School from Miriam

Teacher,   I did it. I made it into school! It was a little overwhelming at first, especially with the people that said I only got in because you said so. There’s almost no one saying that now though. Tira gave me a pin and told me that it lets people know that I’m part of your outer family. I hope you don’t mind but I’ve been keeping it hidden when I’m at school. At school, I want to be okay with just being me. It’s safe in your shadow but I want a place where people don’t see you every time they see me. You get it, right?   Around town is different. There are just so many people! It’s also really different here than what I expected. The war feels farther away from the people here than it felt from all the elves we met on the other side of the barrier. I didn’t realize until now just what everyone on the other side had to survive to make it there, and how it changed them. The common people here feel softer.   I’m learning how to spot the people who have lost family across the barrier. There’s a look in their eyes that’s so familiar to every elf we met when I traveled with you. I got together with Alder and Tira and everyone to put together a list of all the elves we’d met on the other side. The elves here don’t know about Seeking, but when I see that look, I let them know that I came from the other side of the barrier and I ask if they’ve lost anyone. I haven’t found anyone yet, I didn’t really meet that many other elves, but I’m getting my own list together of people who are waiting for word. I’ll send it to you later - if you find anyone, you can let me know how they are and I’ll pass word to their families.   Anyway, things are good. I’m not as isolated as I was afraid of being. I’m still wearing ear wraps out around town but at school, I don’t hide anything. I’m in classes with people in their 70s and 80s for the most part - it’s weird how they’re older than my grandpa but it feels like we’re the same age. There’s a girl I’ve been crushing on… she reminds me of Dawn but taller and without the wings, and I guess a bit more… Proper? Evidently her family is important in the Court and there are always people swarming around her. I don’t think she likes it though. Even when she’s surrounded by people, she feels as lonely and isolated as I was afraid I’d be in coming here. Any advice? How do you approach an elven girl that you like? What makes for a good first date?   Coming here was scary but now that I’m here, I know that it was right. I miss you. I’ll write more, I promise!   Miriam