# Peri & Fern
:::danger
:love_letter: *For Alicia, a kindred soul of mine. Happy birthday.*
:::

## #1: After Graduation

Peri had not seen her companion for weeks before she got trapped in this cramped, dark place. She remembered when she was hung on the girl's school bag. She would ride along the air currents whenever the girl walked side by side with another girl. Then, Peri and her companion, a white-feathered parrot clinging onto the other girl's backpack, would tweet and chirp together. The duo of girls never noticed their interactions—they were too busy chatting on their own.

That was weeks ago. Now, Peri was left helpless in this tight, square space. She could not see anything; the only sound around her was the rustling of paper. Her cell tilted, and the chubby bird rolled around the darkness. She prayed this would not dirty her pristine white feathers to the point she was no longer the same color as her companion. Oddly enough, there was a quality to her prison that seemed familiar: like paper, but not entirely.

After what seemed like an eternity, Peri heard a loud screech that dragged on for almost a minute. Afterward, she saw the light. Hands cupped around her, scooping her up from what she realized was a small cupboard box. A letter lied at the bottom of the box. Tapes torn off seconds ago were discarded next to the package. As she settled on the desk, she stared: in front of her sat her companion, who was chirping softly about the days they had been apart. Before Peri had a chance to reply, hands cupped them up together. The two little birds snuggled together as the owner of the hands—the other girl—held them up to her chest and smiled. *Friends these days,* Peri thought fondly, basking in the warmth.

## #???
*To be continued.*