Have you been skipping breakfast again? Have you been glaring at Will Herondale from across the hall as usual?
I hope you are taking care of yourself.
I miss you terribly. Spain is beautiful and I am grateful for this wonderful experience. I’m glad I decided to go on my travel year. The Madrid Institute is one of a kind.
I write to you to ask for your help. It’s regarding our sister.
Father wrote to me a week ago. Gabriel, he is seeking proposals for Tatiana.
It’s a terrible idea, and not simply because she is too young for this.
He sent me a list of suitors and asked for my opinion of them since I might know the blokes better. But I don’t think he really cares about my opinion - or whether these men are well suited for our sister.
There were some decent men on that list.
Arthur Hayward, Rupert Blackthorn, Silas Nightstorm.
There were some concerning names as well.
But I am not writing to you to discuss the virtues of these men - or lack thereof.
I want to discuss our sister.
I don’t think it is wise for Tati to marry right now.
She needs love, Gabriel. Not a husband.
And it is we - you, father and myself - who must give her that love. Not some man she has never met.
From what I hear, Tatiana is excited about the prospect. It hurts me that she is grabbing at the first chance to get away from us. Are we that awful?
I will try to talk to her, even if it will make no difference.
For whatever reason, I have always felt that Tatiana despises me. Maybe it’s just my paranoia.
Will you talk to her? She likes you better.
This is a lot to ask of you. But there is no one I trust more. Will you talk to her, Gabriel? Please?
I know our family has its secrets and struggles. I know we have been through our fair share of pain - and the future might not be any kinder.
But we can go through all of it as long as we - You, me and Tati - have each other.
We always will. I promise you that.
I know father expects many things from both of us. But I am slowly starting to realise that it is not our duty to fulfil his expectations of what it means to be a man.
It is we who must define what kind of men we are. It’s not easy, I know. We have never had anyone to look up to.
But we have each other, don’t we? I think that’s enough.
Don’t be too hard on yourself, little brother. Just be the man who I know you are on the inside.
I will be home soon. Stay safe for me.
germansingergirl
stormborns
kianamaiart
origamiaround
blakekathryn
