Letters to Jaime

Translated from the original Spanish:


Little Brother,

I have settled in at Foresta quite well. It was actually easier than I thought to get a job. I was worried that I did not have the qualifications to be accepted. They already have a dance instructor. If that person ever leaves, I would most certainly like to be the one to take her place. I do not know if I know enough English to teach Spanish to these students.

But those petty worries I will no longer waste paper on.

You would like my half-sister, I think. She's getting over some serious things, but once you get past that... she's very friendly. Naturally, you and her would get along just like siblings even though you don't share blood. She looks just like my mother, except much younger and her undyed hair is a deep red.

It was very lucky for me to find her so quickly. She was looking for a dance instructor.

So now I teach her to dance. And how to live. She seems to have forgotten.


This place, apparently, is for the Talented. These students are powerful and diverse. I am very excited to begin teaching, but I wonder. Is Caroline likewise Talented?

I have saved the best and worst for last. I met a very special woman named Amorina. She has eyes like the sky in Summer and hair the color of cornsilk. She's like... like a star on a dark night when you've been dancing on the rooftops. Glowing bright, unattainable but you've hope enough to reach up because your blood is running fast and hot.

Like the dancer, I reached. I was reaching for her even as we met- she's a quick learner, by the way. She said she'd didn't know how to dance, but I led her through it.

I hadn't thought to check... but when we went out, it came to me unbidden. And you know the rest of the story. I have been avoiding her. I need to wait until the event has passed. Let a bit of time heal this- she's not like any other woman, and I wish for us to be friends at least.

That's all I have to say for now.

Hug Norita for me.

-Emilio

Translated from the original Spanish:


Little Brother,

Lots of things have happened since my last letter. I meant to write earlier, but I didn't get a chance between one thing and the next.

It turns out that Amy and her friend did reunite... only to break up again. It's not my place to spread any more than that, but I cannot express my pleasure at getting another chance.

Now... I do not want you to tell Norita or Raul about what I'm about to tell you. They worry enough about me as it is.

Caroline met a guy- I knew immediately something was wrong about him. I couldn't say anything, though, because she was already hurting. In the face of such apparent opposition to her choice, she would have taken to him even more- out of defense for her choice.

He was bad. Through and through. I don't know the extent of what he did, but I do know that he very nearly succeeded in killing several people. I was one of those people. Luckily, he picked a fight with a group of people whose Talents pulled us through that dark situation.

I worry about Caroline now, though. She refuses to talk about what happened and she avoids... everything now. When she's around me, she put up a smile and all that, but I see her expression when she thinks nobody's looking.

There's not much I can do other than be there for her, and I don't know if that will be enough. Jaime, what can a brother do for a sister who's... well... detached?


Oh well. The rest of Foresta seems relatively normal now... or what passes for normal around here.

How's the band going? Give Norita a hug and tell Sonia that I wish the best for her baby.

I hope the gift is suitable.

-Emilio