The Elf Girl by Markelle Grabo

curious.”
    “It’s quite all right to ask,” she said. “I turned…what was it, fifty-two this past February?” Addison and Stellan nodded.
    “I have to say, you look great for your age,” I admitted whilst yawning, completely dumbfounded.
    “Addison, get her home,” Aaliyah said through a chuckle.
    Addison nodded and motioned for me to follow her toward the door.
    “Can I escort you two?” Stellan inquired.
    “If you must,” Addison agreed.
    I smiled as he took my hand and led me out the door. It was a short walk to our next destination, which was a cabin similar to Addison’s. This one, however, didn’t have any flowers and appeared unused for some time, lonely and deserted.
    “What’s this?” I asked.
    “Your home,” Addison told me. “It was where your parents lived before they…disappeared.” Addison said disappeared very quietly.
    “So now…I will live there?” A sense of dread descended upon me. The idea of living alone in a home that once belonged to my absent parents was unsettling.
    “Yes. We kept it in the best condition we could. Zora refused to live there, but we couldn’t just abandon it. Come inside,” Addison called, stepping through the doorway.
    I felt weary about going into the house that my real family had once lived, a family I did not remember. I was afraid of staying in a strange place, knowing that those who had lived there had disappeared or left against their will. I think Stellan sensed my ill feelings because he nodded slowly as to reassure me. I held his hand tighter and walked forward with him into the cabin.
     
    ***
     
    The inside was exceptionally appealing and surprisingly warm. A small fire burned in a stone fireplace, its flames licking the stone surrounding it and giving light to the main room. Finished lighting the fire, Addison got up and walked over to join us.
    I could see three more doorways that led to other rooms. The main room had a small kitchen area, a large rug decorated with flowers and vines, a dining table and chairs, and a wooden couch with soft-looking green pillows. Not only did the outside remind me of a summer cottage, but the inside as well.
    “Why do elves like green so much?” I asked, observing the color coordination throughout the room.
    My question clearly surprised them, because neither of them was quick to answer.
    “That is a very interesting question, Ramsey,” Addison commented. “I’ll do my best to answer it, but I don’t really know for sure. I think it’s because elves relate so closely to nature. Greens and browns are very close to nature, so that’s why we use them. We also use floral patterns a lot. I’ve never really thought about it, though; it’s just something we like. An elfin way.” She shrugged.
    “Don’t forget to mention every elf has green eyes,” Stellan added.
    I hadn’t realized it before, because I hadn’t paid much attention, but Stellan was right. Every elf I had seen had some form of green eyes.
    “Thanks for explaining it to me,” I said, considering it all.
    Addison nodded and placed a hand on the kitchen table, as though she were checking for dust. “What do you think of your home? I had Blaire come by and clean it while we were away,” Addison told me, looking at her clean hands and appearing satisfied.
    “Who’s Blaire?”
    “An elfen in the city,” she informed me, but she wouldn’t explain any further. “So how do you like it?”
    “It’s great! I love it,” I gushed.
    “Come, I’ll show you around.”
    Addison took my free hand to lead me into the first room. Stellan stayed behind. I was disappointed to be leaving him, but I was eager to see the rest of my home.
    The first room we entered had a large king-sized bed with a green comforter. It held another fireplace, but this one wasn’t lit. Actually, the room looked very dark and sad, cold even. A large wardrobe stood off to the side, as well as a dresser with a vanity mirror.
    But everything appeared lifeless, as