𝑬𝒚𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑱𝒂𝒅𝒆：𝐴 𝐿𝑙𝑜𝑟𝑢𝑚𝑖 𝑆𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦

Chapter Eight

•Harumi•

Slowly, with the help of Lloyd, my injuries from the building collapse started to heal. Every day, Lloyd and I would go outside and he would help me walk around. Slowly, my cuts and bruises started to get smaller and smaller, and heal over time. I got better at walking and Lloyd would never leave my side. Everyone in the monastery had forgiven me, and truly made an effort in including me in things, and making me feel like I had a home and a family.

"You're almost there Rumi! Keep going!" Lloyd says encouragingly as he hovers his hands near my shoulders in case I fall. I take a few more steps, and grab onto the trunk of the weeping willow. I did it. I turn to look at Lloyd beaming. I had walked from the monastery all the way to the weeping willow that we had had our first picnic under. Lloyd turns to me a kisses my cheek. I blush, and lean into him, wrapping my un-injured arm around him.

"I think we should commemorate this moment." Lloyd says softly, before gently placing his hand around me and leading me to the trunk of the tree. He summons his elemental power, and uses it in a small amount to carve a heart into the trunk. In the center of the heart, he carves 'Forever Ours' with the letters 'L' and 'H' inscribed underneath the phrase.

"This place is forever ours Rumi." He says looking at me and smiling gently with his hand around my back.

"And you're forever mine." I say as I lean my head on his chest and pull him into a hug. He hugs me back, resting his chin on my head. The soft breeze rustles the leaves of the trees, as we hold each other, soaking in the happiness of each other's presence.

I hear a knock at my door, which brings me out of my thoughts. "Come in!" I say cheerily. The door opens and Nya comes in and sits beside me on the bed. She is holding something behind her back, and I shift my position to try to catch a glimpse of what it is.

"Hey Harumi!" Nya says laughing. "I have something for you. She pulls out what she was holding, and it's a jade green GI. I gasp. "You're part of the family now," Nya says smiling, "And I wanted to make it feel official." She hands me the GI, as I feel tears forming in the corners of my eyes. "Thank you!" I say with a teary smile. I give her a hug. "This means so much to me." I say.

"Aw I knew you would like it." She says as she pulls away from the hug to smile at me. "Oh! One other thing. I'll be right back." She says as she heads out of the bedroom.

I wait for her to return, and run my fingers over the stitching. It was beautiful. I couldn't have asked for something better. It looked similar to Lloyds, but a jade green instead of his go-to green color. It was perfect.

Nya comes back into the bedroom with a laptop in hand. "Last night, I was talking to Lloyd, and we were both thinking that we needed to order you some of your own clothes. I feel bad that you have been wearing ours." She says with a chuckle. "We have to actually go shopping in person sometime when you're not injured, but for now, I think we should order you some online." She says opening the laptop.

This was all too much. I felt guilty that everyone was being so nice to me. I knew I didn't deserve it after all I had done.

"Thank you Nya. This is all so much. You have all been so kind to me, even after all I-."

"Hey, it's all behind us now. People make mistakes and learn and grow from them." She says smiling at me. I nod, taking in her words.

"Now," she says looking back at the screen. "Let's find you some clothes."

We both spend the next hour picking out an entire closet worth of clothes for me. It felt so good to be able to shop for clothes that I was able to pick out. When I lived at the palace, I always had to wear dresses and clothes that were acceptable to wear in the palace. Never hoodies, T-shirts or jeans. I was over the moon with excitement for the clothes to come the next day.