Uma woke up the next morning, bright and early — apparent by the sun shining directly into her eyes. She shifted up, hit a quick stretch, and walked around.
It was the same library, but it felt... different. More inviting. Like she could walk without a purpose and not be judged.
She opened the door to the kitchen and saw Ms. Red there cooking in a morning gown.
God, I wanna be like her when I'm old. Hot even in an old lady gown, Uma thought as she made some noise to let Ms. Red know she was there. Ms. Red turned and smiled when she saw her.
"...Morning."
Uma assumed she'd said more than just that — something warmer probably — but morning was all she could make out. She nodded and waved as Ms. Red pulled out a chair and set down a plate of eggs and sausage that shone like Uma was in a cartoon, which immediately made her mouth water. She looked at Ms. Red with a can I? expression.
Ms. Red nodded and slid a cup of tea and a book over. "Read…Eat," she said, and went back to cooking.
The book was a sign language guide, evident by all the illustrated hand gestures inside — nothing like anything Uma was used to. But seeing the immense kindness Ms. Red had shown her made her determined to learn.
Uma and Ms. Red spent breakfast like that. Quiet, but present in each other's lives.
That was until, while Uma was practicing signing thanks, a loud "HELLO!!!!!" erupted from the door — making both Uma and Ms. Red jump and causing Uma to spill hot tea all over herself.
Mr. Blacksmith came barreling through the library door with that same booming "HELLO!!!!!" which caused Ms. Red to throw a chair at him.
I don't know what's more impressive — the fact that she threw it hard enough to break it, or how he just laughed it off, Uma thought as she held her shirt away from her skin.
Ms. Red hit Mr. Blacksmith on the forehead with a pan before guiding Uma upstairs to change. They both came back down in dresses — Ms. Red in her usual red, and Uma in a blue gown that was way too rich for the type of girl she was.
Mr. Blacksmith was already seated at the table with at least eight empty plates stacked beside him, working on his ninth. He said something to Ms. Red that resulted in her throwing a cup at him — but Uma caught a faint blush on her cheeks, which immediately made Uma light up as she and Ms. Red sat down.
Mr. Blacksmith led the conversation, most of which Uma couldn't follow, but she could see the countless crumbs flying from his mouth. Ms. Red clearly noticed too, leaning over to brush them from his beard.
"...Mouth. Closed. Brute."
He just laughed. Then his eyes landed on Uma and a lightbulb went off. He reached into his pocket and pulled out an honestly impressive chalkboard — shiny wood with a string attached to a gleaming gem that, when Uma tested it, acted as chalk.
Her eyes lit up at the gift. She could almost feel tears pricking at them. Not only was it the first gift she had ever received from anyone — it was the gift of her voice back.
She immediately tried to write thank you on it, which ended up looking more like:
"Thearnk qou"
Both Ms. Red and Mr. Blacksmith read it, looked at each other, and Mr. Blacksmith let out a booming laugh. Ms. Red turned away to cover her mouth.
Uma was confused at first — but rereading her note, she got it. A warmth spread across her face as she picked up an empty cup and threw it at Mr. Blacksmith, which only made them both laugh harder. Ms. Red couldn't hide it anymore.
Fuck both of you, Uma thought as she buried her face in the sign language book.
She eventually felt her hand being guided. Ms. Red, through barely suppressed laughter, carefully moved Uma's hand across the board.
"Thank you"
"...Your turn," Ms. Red said, pushing the board toward her. "Write anything, dear."
Uma stared at the board, contemplating what to put. What could she write without completely screwing it up?
After a brief moment she figured it out. Back to old reliable, she thought.
In big letters — with handwriting that would make an English teacher weep — she wrote:
"U M A"
She held it up, pointing to herself repeatedly. She could tell they were both struggling to read it, which made Uma want to flip the entire table.
But after they successfully deciphered the hieroglyphics, Ms. Red gave a gentle smile. She took the board and wrote:
"Se-ra-ro-sa"
She held it up and pointed to herself. Then she pointed to Mr. Blacksmith and wrote:
"Ha-ma-ron"
Uma looked up at the names, then back at them. Their names practically floated above their heads as she looked at them with adoration.
So... that's what I call you.
The tears started to flow freely — not from sadness, but something closer to joy. Like someone finally taking a breath after holding it for eighteen years.
Her body moved on its own. She pulled both Serosa and Hamaron into a hug. They both looked down and held her even tighter.
Hamaron said something about a celebration, abruptly stood up, marched out, and came back with what looked like an entire barrel of beer.
Serosa's cup of tea flew at him immediately.
"Young... No Beer!"
Hamaron took that as more beer for himself and began chugging. Serosa promptly kicked him out and shook her head. Uma couldn't understand the words but she could read the expression perfectly.
Geez, that man.
Which made Uma's thoughts wander. They give total situationship vibes. That made her giggle — a silent one, just her shoulders shaking — as Serosa bent down and all Uma caught was one word.
"...Cake."
Uma nodded so fast she nearly gave herself whiplash.
And so the day ended like that — Uma stuffing her face with a cake that had no business being as good as it was, watching the man who gave her a home and the woman who saved her life bicker like a married couple.
And as Uma settled into the guest room and tucked herself in, she felt a warmth settle over her. Or maybe it wasn't new at all. Maybe it was simply the warmth she was always supposed to have.
The warmth of family.