"Here's the chart and the coursebook on ÖSL." Noemi drops a large rolled-up paper and a thick book on Emerynne's bed. "You should put the chart up on this wall so you can look it at and revise whenever you find the time."

"What can you teach me right away?" asks Emerynne, unrolling the chart to study it.

Turning and sitting crossed-legged so she is facing Emerynne, Noemi says, "some basic words, nouns, and the alphabet."

"Well then, let's get to it," says Emerynne with a sudden eagerness.

"It's great that you're so inspired to learn..." There is a mischievous grin playing at Noemi's lips. "Because, it isn't actually flirting if there's a translator in between."

Emerynne throws a pillow at Noemi which she easily swats aside. "Oh, shut up about that."

"And honestly, translating dirty-talk isn't erotic at all," Noemi teases, snickering.

"Noemi," exclaims Emerynne, "come on!"

"Okay, I'm done! I'm done," Noemi placates, her hands up in capitulation as she tries to control her laughter. Once she has calmed, she pulls the coursebook into her lap, flips it open to the alphabets page and instructs, "alright, now you watch and mimic my actions."

They spend the rest of the evening engrossed in Austrian Sign Language. Noemi is an adept tutor, backed by her grad school course in Humanitarian Aid which she chose for extra credits. Over the next few days, she and Emerynne regularly practice talking in sign language amidst their normal conversations, so Emerynne picks it up fairly fast. In a couple weeks, she has amassed a substantial vocabulary in ÖSL and can carry on a discussion almost flawlessly. Even so, she doesn't stop, choosing to take Noemi's ÖSL coursebook along to work every day. She studies while she waits for the boat to fill and ferry her across to Obertraun, while she takes her breaks in between dances at the company, and while on the ferry back to Hallstatt.

Her new job at the Flow State Dance Company is everything Emerynne has dreamed it to be. She goes five days a week, Wednesdays and Sundays are off for her. Fynn welcomes her into his circle with open arms, and as it turns out, he is one of the most popular men in the town of Obertraun, sweeping people right off their feet with his good looks, his charming nature, or the pride he brings to the town in the form of trophies and wins from dance competitions all over the world. He isn't just the star dancer of Flow State, he's the superstar of Obertraun. All that aside, what Emerynne likes most about Fynn is how humble and down-to-earth he is, despite his fame and popularity.

A usual day at Flow State starts with hours long training in Russian ballet, which appears to be Jenna's field of specialty. Jenna demands perfection in the execution of the simplest poses and pushes Emerynne hard; she is relentlessly critical of and never quite pleased by anything Emerynne does. Nonetheless, Emerynne doesn't let her flinty exterior and exigence for meeting high standards wear her down.

For lunchbreak, Emerynne occasionally brings food packed from home and eats it in the breakroom on the second floor, while other times, she and her co-performers head out to their favorite bistro on Central Street. Thereafter, from the afternoon until the evening, she trains in various groups under the other three directors for different performances the company has signed up for in the coming summer.

By the end of the day, Emerynne is drained and made of aches and pains. This doesn't bother her, because she knows that eventually, said aches and pains will die out as her body gets used to this new, grueling routine. Ever since she started at Flow State, she has developed a greater appetite, and sleeps much, much better each night. She is motivated and driven; going to work is a joy and not some mundane, nine-to-five commitment. Her aunt and her mother are extremely proud of her, and they don't fail to remind her of that every morning.

What does bother her, however, is the fact that this new job has considerably reduced her chances of seeing Matthias Franke. This is the only downside.

❧

Emerynne's Sundays are dedicated to her closest friend, since Noemi and her rarely find time over the weekdays. So today as per usual, after she has vacuumed the apartment, dusted the shelves and mantels, and finished the rest of her household chores, she calls Noemi up to make plans.

"Hey, Emery," Noemi greets as soon as she receives the call.

"Hi. What do you wanna do today?"

Noemi groans. "I was gonna tell you yesterday, but I forgot... I can't hang out today. I've got to start on my internship report if I hope to submit it prior to summer break."

"Oh... that's okay. Good luck on your report."

"Thanks, Emery," says Noemi, "and again, I'm really sorry about not letting you know earlier."

"Come now," Emerynne responds mildly, "don't apologize for prioritizing your education."

There's a momentary silence on Noemi's end, before she speaks again, "how about you come to my place to sleepover tomorrow? Bring your work things along, so that you can leave for Obertraun right after breakfast?"

"Noemi, that sounds perfect!" Noemi's efforts to ensure they get quality time together bring a smile to Emerynne's face. "See you tomorrow, hey?"

"Yeah. See you."

Following her phonecall to Noemi, Emerynne finds herself lying in her bed, staring at a patch of peeling paint on the roof above her as she contemplates how to spend the rest of her Sunday. She could take a nap, but her mind adamantly pushes that option away. Minutes later, a light bulb comes on in her head, and Emerynne shoots right off her bed. Grabbing her satchel and a navy-blue hoodie from her wardrobe, she heads out, walking to Esoteric Herbals.

Her trip to the Marketplace takes longer than usual owing to the sheer number of hired cars and tourist groups clogging up the narrow roadways. The influx of visitors to this town is, as far as Emerynne can tell, influenced by the weather warming. By the end of May, every guesthouse, BnB, inn, hostel and hotel in Hallstatt will be full of tourists with a desire to witness the Salzkammergut Alps get bedaubed in summer.

The apothecary is crowded as usual, perhaps even more so. So much so that when Emerynne pokes her head into the store, all she can see is a gaggle of people and no space for movement. She decides to take the fire exit upstairs instead, and knocks on the red door once she's on the second-story landing. Through the little window on the door, Emerynne catches sight of Amelie shuffle into view and waves at her.

"What're you doing out here, kiddo?" questions Amelie as she ushers Emerynne in.

"Where's Aunt Erika?" Emerynne asks in response. "It's important."

Amelie points to the back end of the room, where Erika sits hunched over a digital weighing machine, pouring bath salts into vials and measuring them. Emerynne rushes to her side. "Aunty," she says, clamorous, "you need to write up an 'emergency order' that I can go collect from Matthias."

Setting aside her volumetric spoon, Erika looks at Emerynne in confusion. "I need to what...?"

"You know, just make a list of plants and herbs that you need because —" Emerynne lifts her hands and mimes quotation marks "—'it's urgent'. 'Emergency order'. Get it?"

"This is a ruse to see Matthias?"

"Bingo. You have to help me." Clasping her hands ardently, Emerynne begs, "please, please, please. I'm your only niece."

"Oh, hush. Fine, I'll write you an 'emergency order'." Sighing, Erika asks Amelie to bring her the order register. To Emerynne, she advises, "I know you like the boy... but, darling, you needn't force things like this."

Emerynne exhales forcefully. "Force things? I call it taking initiative," she says, crossing her arms.

Amelie returns holding a large notebook, a small pad, and a pen which she hands to Erika. "It's tea season," the older woman states, "ask for brew herbs."

"Smart thinking," Erika commends, quickly penning down a list. Under her breath, she mutters, "peppermint, rosemary, and East Indian lemongrass, if he's got any... what else? Oooh, heartsease flowers, too." When she is done, she tears out the page from the notepad, hands it to Emerynne, and enjoins, "do not put them in bags or wrappers. Bring them in separate baskets, the ones that have lids. Matthias knows."

"Baskets that have lids, okay." Emerynne turns to leave, however, she is stopped by Erika.

"Is this initiative really necessary, Emery?" she queries.

"Yes! He's shy and so am I, but not as shy as him," Emerynne exemplifies, the entreaty in her voice matching that of her face, "so, I either have to do this or keep wallowing in an unrequited romance."

Erika shakes her head in defeat, going back to measuring and packing bath salts. "Good luck, then. I love you."

"Thanks. Love you, too!"

Emerynne traverses the route to Matthias Franke's address, purpose in her mind and purpose in her stride. All this time, she has only been pushing people away, but Matthias – she wants to let him in and keep him close. She wants to find a way into his glass world, like he has found a way into her heart.

Is it love or infatuation that makes one yearn to be a part of someone's world?

To Emerynne, it doesn't matter right now.