elphaba. Easy.”
“Thank you, Mirn.”
With that, Mirn dashed off, and Elphaba made her way downstairs.
Thom was behind the counter, wiping down the surface, but he looked up when she approached.
“Got a question for you,” he said.
Elphaba frowned. “What?”
“That pretty girl outside your door last night…the blonde one.” He paused, eyeing her. “She looked like she’d been crying for a week straight. Who is she?”
Elphaba hesitated, then sighed. “She’s…my girlfriend.”
Thom blinked. “Your-?” He huffed a laugh, shaking his head. “Huh. Didn’t know you had one of those.”
“Neither did her family,” Elphaba muttered.
Thom caught the weight behind her words and dropped his teasing. “Is she alright?”
Elphaba glanced toward the stairs. “No. Not really.”
Thom studied her for a moment, then nodded. Without another word, he disappeared into the back and returned with a plate of bread and fruit. “Here. Make sure she eats.”
Elphaba gave him a small smile of gratitude. She took it without fuss and carried it back upstairs.
When she entered the room, Galinda was sitting up, holding the note in one hand. She looked at Elphaba with an exaggerated pout.
“I don’t like waking up alone,” she teased.
Elphaba ignored the teasing. She set the plate down and moved to the bed, sitting beside her. Gently, she reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair behind Galinda’s ear. Then she pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.
“How are you feeling today?” she asked quietly.
Galinda hesitated. “Better than yesterday. Not good, but…better.”
Elphaba nodded, brushing a hand over her arm. “We’ll figure it out.”
Galinda gave a small smile, then glanced at the food. She reached out and Elphaba passed her the plate. She started taking small bites of the fruit.
Elphaba felt some comfort in watching her eat. “What would you like to do today?”
Galinda bit her lip and took a moment to think. “I’d really like to just follow you…I mean, I want to see what you do in a normal day here.”
“Well, I need to get some food, so let’s go to the market.” Elphaba said simply.
Galinda’s eyes lit up at the idea of going to the market. “Okay, but what else do you normally do with your day?”
Elphaba smirked, leaning back against the bed. “Besides writing hopeless love songs about you?” She teased, her voice playful, but the words laced with sincerity.
Galinda stared at her, wide-eyed for a moment before shaking her head, flustered. “You do not.”
Elphaba chuckled softly, shrugging. “Well, there’s definitely a few, but I also spend a lot of my time at the library.”
“The library?” Galinda repeated, intrigued. “Let’s go there then.”
Elphaba raised an eyebrow. “You sure? It’s not exactly…thrilling.”
Galinda gave her a determined look. “I want to see everything you do. All of it.”
Elphaba hesitated for only a moment before nodding, a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “Alright, then. We’ll go to the library after the market.”
Galinda beamed, clearly pleased by the idea. Elphaba couldn’t help but feel a flicker of warmth at the sight of her smile-something about it felt so raw, so real, in a way that reminded her of how much she wanted to protect Galinda, especially now.
As they finished breakfast, Elphaba moved to stand, but not before gently guiding Galinda to her feet, her hand resting on the small of her back, a touch that seemed so simple yet intimate. She looked at her with a softness in her eyes. “You sure you’re alright today?”
Galinda nodded, though there was a slight falter in her expression that didn’t escape Elphaba’s notice. “I’m better. Just…a little tired, that’s all.”
“You don’t have to be so strong all the time, you know,” Elphaba murmured, her thumb brushing over Galinda’s knuckles, a gesture that spoke more than any words could.
Galinda’s lips parted as if she were going to say something but then paused, giving Elphaba a long look. She sighed, allowing herself to lean into Elphaba’s touch, letting the moment settle in between them.
“Let’s get ready and go,” Galinda said softly, giving Elphaba a small smile, as if the weight of the world hadn’t just been placed at her feet. And yet, Elphaba could see how much she was carrying…how much they both were carrying.
After getting dressed, they left the room, the door clicking softly behind them. The day outside was bright, though the air still had a crispness to it as Elphaba led Galinda toward the market. The sight of bustling stalls and vendors calling out was somewhat familiar to Elphaba, yet the presence of Galinda beside her made it feel like an entirely new experience.
“What’s first on your list?” Galinda asked, her voice light, though there was still a quiet tenderness in her tone, as though she were making an effort to keep the sadness in check.
Elphaba glanced over at her and gave a half smile. “There’s a stall that sells the best fruit. Then I’ll get some vegetables.” She pointed toward a cluster of tables lined with fresh produce, but her mind was already wandering to the quiet, dusty corners of the library.
Galinda grinned. “Alright, let’s go get fruit and vegetables then.” She was making an effort, Elphaba realised, to get through this, to keep herself occupied and distracted. She reached out to take hold of Galinda’s hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
The market was alive with colour and sound, a symphony of voices calling out prices, the scent of fresh bread and spices mingling in the warm air. Galinda held tightly to Elphaba’s hand as they wove through the stalls, the simple touch grounding her. It was a small gesture, but it meant everything.
She hadn’t expected this..this ease, this domesticity. Walking hand in hand through a bustling market, picking out food together, the warmth of Elphaba’s palm against hers as if they had done this a hundred times before. It felt natural, effortless.
It felt like love.
Elphaba stopped at a stand selling apples, inspecting them with a thoughtful expression. “These are decent,” she murmured, testing the firmness of one before adding a few to the basket she carried. Galinda didn’t care about the apples. She just watched her, utterly mesmerised.
Elphaba glanced up and caught her staring. “What?” she asked, amused.
Galinda shook her head, a smile tugging at her lips. “Nothing.”
Elphaba narrowed her eyes playfully before turning back to her selection, but Galinda could see the faintest hint of pink at the tips of her ears.
They continued through the market, stopping to buy cheese, and a handful of sweets Galinda insisted on. At one point, they paused at a flower stall, and Galinda ran her fingers over the soft petals of a pale pink bloom.
“You like those?” Elphaba asked.
Galinda nodded absently, still admiring them. “They’re lovely.”
Elphaba didn’t say anything, but when they moved on, Galinda noticed her subtly slipping a single flower into the basket when she thought she wasn’t looking.
Her heart clenched at the sight.
She loved her. She had loved her for a while now, but in this moment, in the way Elphaba held her hand without hesitation, in the way she bought her a flower without needing to be asked, she felt it so deeply she could hardly breathe.
She gave Elphaba’s hand a gentle squeeze, and Elphaba squeezed back.
Right now, in the middle of a busy market, with Elphaba beside her, Galinda felt like she belonged.
The library was quieter than the bustling market, its air thick with the scent of old paper and ink. The tall shelves lined the walls, filled with books stacked high, some tattered and well-loved, others pristine and untouched. It was the kind of place Elphaba always felt at home, away from the world’s expectations and hidden in the comforting silence.
As they entered, Elphaba’s face softened, and the familiar glint returned to her eyes. Galinda noticed immediately. There was something almost magical about the way Elphaba’s expression brightened, how her body seemed to relax, as if this was where she truly belonged. The library felt like a sanctuary to her, and in that moment, Galinda understood why.
The way Elphaba’s eyes flickered over the rows of books, the gleam of excitement and curiosity. Galinda’s heart swelled with a warmth she wasn’t prepared for. She hadn’t seen Elphaba like this before, so at ease, so free, apart from on stage. And for some reason, it made Galinda feel a little lighter, as though being with her in this place made the world outside feel less heavy.
“You can go ahead and explore,” Elphaba said, as she moved toward the shelves, her fingers already reaching for a dusty tome. “I’m just going to look for something.”
Galinda watched her for a moment before nodding, unable to tear her gaze away. There was something magnetic about Elphaba in this space, something she hadn’t seen before. She didn’t know what it was, but it filled her chest with a quiet joy. The soft rustling of Elphaba’s clothes as she walked down the aisles was almost musical, and Galinda followed her gaze across the room.
After a moment, Galinda took a deep breath and decided to wander herself, not wanting to disturb Elphaba’s peace. The library had always felt like a place of wonder to her, though she hadn’t spent much time in one before. As she explored, her fingers grazing the spines of books, she came across a section that piqued her interest. Fashion.
She smiled to herself. Of course, that’s where her curiosity would lead. Galinda was drawn to beauty and design. She picked up a thick book titled, “Fashion in Oz Through the Ages,” and flicked through its pages, delighting in the elegant designs and stories of fashion trends in Oz’s history. The book was filled with illustrations of ornate dresses, extravagant hats, and the beautiful, extravagant garments worn by the wealthy.
Lost in the pages, Galinda spent several minutes before making her way back to Elphaba, who had found a book on guitars. She was sitting in a corner of the library, her legs crossed under her, fully absorbed in the content. Galinda paused for a moment, watching her, and she felt that familiar warmth again, there was something about Elphaba that made her heart swell with affection.
“You’re still thinking about music, huh?” Galinda teased, sitting down next to her and holding up the fashion book she’d found.
Elphaba glanced up, a knowing smirk on her lips. “I always am. I’m trying to figure some stuff out on my guitar before the gig on Friday.”
Galinda’s smile faltered slightly at the mention of the Ozdust. She hadn’t been since she’d seen Rhea kiss her. The memory still stung, even if she tried not to dwell on it. Her gaze dropped to the book in her hands, her fingers lightly tracing the cover.
“I’ll be there too,” she said, her voice softer than usual. “I miss it. I miss watching you sing.”
Elphaba’s expression softened with understanding, and she reached out, her fingers brushing Galinda’s hand. “I’d love that.”
Galinda met her gaze, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
There was a quiet understanding between them, a silent promise that they could face it together. Elphaba squeezed her hand and then turned her attention back to the guitar book in her lap.
Galinda, after a moment of contemplation, spoke again, her voice a little more thoughtful this time. “You know, last night we talked about dreams and what we want to do. And I was thinking about that today.”
Elphaba raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Oh?”
Galinda smiled softly, a bit shy but confident in what she was saying. “Maybe my dream involves fashion. I mean, I’ve always been drawn to it, haven’t I? The clothes, the design…it’s been something I’ve thought about since I was a little girl.” She looked down at the book in her lap. “I never really considered it before, but I think maybe it’s part of my dream, after all.”
Elphaba regarded her for a long moment, a gentle smile forming on her lips. “I think you’d be amazing at it,” she said. “You’ve got the passion for it. Maybe you should follow it. Whatever your dream is, you should go for it.”
Galinda felt her chest tighten with gratitude, a sense of warmth blooming inside her. Elphaba’s support meant everything to her. “Thanks,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “I think maybe I will.”
After the library, they left with their books in tow, heading back toward Elphaba’s place. The day had settled into a comfortable rhythm, simple, easy, like they were just two people moving through the world together.
That was until they nearly walked straight into Morgra.
The tall, sharp-eyed woman grinned as she stepped into their path, her gaze immediately flicking between them.
“Well, well,” Morgra drawled, tilting her head. “What’s your name, beautiful?”
Galinda flushed, caught completely off guard by the sudden attention. “Oh, um…”
Elphaba rolled her eyes but didn’t let go of Galinda’s hand. “Morgra, this is my girlfriend, Galinda. Galinda, this is Morgra. She has a habit of finding me,” she said pointedly.
Morgra raised an eyebrow, a slow smirk spreading across her face. “Girlfriend, huh? You’ve been keeping this one quiet.”
Elphaba gave her a flat look. “I don’t tell you everything.”
“That’s true,” Morgra said, then turned to Galinda with an appraising look. “So, you’re the reason Elphaba’s been walking around looking all broody and lovesick.”
Galinda giggled, still a little pink. “I hope it’s more lovesick than broody.”
Morgra snorted. “I’d say it’s a solid mix of both.” She glanced at Elphaba. “This one’s a tough nut to crack, so she must really like you. Is this is why you’ve been playing all those love songs?”
Elphaba groaned. “Are you done?”
Morgra laughed, clearly enjoying herself. “Not quite.” She leaned in slightly toward Galinda, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “You know, Elphaba never talks about her feelings, so if she’s actually claiming you in public, you must be something special.”
Galinda beamed. “I’d like to think so.”
Elphaba groaned again. “You both are impossible.”
Morgra chuckled, then straightened. “Oh, before I forget…don’t forget open mic night is tonight.”
Elphaba made a face. “I never agreed.”
Morgra smirked. “You never agree, and yet, somehow, you always show up.”
Galinda, sensing an opportunity, leaned in close to Elphaba, trailing her fingers up the inside of her arm in a slow, teasing motion. She pressed her lips near her ear, her voice soft and sultry.
“I love watching you perform,” she whispered. “Please?”
Elphaba shivered, barely suppressing the reaction. She sighed dramatically. “Fine.”
Morgra barked a laugh. “Well, that was easy. You should bring her around more often.”
Elphaba just shot her a glare.
Morgra grinned and gave Galinda a wink before stepping back. “I’ll see you both later, then.” With a lazy wave, she turned and walked off, disappearing into the crowd.
Galinda turned to Elphaba with a wide, innocent smile. “That wasn’t so hard, was it?”
Elphaba narrowed her eyes at her. “You planned that.”
Galinda twirled a strand of hair around her finger, feigning innocence. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Elphaba sighed but couldn’t hide the small smile tugging at her lips. “You’re impossible.”
“And yet, you love me anyway.”
Elphaba rolled her eyes. “Yeah. I do.”
Galinda’s heart stuttered, her breath catching at the casual, unguarded way Elphaba said it.
She squeezed Elphaba’s hand, her own smile turning softer. “Me too.”
With that, they continued walking, hand in hand, back toward home.
As they stepped into the bakery, perched on a stool and swinging his legs idly, sat Mirn. The moment he spotted Elphaba, his face brightened with a wide grin.
“Miss Elphaba! I’ve got a letter for you from your sister!” he chirped, holding up a familiar envelope.
Elphaba smiled, already recognising the elegant handwriting on the front. “Thank you for your help,” she muttered, taking it from him.
Mirn, however, barely paid her any attention. His eyes had landed on Galinda, and they widened in open fascination. He tilted his head, as if trying to reconcile her with whatever he had imagined. “Ohhhh,” he breathed. “You’re really pretty.”
Galinda blinked before laughing, clearly delighted. “Well, thank you!” she said, her voice warm.
Elphaba sighed. “Mirn, this is Galinda. Galinda, Mirn.”
Mirn nodded absently, still staring at Galinda. Then, with a sudden gasp, he turned back to Elphaba. “Wait, she’s the one who writes you all those letters?”
Galinda’s smirk was immediate. She turned to Elphaba with a teasing gleam in her eyes. “Oh? You didn’t tell me you had a personal courier who noticed my letters.”
Elphaba rubbed her temple. “I don’t. Mirn just…” She sighed again. “Mirn just notices everything.”
Mirn grinned proudly. “I do! And I knew it had to be someone special, ‘cause you always read them right away.”
Galinda let out a soft, delighted hum. “Is that so?” She turned to Elphaba, eyes dancing. “How sweet.”
Elphaba groaned. “Mirn, you’re done talking.”
Mirn only shrugged, then grinned at Galinda. “You have really nice handwriting.”
Galinda laughed. “Why, thank you.”
Elphaba rolled her eyes. “We’re going upstairs.”
As they made their way up, Galinda leaned in, voice soft and teasing. “You always read them right away?”
Elphaba shot her a look. “Not a word.”
Galinda smirked but said nothing, just looped her arm through Elphaba’s as they disappeared into her room.
When they reached Elphaba’s room, she sat down on the bed and unfolded Nessa’s letter.
Dearest Elphaba,
I completely understand why you missed lunch. Galinda must be going through so much right now, and I’m truly glad she has you. Please tell her I’m thinking of her and that she’s welcome here whenever she likes.
In fact, I was hoping you would both come to dinner tomorrow. Father is away, so it will just be me. I’d love to meet her properly, and I promise it will be a safe space.
I hope to see you then.
Love,
Nessa
Elphaba exhaled softly, touched by her sister’s kindness.
Galinda, watching her closely, tilted her head. “What did she say?”
Elphaba passed her the letter. “She’s invited us to dinner tomorrow.”
Galinda smiled, lacing their fingers together. She read over the letter, her expression thoughtful. Then she looked up at Elphaba, her eyes filled with warmth.
“I’d like to go,” she said softly.
Elphaba hesitated. “Are you sure? You don’t have to.”
“I want to,” Galinda interrupted gently. She squeezed Elphaba’s hand. “I’m looking forward to seeing where you grew up.”
Elphaba’s lips parted slightly, surprise flickering across her face.
Galinda caught the hesitation in her expression and her grip on Elphaba’s hand tightened. “I know growing up there was hard for you,” she continued, her voice tender but firm, “but wouldn’t little Elphie be so very happy to know she would one day be visiting with her girlfriend and to know how loved she is?”
The weight in Elphaba’s chest loosened just a little.
She exhaled, giving Galinda a small, grateful smile. “Alright, she murmured. “We’ll go.”
Galinda grinned, leaning in to press a soft kiss to Elphaba’s cheek, her fingers tracing absent patterns against Elphaba’s arm. “I love you, you know.”
Elphaba swallowed, her heart stuttering in her chest. Slowly, she turned her head, pressing a lingering kiss to Galinda’s temple.
“I know,” she whispered. “I love you too.”
Galinda smiled against her skin.
That evening, the warm glow of lanterns spilled onto the cobbled streets as Elphaba and Galinda stepped into The Lark & Lyre. The small, intimate bar was already buzzing with energy, the scent of spiced cider and aged wood mingling in the air. A makeshift stage sat at the far end of the room, bathed in soft golden light, where performers were taking their turn for open mic night.
Galinda’s fingers were laced with Elphaba’s as they wove through the crowd, finding an empty table near the stage. It was cozy, the kind of place where music felt like magic, where every note carried emotion.
As they settled in, Galinda leaned in close, her voice soft and teasing. “You know, I’ve been waiting all day for this.”
Elphaba smirked, tilting her head. “To watch me get bullied into performing?”
“No,” Galinda whispered, brushing her fingers over Elphaba’s wrist, tracing idle patterns. “To watch you shine.”
Elphaba rolled her eyes, but the corner of her mouth lifted, betraying how much she secretly loved hearing that. Before she could respond, a familiar voice cut through the hum of conversation.
“Well, well. Look who finally showed up.”
They turned to see Morgra, standing with her arms crossed, smirking. Her sharp gaze flickered between them before she pulled up a chair, sitting with an effortless kind of swagger.
“Thought you might chicken out,” Morgra said, nudging Elphaba’s arm.
“She would never,” Galinda interjected, her voice playful but firm. “She’s the most talented one here.”
Morgra chuckled, glancing at Elphaba. “She thinks a lot of you, huh?”
Elphaba just exhaled through her nose, shaking her head. “Apparently.”
Galinda, ever emboldened by their little audience, reached out and tucked a loose strand of Elphaba’s dark hair behind her ear. Her touch lingered, featherlight, before she leaned in and murmured, “That’s because I know how incredible you are.”
Elphaba swallowed, her heart stuttering under the weight of Galinda’s gaze.
Morgra, watching them with a knowing smirk, just hummed. “You two are disgustingly cute.”
Before Elphaba could come up with a sarcastic retort, a voice called from the stage.
“And now, our next performer…a regular here at The Lark & Lyre. If you’ve been here before, you definitely know her.” A grin spread across the announcer’s face. “Give it up for Elphaba Thropp!”
The crowd erupted into cheers. Whistles and applause filled the room as Elphaba exhaled slowly, standing from her seat. Galinda gave her hand a final squeeze before letting go.
As Elphaba stepped onto the stage, she adjusted the strap of her guitar and leaned into the mic, scanning the crowd until her eyes landed on Galinda. A slow, unreadable smile curved her lips.
“I…um.” She cleared her throat, glancing down for a second before looking back at Galinda. “This song…it’s new.” A pause. “I wrote it a couple of months ago, but I’ve never played it before.”
Galinda tilted her head slightly, curiosity flickering across her features.
Elphaba hesitated for only a breath, then said, softly, “I wrote this when I realised I was in love, but it was still too early to let them know. This is for someone special.”
The words sent a ripple through Galinda’s chest. She felt the warmth of them settle deep, but before she could process it fully, Elphaba’s fingers hovered over the strings of her guitar.
And then, she began to play.
Her voice, low, rich, achingly sincere, wrapped around the melody, effortless and full of feeling.
“This just got complicated
Think I might be in love with you.”
Galinda’s breath hitched.
She knew Elphaba loved her, had heard her say it, had whispered it back, had felt it in every glance, every touch, but this was different.
This was a song.
A song that had been written before they’d ever said those words out loud.
A song that Elphaba had carried with her, hidden away, all this time.
Her vision blurred with tears as the music continued, every lyric sinking into her bones.
“Can't hide this any longer, your being makes me weak
And when you're not around, it's hard for me to breathe”
Galinda pressed a trembling hand to her lips. She could hardly breathe.
“Now this will sound crazy, I love to hear you speak
It cultivates the glow deep inside of me”
Elphaba’s voice carried so much emotion-love, longing, the quiet kind of devotion that left no room for doubt. The entire bar had fallen silent, entranced.
Morgra, usually full of snark, just sat back, arms crossed, nodding to the music.
Galinda felt every lyric settle deep inside her, filling the spaces where doubt and fear once lived. She wiped at her cheeks, smiling even as the tears kept falling.
Elphaba sang the final notes, her fingers slowing on the guitar, the last words lingering in the air like a confession.
And then, for a moment, there was nothing.
Silence.
A breath.
And then, the entire room erupted.
The crowd roared with cheers, people rising to their feet, clapping, shouting, whistling. The standing ovation was instantaneous, an explosion of admiration and awe.
Elphaba blinked, like she hadn’t expected quite this reaction. But then her gaze found Galinda, and that was all she needed to see.
Galinda was crying, but she was also smiling, so wide and full of love that it nearly knocked the breath from Elphaba’s lungs.
Elphaba stepped off the stage, setting her guitar down, and before she could say a word, Galinda was in her arms, pulling her into a crashing kiss.
It was desperate, breathless, overwhelming, a kiss that said everything.
When they finally broke apart, Galinda’s hands framed Elphaba’s face, her eyes still shining with disbelief.
“You…” she breathed, shaking her head. “You wrote that for me? Before…before we ever even-”
Elphaba swallowed, a rare flicker of uncertainty in her eyes. “Yeah.”
Galinda let out a breathless laugh, somewhere between astonishment and awe. “I cannot believe how incredible you are.”
Elphaba huffed, shaking her head. “I-“
“No, you don’t get it,” Galinda interrupted, her fingers tightening on Elphaba’s jacket. “That was…that was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard. I can’t believe I didn’t know it existed. That you wrote something like that for me.”
Elphaba hesitated, then said softly, “I was just…waiting for the right time.”
Galinda’s heart ached in the best way.
Then, lips curving into a slow, mischievous smile, she leaned in and whispered, “How about we get out of here so I can show you just how much I love you?”
Elphaba’s breath caught.
Galinda just arched a delicate brow, looking entirely too pleased with herself.
Morgra, who was absolutely still sitting there, coughed. “You two are disgusting.”
Galinda just laughed, threading her fingers through Elphaba’s as she pulled her toward the door.
As they slipped out into the cool night air, the noise of The Lark & Lyre faded behind them, replaced by the distant hum of the city. The streets glowed with lantern light, casting long, golden reflections on the cobblestones.
Elphaba exhaled, her breath visible in the crisp air, still reeling from everything that had just happened. She’d played that song. She’d sung those words. And now, now Galinda was looking at her like she hung the moon, like she was something to be cherished.
It was too much.
It was everything.
Galinda, still holding her hand, tugged her toward a quieter street, her pace slow but purposeful. The weight of her gaze was almost unbearable, like she was seeing straight through Elphaba, peeling back every guarded layer she’d spent years fortifying.
Elphaba cleared her throat. “You, uh-”
“I what?” Galinda interrupted, eyes glinting with mischief.
Elphaba huffed, shaking her head. “You’re looking at me like that.”
Galinda’s lips twitched. “Like what?”
“Like I just handed you the stars.”
Galinda stopped walking. Just stopped, right there in the middle of the street. The silence between them stretched, thick with something unspoken, something electric.
Then she took a step closer. And another.
“Elphie,” she said, voice softer now, like she was speaking a secret into the space between them. “You did.”
Elphaba’s heart stumbled over itself.
She tried to find something-anything-to say, but then Galinda was closing the distance completely, reaching up to cup Elphaba’s face between her hands. Her fingers were warm, her touch steady, grounding.
“You’ve been carrying that song with you all this time,” Galinda murmured. “Loving me quietly. Before I even knew.”
Elphaba swallowed, her pulse thrumming in her throat. “It wasn’t-” She hesitated, then exhaled sharply. “I didn’t want to risk scaring you off.”
Galinda’s brows knitted together, her expression softening into something unbearably tender. “You never had to be afraid of that.”
Elphaba could only stare at her.
Galinda traced her thumb over Elphaba’s cheek, the gesture featherlight. “You’re so used to hiding,” she whispered. “I think part of you still doesn’t believe you’re allowed to be loved.”
Elphaba let out a sound that was somewhere between a laugh and a sigh. “You’re really not going to let me deflect, are you?”
Galinda grinned. “Not a chance.”
A beat of silence.
Then, with no warning at all, Galinda leaned in and kissed her.
It was slower this time, lingering and sweet, her lips brushing over Elphaba’s like a promise. There was no urgency, no rush, just the quiet certainty of two people who had already made their choice.
When they pulled apart, Galinda rested her forehead against Elphaba’s, sighing contentedly.
“So,” she murmured, “take me home?”
Elphaba let out a breathless laugh, shaking her head. “You’re impossible.”
“And yet, you love me.”
Elphaba tilted her head, her hands settling on Galinda’s waist, tugging her closer. “Yeah,” she admitted, voice barely above a whisper. “I really do.”
Galinda beamed.
Then she grabbed Elphaba’s hand again and started walking, a triumphant glint in her eyes.
“Come on,” she said. “Let’s go home.”