The two weeks that Elinor and I had left flew by almost like a single day.
So as not to waste precious time being together, we met every free minute.
In the morning, before my work—until Thomas started grumbling that I was shirking my duties. During the day—on short breaks, when Mrs. Cole sent me to the shop or on other errands. In the evening—by the lake, where we could be alone and no one could see us.
Elinor continued teaching me magic, and I was making progress. Now I could use several simple spells, though nothing remarkable. For example, I could dry wet clothes or other items. Repair simple objects, and even help plants grow without extra fertilizer.
In other words, these were spells more suited to ordinary household tasks. But they were definitely useful.
"…Your gift is growing," Elinor noted after a long period of our lessons. "You can't even imagine how strong you might become in the future."
"You're exaggerating. I've only learned a spell to dry things. Don't turn me into an all-powerful witch!"
Elinor only laughed and kissed me.
We talked a lot about the future. About how I would come to her in France. How Elinor would introduce me to her aunt, and how we would live there together.
"…Aunt Madeleine will certainly make a scandal about it," Elinor said. "But she loves me. And when she sees how happy I am… maybe she'll accept it."
"And if she doesn't?" I asked cautiously.
"Then we'll leave," the girl said immediately. "To Paris, to London, anywhere. I'll find a job there. We'll manage together."
I was surprised at how calmly she said it. She really was ready to take such steps for me…
And of course, I couldn't help but be touched by that.
I believed Elinor when she said that everything between us would be fine. Because I truly wanted to believe it, and I believed everything she told me.
Meanwhile, the days passed unnoticed.
And finally, the very day I had been dreading arrived.
We were sitting together by the lake as usual, and Elinor suddenly grew serious.
"Today is the last day," she said sadly. "Tomorrow morning I'm leaving."
I was silent, staring at the water. There was a lump in my throat.
"Don't be silent," she asked. "Say something."
"I don't know what to say," I said quietly. "I don't want you to leave. I don't want to stay alone…"
"You're not alone," Elinor objected. "You have Mrs. Cole, Maggie, Thomas. And you have me. Even if I'm far away."
"It's not the same."
"I know," she took my hand. "But it's temporary. I'll come back in the summer. Or maybe even earlier, if I can."
"In the summer," I repeated. "That's such a long time to wait."
"Time will fly," she smiled, but there was sadness in her eyes. "I promise. And besides, didn't we agree? If everything works out, you'll be the first to come visit me."
I only sighed. To visit Elinor in France. In truth, it sounded simple only in words…
But in reality, everything was much more complicated. And it wasn't only about solving bureaucratic issues and documents. I myself wasn't sure whether I was truly ready to go to another country…
Elinor and I sat in silence, watching the sun set. It was red and almost looked like a farewell.
"Let's stay here until dark?" Elinor suggested.
"And your grandmother?" I asked quietly.
"She'll survive," she answered with a faint smile. "Just this once."
In the end, we decided to stay there together a while longer.
When it became completely dark, it grew cold. Elinor moved closer to me, and I felt her warmth through my coat.
"Tell me something," she asked. "About yourself. Something you haven't told me yet."
I thought for only a moment. And in the end, I decided to tell her.
"Do you remember… You said that you feel like my soul isn't from here?" I said quietly.
"What?"
"Well… it's true."
Elinor fell silent.
"I'm not from this world," I said with a sigh. "I'm not even from this time. I… I died in another world and woke up already in this body."
The words spilled out of me on their own. Originally, I hadn't planned to tell anyone anything about my past life. But with Elinor—only with her—it seemed I couldn't lie.
I decided to be completely honest with her about everything.
After my words, Elinor was silent for a long time. Then she turned to me.
"…Are you serious?" she asked.
"Yes."
"Then tell me," the girl asked. "I want to know more about you."
And I sighed and truly told her.
I told her about the world I originally came from.
About the twenty-first century, about the internet, about cars, about the unfortunate brick that once fell on my head when I was walking home. About the darkness that followed, and then my awakening in the Gaunt shack.
I told Elinor everything. Almost everything.
The only thing I didn't tell her was that the world we were in now was actually the world of a book.
I was simply worried that the information that I had come here from another world was already shocking enough. And if I also said that this world itself wasn't real, but someone else's imagination… No, that would probably be too shocking…
So I decided not to say that.
Nevertheless, it seemed that even what I had already told her was more than enough to cause surprise and agitation in Elinor.
For some time she listened to me without interrupting. And when I fell silent, she took my face in her hands and looked at me carefully.
"…You are the most amazing girl I have ever met," she said. "And I believe you."
"Really?"
"Really," Elinor nodded seriously. "As I already said, I can feel other people. And I feel that you are telling the truth."
Involuntarily, I even burst into tears from the overflow of emotions.
All because for the first time in two lifetimes I had met someone who completely accepted and understood me. With Elinor, I felt that I could fully be myself and hide nothing.
Even when I confirmed that I had come from another world and told her about it, Elinor didn't look at me strangely or tap her finger at her temple. She simply believed me without hesitation.
While I quietly sobbed in her embrace, Elinor held me, stroked my hair, and whispered soothing words.
For some time I cried— for the first time in a long while, not from pain or resentment, but from relief. I was simply very happy that I had met this person. Someone who knows everything about me and still accepted me.
"…I love you," I whispered into her shoulder.
"I love you too," Elinor answered.
We sat like that for a long time. The stars scattered across the sky, the moon rose, illuminating the lake with silver.
But finally, the moment of farewell came.
"It's time," Elinor said quietly at last.
I nodded, but didn't move.
"Kiss me one more time," I asked. "For the last time."
"Not for the last time," she corrected. "Until our next meeting."
And Elinor kissed me again.
The kiss was long and warm. It held all our love, all the sadness and hope.
When we pulled away from each other, I was smiling through tears.
"Until we meet again," I said.
"Until we meet again, Merope."
We went in different directions. I didn't look back. I knew that if I did, I wouldn't endure it and would run after her.
I came home after midnight. Mrs. Cole was not asleep and was waiting for me.
"Well?" she asked.
"Elinor is leaving tomorrow," I answered, sitting down at the table beside her.
Mrs. Cole sighed.
"Will you grieve?"
"I will… But I promised to wait for her."
"Good girl," the woman nodded. "Love is worth it. I waited for my husband when he went off to war. And I waited him out."
I smiled.
"Thank you, Mrs. Cole."
"For what?" she asked, slightly surprised.
"For everything."
The woman only smiled, waved her hand, and went to bed.
And I remained sitting in the kitchen, drinking cold tea and thinking about Elinor.
It seemed to me that this month I had spent with Elinor had changed something in me forever. I had definitely become different after meeting her.
And because of that… the thought that very soon we would have to say goodbye became even more unbearable.