The time of the plague

Chapter fourteen

Julian walked into the town looking around the market for the things he needed. He bought the necessary items then headed to the shop.

Julian knocked on the door and waited for an answer. Asra called out "I'm coming" as he walked to the door and opened it for Julian.
Julian walked inside as Asra asked "what can I do for you Ilya?"
"How do you know it's me?" Julian asked, shocked his disguise didn't work.
"Ilya you aren't very good at disguises,your hair gave you away." Asra said as Tilde walked out of the back room.
"Oh right I really should hide my hair more" Julian said.
"Doctor Devorak I have something important to give to you" Tilde said pulling out Vanessa's will and handing it to him.
"Tilde I can't take this, I can't read this. I don't deserve to read this after what I did to her" Julian said tearfully.
"Julian, she put you in her will for a reason so you should read it. I'm sure she forgave you," Tilde said.
Julian went to argue back but just took the will and opened it up.

My dearest Julian (one of the first people I met here),

Julian, ever since the day we met I've known you were a kind soul who would do anything to help the ones you care about. I know you didn't mean to poison me and I forgive you to an extent- I can't fully forgive you. You have broken the trust I had with you but it is still somewhat intact.

I wanted to give you some money so you can keep your beloved clinic open. I know how much it means to you. I also am giving you a couple of my favourite shells that remind me of you. If you feel alone or just need someone to ramble to, just hold the shell and talk. I'll be listening. I've missed your ramblings about anything and everything.

Even though I do not fully forgive you for failing to save me, I wish you well in life and lots of success. I do hope you don't take the guilt of what you did to heart and let it take over your whole life.  You have a lot of potential Julian so keep flourishing wherever you are right now. You may be wondering what you did to deserve this. I guess holding hatred in my heart until I die helps nobody and all I want you to do is continue living with the peace you deserve.

Well I guess this is goodbye, Julian. I'll never forget the first time I met you- how afraid I was of you at first by trying to sound badass, saying I could 'kill a guy with a seashell'. That's not completely true but hey you believed me so I guess it worked! You helped me feel like I  belonged in this world. I couldn't thank you enough.

Keep saving lives Julian- you'll always be the best doc out there!

Best of luck,
Nessa

Julian rolled up the will and tied the ribbon around it again and put it in his bag.
"What did It say?" Asra asked.
"It said she forgave me to an extent and she has given me some money to keep my clinic open and some shells that remind her of me" Julian said trying to not break down crying.
"Here" Tilde said as she handed him a bag that contained the money and shells.
Julian took the bag,opened it and took out the shells to look at them. "These were some of her favourite shells. How could she give them to me? I don't deserve them. I didn't deserve to know her. She was far too regal for me to be friends with" Julian lamented as he held the shells carefully.
"Ilya you do deserve those shells and you did deserve to know her, we all did" Asra said walking over to Julian and placing his hand on Julian's cheek comfortingly.
Julian started to break down crying whilst he stroked the shells. As he did this, he thought back to the times he shared with Vanessa. All the times they cried of laughter together, all the times they comforted the other, all the times Vanessa would listen to him rambling on about some new medical advancement he had just made despite her not knowing what he was going on about. As the vibrant memories flashed before his eyes, it dawned upon him that he had lost an amazing companion for life. A rarity, a silver lining in the darkness, a diamond in the rough...perfectly imperfect.
"I will never forget you Nessa," Julian muttered as he finally whole heartedly smiled in what felt like forever; engulfed in a trance of unforgettable moments.

Nazali had started to look around the market for Julian when they had a suspicion that he would be at the shop so they started to head there. Once there, they knocked on the door.
Asra opened the door and asked "what do you think you're doing here?"
Desperately covering their face with their vermillion shaded shawl, Nazali whispered quietly to mask their voice, "May I come in? I-"
Abruptly cutting in, Asra sighed, "I know it's you Nazali. There's no point in you trying to be in disguise. I know you too well...".
Frustration clouding their violet eyes, Nazali questioned Asra sharply, "Where's Julian? Have you seen him, I've been looking for hi-". As the Doctor was remarking their perplexion, Asra moved aside to reveal behind him Julian- heavily immersed in the colourful array of shells scattered on the tarot table. Eyes widened with fury, Nazali scurried towards the Doctor with a whole speech ready in their mind to reprimand their protege. However as they moved closer to the backroom of the shop, the purple cloth draped around the tarot table revealed to them the hidden Tilde. Stopping in their tracks, Nazali was almost left speechless.   
"What's going on here?' Nazali alarmed, causing Julian to jolt after being distracted with Vanessa's shells.
"Nazali... I can explain," Julian gulped in trepidation.
"What do you mean! Why are you with Tilde... are you trying to blow our cover Julian! I don't understand. We have to leave,we can't stay here any longer..."Nazali remarked quickly while grabbing Julian's wrist.
"No wait-" Tilde interjected, halting Nazali from leaving with Julian. "Julian wasn't here to blow your cover. By coincidence, we happened to be here at the same time. Anyways, it was good I met him anyway."
"How is that good Tilde? Now you're going to tell the palace where we are and get us into prison. You just want revenge don't you..." Nazali angrily cried as they remembered back to the betrayal they faced from Tilde at the palace.
"Look, I understand your anger towards me but I hold no more hatred toward you anymore. Both Vanessa and Lucio have died from a fire inside their wing. Nobody could have saved them at the end of the day..." Tilde quivered with tears in her eyes. "However, before she died, Vanessa wrote her will as she was sure she was going to die from the plague. She included Asra, Julian and I. It was my duty to make sure her final hope for her loved ones was given to them," Tilde revealed.
"Oh," Nazali uttered in despair,completely lost for words.
From behind, Asra asserted "She hoped the best for Julian and gave him all of her shells in memory. She also gave some money to fund the clinic as well." Meanwhile, Julian finished packing up the delicate shells into his bag as tears pervaded his cheeks.
Swinging his satchel over his shoulder, Julian blubbered, "She was my best friend ever since I met her. I don't think I would have learnt kindness and loyalty if Vanessa never came into my life,". Slowly he took out of his pocket one of Vanessa's shells that he had saved and brought in close to his lips, whispering softly "I hope you're in a safe place Nessa. I hope you're looking down on me...I miss you." As he gasped down the pain arising in his throat, Nazali comforted him with a gentle pat on his shoulder. "Come on we should get going" Nazali said leaving the shop. Julian nodded and followed after Nazali. Asra and Tilde bade the two goodbye and wished them luck on their travels.