Hands Touch
Elphaba
The morning after the rain incident, Elphaba didn’t know what to make of the night before, and how stressful and chaotic it had been. It was so scary, but she had embarrassed herself in front of Galinda. All because of some stupid rain.
For whatever reason, Elphaba now found herself concerned with what Galinda thought of her. She didn’t care before, but in recent days, she found herself worried about humiliating herself in front of her loathsome roommate. Something about the way that Galinda had started acting made Elphaba look at her in a different light.
Elphaba might have been right; Galinda wasn’t as self-absorbed as she seemed to be. There was more to her than the popular facade that she had put up for herself. She wasn’t just wickedly mean, but she had potential to be kind. She had the potential to do good, Elphaba thought.
She remembered the way that Galinda had initially refused to close the window and how much that upset her. It vexed her, triggering her more so than the rain did. Elphaba couldn’t recall what she was thinking that caused the window to explode in the way it did, or how she ended up curled into a ball on the opposite side of the room, but she remembered how Galinda spoke to her. She remembered Galinda’s soft words that came off as genuine, even if the blonde’s masked exterior otherwise always masked her true feelings.
She remembered the way that Galinda had covered up the window with one of her overpriced blankets and how she picked out a warm frock for Elphaba. She remembered how Galinda told her it was going to be okay and how she held her. Mostly, Elphaba remembered how comfortable and safe Galinda made her feel in that moment, despite everything that had unfolded, both in the moment and between them in their weeks together as roommates who despised one another and didn’t even speak. Even if the moment of Galinda’s goodness was relatively short-lived, it told Elphaba everything that she truly needed to know about her roomie.
She was finally beginning to appreciate her. There was more to Galinda Upland than it seemed, and Elphaba was glad that her theory was finally coming to fruition.
She remembered how nobody had ever shown her such warmth in her entire life. It was Galinda who let her know that everything was going to be okay. Elphaba was unfamiliar with such sentiments. Nobody had shown her such kindness, not her father, that was for certain. He hated her, and he had good reason to. Actually, he had good reasons to. Elphaba had taken so much from him, like his reputation as a devotee of the Unnamed God, among other things, but she didn’t want to think about that now.
The Eminent Thropp also never showed much interest in Elphaba, but he wasn’t particularly nasty, and Elphaba had to admit that Nessarose had her moments, too, but their sisterly love was complicated. Nanny was the closest thing that Elphaba had to a true familial figure, but even then the old woman grew more and more agitated each day. She also wasn’t particularly motherly despite that maternal void she filled for the Thropp sisters. She was loving, yes, but she was not warm.
Elphaba was good at distinguishing the difference between the two.
Then, there was also Madame Morrible, who took Elphaba under her wing without question. She was warm and accepting, even despite Elphaba’s green-colored skin, but she knew better. The Head was intrigued by her power, but Elphaba wasn’t bothered, nor did she mind. She needed help learning to control whatever it was she had inside of her, whether it be a gift (as Madame Morrible had decreed) or a curse (like Frex reminded her).
She had never been consoled or hugged or had her back patted in reassurance, not until Galinda had done so in the wake of chaos. The closest kindness Elphaba had ever experienced was from the warm-hearted Dulcibear, her great-grandfather's Bear maid from Colwen Grounds. Dulcibear was everything that Elphaba could have ever wanted from a parental figure; she was affectionate, nurturing, and attentive. Doctor Dillamond had welcomed Elphaba to his class with open arms and the two formed a quick bond. It was genuine, unlike whatever it was that she had with Madame Morrible, Oz bless her.
But, Elphaba reminded herself, they were Animals.
Yet, she didn’t treat them like they were lesser, and she didn’t look down on them, either. They treated her like she was a real person with emotions and a soul, even though she didn’t believe in the latter. Nobody did that, not until last night.
From Galinda of all people.
The comfort of such an otherwise effortless gesture on Galinda’s part lingered in her mind. It was not just a simple gesture to her; it was something more profound. Elphaba remembered the way that Galinda’s hand felt as it ran up and down her back whilst the other rested on her shoulder. It was gentle. It also wasn’t just effortless for Galinda, either, Elphaba thought. It was a profound action for her, too, being who she was. It must have taken a lot of courage.
She was Galinda Upland.
Galinda Upland isn’t a good person.
That was what Elphaba had ingrained in her head throughout her first few weeks of living with the Gillikinese girl, but things didn’t seem as black and white anymore. Elphaba always assumed that there was more to her, but concluded that Galinda would never face her true capabilities.
Yet, here they were now.
She remembered how Galinda’s voice shifted into a softer tone that Elphaba had never heard from her bumbling roommate before. From the look on her face, the sound of her voice, and the placement of her hands, if Elphaba didn’t know any better, she would have assumed that her roommate was unadulteratedly concerned for her well-being.
And maybe, Elphaba pondered, she was.
She wasn’t sure where Galinda could have learned such compassion, having accepted that she likely wasn’t capable of such, or she had just locked it all away for the unforeseeable future.
There really was more to Galinda Upland.
In those moments with Galinda, sitting up on her bed and trembling in her frock, the blonde’s hand on her back, Elphaba felt so vulnerable, but she also felt empowered.
Elphaba took a deep breath, letting that newfound feeling wash over her. The warmth of Galinda's kindness lingered inside her chest, pushing against the pervasive doubt and shame that usually consumed her. She felt a shift within herself—an invitation to be open and honest in a way she had never allowed before.
Maybe, Elphaba thought, my roommate isn’t so bad after all.
After Madame Morrible’s seminar, Elphaba had asked the fish-like woman to borrow a book from the archives of her vast collection of tomes, explaining that she needed to find a spell to undo an enchantment and repair a window. The Head agreed, allowing Elphaba to keep the one that she had picked out as a sort of gift for all of the progress they were making in their lessons together. Elphaba settled on one that had a pink cover. She despised the color for obvious reasons, but it was nicely designed and it was cute to a certain extent, with delicate gold lettering that almost looked to be sparkling. It was far more than just over-the-top. It reminded her of Galinda.
That is why she gifted it to her roommate after she was done with it, offering it to her as a gift for helping her through her manic moments of panic.
Elphaba couldn’t help but smile at the excitement Galinda showed for the book and was blinded by the giddy aura that now filled their suite, accepting when the blonde asked her to become a tutor of sorts. While she was unsure of the whole idea, contemplating the unsafeties it could bring and her own lack of knowledge in the magical arts, Elphaba felt like she had to accept. She saw how happy it made Galinda.
And, though she couldn't decipher why, Elphaba wanted to foster that happiness. She felt that she owed it to her. She wanted to make Galinda happy and set her on a better path and help her discover the potential within her, both to become a proper sorceress and a good person.
It was a startling revelation for her; the idea that she could play such a part in someone else's life felt both exhilarating and terrifying, especially since it was Galinda, someone who she once detested and also loathed her in return. They didn’t get along for the longest time, refusing to even interact, but now even the thought of Galinda made Elphaba’s heart beat in ways that she had never experienced before, and it also ignited joy within her as well. It gave her a sort of purpose that she lacked before the new Galinda entered her life.
She was apprehensive to become a teacher, never acting as such before, but she wanted to help Galinda, just as she had helped her. This was Elphaba’s first real chance to do good. She could finally use these powers (regardless if they were a gift or a curse) to help someone else. That is all she ever wanted to do, so in a way, both Galinda and herself were benefiting from these forthcoming lessons.
Roommates do these things for each other, or so Elphaba was told.
The first weekend after the whole ordeal, Elphaba had set up the room for their very first lesson together, clearing one of Galinda’s tables and laying a few different texts and objects across it. She was nervous for these study sessions to begin, not sure how well she would do and fearing she may let Galinda down or mess something up.
No, Elphaba thought, I’m doing her this favor. That is enough.
She didn’t really feel that way, though.
I owe this to her.
When Galinda finally arrived after her afternoon out, presumably with Misses Shenshen, Pfannee, and Milla, Elphaba explained that she took the liberty to move her belongings aside to make room for their ‘seminar,’ and the blonde assured the ravenette that all was fine.
“It is fine, Miss Elphaba,” said Galinda who looked eager, maybe too eager in the eyes of Elphaba, which made her only more anxious. “Thank you, again, truly. I am very grateful to you for agreeing to do this.”
She sounded genuine. She was happy. She meant it.
The green girl tensed up for a moment, unsure of how to move forward or accept Galinda’s gratitude. Instead, she looked around the room before pointing towards the table. “I was thinking we could begin with some simple incantations.”
“That sounds amazing!” said Galinda, her pearly teeth shining as they met the sunlight that entered through the window that was, just a few days ago, destroyed.
“What do you go over in Miss Greyling’s class?” Elphaba asked.
“Ohhhhhh,” Galinda drew out with a sigh as she slumped in the chair that she took a seat in, “nothing! Just readings and her nonsensical lectures! They’re so horrendible!”
Elphaba laughed under her breath. “Reading about magic is very important, Galinda. That is why I gave you that book. You have to understand the craft and its history,” she advised and sat next to Galinda. “I hope you’ve been keeping up with the chapters I told you to look over? It will help today if you have some background knowledge from the book.”
Galinda looked unsure, almost as if she were lying, when she nodded. Elphaba was naturally uncertain as a response, but she would trust her word. The only way that she and Galinda were going to make any real progress was if Galinda kept up with her assigned readings, just like any other course at Shiz. Just because this was a private tutoring session didn’t mean that it was going to be easy to slide by.
Especially with the contents that Galinda sought to learn.
Magic was not easy, and Elphaba knew better than anyone that was true. But the situation of the two girls could not be more true as Elphaba was born with her power, whereas Galinda wanted to learn how to accomplish such wonders.
There were times where Elphaba wondered why anyone would willingly want to learn about harnessing sorcery. If she hadn’t been cursed (or gifted) with such capabilities, she never would’ve had any interest in the subject. Every so often, Elphaba wished that she could have just been normal, unable to determine if her magic or if her skin was her greater vexation. They both caused her great displeasure and made her unfavorable.
But, Elphaba thought, those two features made her who she was. They also, or her powers at least, allowed for her to connect with Galinda in the way that they were. Today, to Elphaba, they were indeed a gift.
“Good,” Elphaba applauded. “I have a few spells set aside that we could practice together. To tell you the truth, Miss Galinda, I’m still trying to master them, too, but they were the simplest ones that Madame Morrible showed to me.”
Elphaba noticed how quick Galinda’s energy shifted at the mention of the Headmistress of Crage Hall. “So, Madame Morrible can cast them?” she asked, wanting to know more as she sat up straight, fixing her posture, perhaps to look more professional, not that it mattered. Madame Morrible was not here.
“Yes,” said Elphaba, “for the most part.”
“Oh?”
“Let us begin,” said Elphaba, wanting to start the lesson. She grabbed one of the papers that she had scribbled runes and other symbols onto. “Would you like to try this levitation spell? It was the first one that I highlighted in your book.”
Galinda scoffed, looking at the paper in mock disinterest, overemphasizing her sarcastic tone habitually. “Levitation?” laughed, throwing her hand in the air as if the very idea was beneath her. It wasn’t though, Elphaba knew that, and Galinda most likely did too. She had to have, especially if, like she said, she had never magicked anything in the past. Elphaba assumed that Galinda wanted to start off at a higher difficulty, but she didn’t see that going well.
“Really?” Galinda continued. “How wonderfully basic, Miss Elphaba! If I can be so bold, I was hoping we could practice some awe-inspiring spell, not a magic show routine.”
Levitation was difficult, to say the least. It was also Elphaba’s ‘specialty,’ and she and Madame Morrible were working endlessly to master it. Yet, here Galinda was, ready to leap into the grander acts of sorcery without even setting a foundation.
Even if she disagreed with her sentiments regarding levitation, maybe this could be their first lesson: Follow what Elphaba says, Galinda is the student.
“And what would you like to start with?” Elphaba asked, flipping through the other pages she had compiled.
Galinda looked around for a moment, her eyes scanning the suite, perhaps trying to think up something. What would Galinda Upland want her first spell to be?
“A glamour spell!” she exclaimed to no surprise on Elphaba’s behalf.
That was Galinda Upland. Fashion and glitz upon all else.
Elphaba wasn’t angry, though, no. Elphaba found herself unable to resist the challenge in Galinda’s eyes, and the giddiness that she radiated, even if she found her words digging into her green skin. This feeling was not something that Elphaba was familiar with, but she was becoming more accustomed to it because of Galinda’s infectious spirits.
She looked so happy; she was so enthusiastic despite her misguided ambitions.
I owe this to her.
“Well,” said Elphaba, “I did highlight a few simple transfiguration spells.”
There was a pause.
“You did read them right?” Elphaba asked “Or at least look over them? If you want to cast one, it is important you have an understanding thereof.”
“Of course!” Galinda said, suddenly drawn back into reality. It was unconvincing. It was too fake.
Maybe it was because of all their time living in the same space together, or perhaps it was just because she knew what a liar looked like, Elphaba was almost positive that Galinda was lying right through her white teeth. She was almost certain of the matter, Galinda’s uncertainty earlier only strengthened Elphaba’s point.
However, she hoped that she was wrong and that Galinda would be taking her studies seriously.
But, she knew better. Still, she wanted to help Galinda. She wanted her to succeed; for both of their sakes.
“What if you transform this teacup into a rose?” Elphaba suggested, pointing at the porcelain cup on the table. It was white with pink roses painted onto it, so it would be a fitting transformation, Elphaba thought, but Galinda, again, looked displeased.
“Miss Elphaba, a teacup?” the blonde sneered. “You think little of me don’t you?”
“No!” said Elphaba. She didn’t, not anymore at least. “I just think that we should start off smaller, is all. Today is only your first trial.”
“Well,” said Galinda, “I want my first spell to be one to remember. How about something more… extravagant?”
Yes again, no surprise to Elphaba.
That was Galinda Upland. Fashion and glitz upon all else.
Galinda looked at Elphaba’s side of the room and stood up, a proud look on her face as if she had concocted some sort of bright new idea. She approached Elphaba’s bed, picking up the frock—or froat, as she had called it before—from off of it. The Gillikinese girl walked back over to the table and gestured for Elphaba to stand up, which she did. Then, Galinda put the frock back on Elphaba, the feeling all too familiar.
She remembered how Galinda did this on the rainy night. It was nostalgic, the frock both figuratively and metaphorically serving as a symbol of warmth.
Galinda smiled once she got the frock situated on Elphaba, who furrowed a brow, confused.
“Now, Miss Elphaba,” said Galinda, “I’m going to turn this little froat of yours into a magnificent ballgown!” She squealed as she finished her sentence, her excitement bursting through the room again, which made Elphaba smile, too.
The spell was grandiose, even to Elphaba. But, she thought, if Galinda really put her efforts into the readings, then maybe, she could do something. Maybe not transform the frock to her desired article of clothing, but do something. That would be a start, but Elphaba knew better than to put too much hope into the outcome. She was mostly concerned with Galinda’s efforts.
That was the most important aspect of all of this.
Then, Elphaba remembered something. She walked over to her desk and grabbed a small wooden box sitting on it. Pressing a key on it, the trunk opened, revealing an intricately carved wooden rod to both her and Galinda, who gasped.
“A training wand?” said Galinda, her eyes sparkling yet again. She reached out to touch it, but Elphaba urged her to take it into her own hands.
“You’ll need it,” said Elphaba, noticing Galinda’s hesitancy. “You can borrow it for our lessons when you need it.”
Galinda picked up the wand, looking at it as her honey-brown eyes shimmered. She looked to be in disbelief, and for a good reason to. Elphaba felt good about this reaction, happy to see the cheer that the wand brought Galinda. It was something that was simple to her, yet so foreign to Galinda.
The contrast between them was striking; Elphaba, accustomed to the nuances of magic, and Galinda, standing on the precipice of discovery, ready to dive into the world of sorcery.
“I’ve never held a wand before,” Galinda said, but it was already obvious that she didn’t, given how amazed she looked by the stick made of wood. “I wrote my college essay on wands, you know? ‘Magic Wands: Need They Have a Point?’” She smiled as she reflected, waving the wand around in the air, but then that grin disappeared for reasons unknown to Elphaba. She didn’t want to pry or ask why, not wanting to rain on Galinda’s parade of happiness, especially before she was going to try her hand at something that she always desired.
“It will help you channel the magic around and within you,” Elphaba clarified, hoping to move forward. “It will help you in directing your focus,” she said and stepped closer to Galinda, helping her with her grip of the thing. “You have to trust it, so it might take some time to get used to until we can get you a wand of your own.”
Everything else seemed to fly right over Galinda’s blonde head. She looked up at Elphaba, taking her eyes off of the wand, and said, “Really? I can have a wand?”
“Someday,” said Elphaba as she picked up one of Galinda’s fingers and lowered it. She had never touched Galinda’s hands before, not directly or for long. They had touched momentarily when she handed the book over the other girl, but that was so quick and unannounced. Now, she felt everything that there was about Galinda’s manicured hands. They were soft and well-kept, greatly contrasting Elphaba’s long fingernails that looked more like claws.
Elphaba backed away, removing her hand from Galinda’s as she felt the room get hot again, or was it just her?
She picked up one of the sheets from the table—one that had a simple transformation spell scribbled on it, as well as a few other notes to simplify the already coherence of it—and handed it to Galinda, placing it in her other hand.
“If you read the book,” Elphaba repeated, her eyes locked on Galinda’s, their faces a few inches apart—it was getting warmer by the second—”then it will come to you easily. Remember what you’ve read, and what Miss Greyling has taught you, if you think it will help.”
Elphaba stepped back, standing a few feet away in the oversized frock so that Galinda could get a good look at her. “Remember,” said Elphaba, “this is your first try. Don’t be discouraged if it doesn’t go as planned.”
“Oh, Miss Elphaba!” Galinda fake laughed. “Give me a break!” She wanted to come off as confident, but Elphaba could see right through her. Her demeanor was shifting, her facade of bliss beginning to fade. Perhaps, Elphaba considered, now that this was actually happening, Galinda began to find it daunting. She could hear the slight crack in Galinda’s voice, even though she hid it well.
“Just focus, Galinda,” Elphaba instructed. “And remember what you read, while you read the runes off of the paper.”
Galinda nodded and began to wave the wand around yet again, her form improper and easily noted by Elphaba. The blonde shifted around, humming—she was nervous, Elphaba thought.
As she was told, Galinda began to read the words off of the paper, but not in the correct tempo or flow, the syllables slurring together in a way that made Elphaba wince. She reminded herself that this was Galinda’s first time, taking note that it would be a difficult process of teaching her the ways of sorcery.
Everyone begins somewhere.
Once Galinda finished the ancient chant, written in old Ozian, she directed the wand right towards Elphaba.
Nothing happened.
Then, she did it again, adding a “Ballgown!” to it.
“Ballgown!” she shouted once more, waving the wand around some more before pointing it right at Elphaba who stood still, her arms on her sides awkwardly.
“Ballgown!” Galinda yelled. “Ballgown!”
It was hard to watch, but it was also endearing in a way, even if it was, at the end of the day, rather sad. Elphaba bit her lip, watching Galinda flail about with her first attempts at magic. Each shout felt more desperate than the last, the sparkle of her dreams clashing against the stubbornness of reality. The frock remained unchanged, draped loosely over Elphaba’s shoulders, the fabric unimpressive despite Galinda's animated entreaties.
After the last “Ballgown!” yell, Galinda sighed, stomping her foot and slammed Elphaba’s training wand against the table in both anger and disappointment. “Ugh!” she huffed. “You’re supposed to work! I’m counting on you!”
“Galinda—”
Galinda tried again, humming as she shut her eyes, and most likely not even truly focused. To her dismay—and Elphaba’s expectancy—nothing happened.
“Do you want my help?” Elphaba offered, but Galinda didn’t reply. Instead she threw the wand and it landed behind her on Elphaba’s bed. Then, she marched off, her feet stomping some more as she approached her own bed and fell into it in a sulking manner.
She did this before. It wasn’t entirely new to Elphaba, but this time Galinda seemed genuinely disappointed. She wasn’t just annoyed or mad, she was disheartened. Who wouldn’t be. She grumbled a few nothings that Elphaba couldn’t quite hear, so the green girl walked over to her, standing a few feet away from the moping blonde.
“Galinda, you didn’t really read the book before the session, did you?” Elphaba asked, her tone somewhat monotone. She already knew the answer.
“I tried,” Galinda mumbled into her sheets.
Elphaba sighed. She wished she had been wrong.
“Galinda, if you want to succeed, you have to do the readings. You have to know about the craft before you try and practice it.”
“But I don’t want to,” said Galinda, her voice full of self-pity and sorrow. “Too hard to focus.”
It was arguably Galinda’s own fault that she couldn’t tap into magic so easily, yet Elphaba couldn’t help but feel some sort of sympathy for the girl who seemed to lack in the one area she wanted to succeed in. Her heart ached just a tiny bit. She never would have imagined that in a million years, she would feel sorry for Galinda Upland of all people, the girl who was once the bane of her entire existence.
Now, she felt some sort of care for her.
She felt that she needed to comfort her.
“Galinda,” Elphaba said in a soft voice, “magic is about more than just the wands and words. It is about focus and understanding, and a part of that means you have to do your own research. You have to study it on your own time, which is why it is so difficult. The more effort you put into it, the easier it will become, but it won’t come to you easily.”
“Says you,” Galinda pouted. “You make it look so effortless.”
Elphaba frowned. “You just need more time. And you need to do the readings, that is why Miss Greyling’s class is structured the way that it is; you won’t move forward without background knowledge.”
“I’m not good enough! That is why Madame Morrible won’t let me into her seminar! I’m so stupid!” said Galinda. Elphaba could hear her voice become slightly shaky. “I’ll never be good enough, I can’t even cast a simple enchantment!”
“That’s not true,” said Elphaba, “you just didn’t do the proper preparation.”
She felt bad, but it was the truth. Galinda needed to show that she truly wanted this.
Elphaba tried to think, she hadn’t been in such a situation since Nessarose was a child. Then, she had an idea. It was the only thing that she could think of. The only way to really help Galinda who needed a much grander objective.
“Galinda, if you’re able to commit to the readings—and you may take them at whatever pace you’d like—we can continue the lessons as planned. I will put all my efforts into helping you, but I can only do so much. If you put in the work and let me help you, maybe we can work on honing your skills so that you can get into Madame Morribe’s seminar.”
Galinda shot up at the offer, almost springing into the air as she turned to look up at Elphaba who towered over her. “Really? You mean it? You’ll help me get into Madame Morrible’s seminar?”
“If you help me by putting in extra time to understand the material,” Elphaba reaffirmed, “then, yes; we will continue on, you will learn a few spells, then we will make your case to Madame Morrible.”
“Oh, Miss Elphaba—”
“But you have to be willing to do better,” Elphaba scolded, but not in a cross way, her voice was still soft. She found herself unable to talk to Galinda in any other way now, especially in this moment of sensitivity. “You have to read the book. If you really want this, then you will. You will dedicate your time to sorcery.”
Galinda’s face crinkled, “But Miss Elphaba, it is so hard to focus on the words! I just can’t keep my eyes on the page!” she whined like a schoolgirl as she stayed seated on the floor, much to Elphaba’s chagrin.
Elphaba just shook her head. “You must, Miss Galinda. You have to show me—and Madame Morrible—that you’re willing to give this your all. You have to show everyone that you want this. It is the only way. You have to study to truly grasp magic. If you don’t, you’ll just continue to struggle.”
It was true, and Elphaba only wanted Galinda to succeed.
Galinda let out another sigh, “But Miss Elphaba, it is so boring! I don’t like to keep my face planted in books, that is your thing.”
Elphaba raised an eyebrow. “Magic is an art, not a race. It requires patience and depth.”
“But—”
“Shhhh.”
“Okay,” Galinda pouted, then she fixed her posture. After a moment of silence, she stood back up, her smile back on her pretty face. Perhaps she had noticed how difficult she had been, so she said, “I am sorry, Miss Elphaba. This whole thing was rather embarrassing.”
“It is fine, Miss Galinda, you just need to improve your habits.”
“You’re not mad are you?”
She, currently, could not get mad at Galinda. She didn’t have it in her. Not right now, at least.
Even after the whole ordeal, Elphaba wasn’t particularly annoyed at Galinda for her laziness, but was rather simply a little disappointed. She only wanted her to succeed.
“No. We all start somewhere,” she said with a shrug. And that was true—for the most part. Elphaba didn’t have a starting place. According to Frex, she came out of her mother’s womb with her occult-like powers.
Why?
Galinda side-smiled, regaining her cheeriness. “Thank you,” she said and grabbed Elphaba’s hands, taking them into her own. “I am sorry, Miss Elphaba. I will do better.”
Elphaba couldn’t focus all that well, feeling that same heat rush over her body, flooding her veins, as she felt Galinda’s soft touch.
Hands touch.
“Of-Of course,” said Elphaba, stammering lightly as her heart pounded in her chest all because of Galinda’s warm grasp that threatened to overpower her senses. She looked up from her hands that sat tightly in Galinda’s and met her direct gaze, staring into the sweetness of her honey-colored orbs.
Eyes meet.
For a moment, time seemed to stand still as they stood there, hands entwined. Elphaba’s claws tensed instinctively against Galinda’s velvety skin and she felt relaxed, trying to ignore the nervous tremor of her fingertips that the blonde seemed to be unfazed by.
Elphaba was not good with this, nor was she familiar with it. Physical touch, which seemed to be so simple for Galinda, was completely foreign to Elphaba in a similar vein that magic came to Elphaba naturally, whereas Galinda couldn’t quite grasp it in that effortless way. Not yet, at least.
A silence loomed over the two girls as they smiled at each other.
“Thank you, Miss Elphaba,” said Galinda, “for giving me another chance. I do not deserve your kindness.”
“And I do not deserve yours," Elphaba said warmly, expressing her gratitude for eveyrthing that Galinda had done with a few simple words.
In that shared moment of understanding, Elphaba decided that she would not rest until she helped Galinda reach her goal of becoming a sorceress, no matter how long it took. She knew how important it was to her, so it was important to Elphaba that Galinda’s desire became a reality.
Despite it all, all the loathing and all the whispers, Elphaba was committed to helping Galinda find the goodness that was buried within her heart. Together, if they worked in tandem,there was no fight that they could not win, their combined strengths illuminating the path to a brighter, undetermined future that they would share.
And it was only the beginning.