Chapter 1

Two months passed since Leon left on his first expedition and while Violet had received several letters from Leon detailing the amazing things he was seeing, she knew he would receive any of her letters until he returned so she waited until he mentioned that he would be starting his journey back to his mailbox. While he had been away she had been on several different jobs. After returning from helping the famous playwright, Oscar Webster, not only put his story to paper, but also grieve the loss of his daughter, a switch flicked in Violet and she felt something. She felt ablaze, like her body was on fire during that boat ride as the weight of all of the grief she must have caused was finally sinking in.

To make matters worse, when she returned from her job with Oscar Webster she was met at the docks by the Evergardens who let it slip that Major Gilbert was missing in action. The fires that had started to spread on the boat ride spread and intensified until they felt like ice. She fought to accept that the Major was gone, and no matter what anyone told her, no matter the proof they gave her or headstone she sat at, a part of her would never accept that he was really dead.

When she did return to work she was met with a pile of requests. Amongst those requests was a letter from Leon. She took it to her room and hesitated to open it, and she didn't know why. Something about reading this particular person's words made the heaviness she'd been carrying around since discovering the Major was MIA lighten. Seeing his messy handwriting, and the smudge of dirt on the corner of the envelope brightened the darkness of her room. None of that lightening made it easier to open the letter, if anything she felt like she was betraying her pain as she opened the letter and felt the slight tug at the corners of her mouth as she read.

"Dear Ms. Evergarden,

I hope that you have been well.

I'm sorry it's taken me longer than usual to write to you. We were stuck in a cave out in the wilderness for several days during a storm. It was amazing. We captured the most amazing photos of the sky from the mouth of that cave and somehow managed to catch a bolt of lightning on the film!

We are making our way North now. It should only be something like two weeks until I can check my mailbox. Somehow, returning to that mailbox feels just as exciting as the journey out here.

I already have my next expedition in planning. We are going to climb the tallest mountain on this continent. There are rumors that you can see the edge of our galaxy the clearest from that peak. Can you imagine it? I cannot wait to return with photos from that journey. Maybe we can meet somewhere after I return and I can show you some of the things I've seen.

Sincerely,

Leon Stephanotis"

After reading it a second time she closed her eyes and tried to imagine what the galaxy might look like and all she could picture where stars, and comets and his blue eyes. "Oh—" she gasped as she opened her eyes and wondered why. Why did that feel good. How could that feel good, especially right now?

She read it for a third time before putting it down beside her typewriter.

Her metal hands hesitate for a moment above the keys as she thought about how to respond.

"Dear Mr. Stephanotis,

Thank you for sharing your adventures with me.

A lot has happened since we last met.

The person we spoke of as we watched the comet pass, the one the one you said I was in love with, I've recently been informed that he has been missing in action since my time in war ended and he presumed dead. Gilbert Bougainvillea.

Despite all evidence, something inside of me believes he is still alive. They never did find a body. Something in me just knows and I cannot give up on that feeling yet.

It was shortly after discovering this that I received your last letter. I would like it very much if we could meet somewhere and I could see the photos you've taken and hear more about your adventures.

Please write again soon.

Sincerely,

Violet Evergarden"