Curious Capp: Desiderata Valley
Hello, and welcome back to Curious Capp! Somehow, the whole of Desiderata Valley can fit into one update. I'm expecting later towns to take longer, but for now, please enjoy this short update!
Desiderata Valley was only a two hour drive north of Veronaville, but it was enough distance from home to give Hermia a fresh feeling. The streets were pleasant, a park opposite her apartment building, everything about Desiderata seemed nice and comfortable.
Hermia had enough money to rent a small apartment, a tiny little set-up at the back of the building. It was her first place that was truly hers, and none of that silly feud stuff could ruin the moment for her.
But the fresh feeling didn't last long. Once Hermia had set up the apartment with her cheap furniture, there was an empty feeling left behind. Now was the only time she had really thought about Mercutio, and his offer of travelling alongside her, how she would give anything to have him around right now.
Hermia sighed, knowing that the homesickness was only going to be temporary. Desperate to forget about Veronaville and Mercutio, even for an hour, Hermia decided to go and see what Desiderata had to offer.
It was in the park opposite her apartment building where Hermia met Edward Contrary. He'd been quietly playing chess on his own when Hermia found him. The pair of them got talking.
Hermia didn't notice the wedding band on Edward's finger, but something about him reminded her of Mercutio. It might have been his dark hair, messy and uncontrollable, just like Merc's.
The best part of hanging out with Edward was the fact he didn't discuss his personal life, and Hermia didn't feel pressured to share any details from her past either. Instead, Edward and Hermia talked about Desiderata, how beautiful the weather was, how peaceful the park was, anything but themselves.
Hermia left the park later that day feeling much better than when she'd arrived in the Valley, and headed back to her apartment knowing she had found a friend in her new home.
The happy feeling didn't last very long, as Hermia's pregnancy progressed, through morning sickness to her first bump. She knew that she wouldn't be able to hide it from Edward, or anyone else she should meet in Desiderata, so she phoned up Edward.
Edward and Hermia talked about everything that morning. He was going through a rough time with his wife, over the troubles their son was causing by misbehaving. The couple hadn't managed to sort things out, and Edward currently wasn't living in his house, but elsewhere in Desiderata.
Hermia felt it was only fair to explain why she left Veronaville, and it felt nice to have confessed to someone.
Edward and Hermia kept in contact over the following days, as the pregnancy progressed, getting closer each time they spoke.
Desiderata was starting to feel like home.
It wasn't long before the baby arrived, a beautiful baby boy, who Hermia named Marc. Her neighbours had heard the screams of Hermia's agonising labour, and come to meet the baby.
At first glance, Marc seemed to take mostly after his father, with his dark hair, but Marc had Hermia's eyes.
Once Marc was fast asleep, Hermia invited Edward over.
Things progressed much quicker than either Hermia or Edward predicted, and the pair fell into bed.
But once Edward was asleep on the pillow next to hers, Hermia began to feel guilty. He was married. He wasn't Merc. It had barely been a week since Hermia left Veronaville, and already she'd messed up.
The next morning, Edward was still in the apartment, cuddling Marc. Hermia bit her lip. It seemed Edward was good with kids, but that didn't mean Hermia wanted to keep him around - she found his company uncomfortable this morning.
It wasn't long before he left, leaving Hermia alone in her silent apartment again, with no company but her baby and her thoughts.
It wasn't long, however, before Edward, and the consequences of their 'friendship' were back in her life. Morning sickness, again.
Hermia knew she had to get out of town soon - before she started showing. She refused to be the reason why Edward lost his family completely.
The night of Marc's birthday was to be her last night in Desiderata, although no one but her landlord knew it. Edward was still in the dark about the pregnancy, as well as Hermia's plans to leave.
Marc grew up looking a lot like his father, which made Hermia smile. Some things never changed - she still missed Mercutio. Hermia was going to send him a letter, and a picture of his son, but she wasn't going home. Not yet.
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That's it for Desiderata, hopefully it wasn't too short. I mean, not a lot happened during Hermia's time in DV, and she only really had eyes for Edward Contrary - negative chemistry with John Mole! Hermia seemed to like the married men in DV...
Still, I quite like Edward Contrary. And I can't wait to see their baby.
Anyway, until next time!