There they would lay under the protecting canopy of the willows trees - the young male's former home where Sonticus once reigned. It was under the swaying leaves that she fell apart, finally hit by the bullet of her emotions. The girl who had always stood tall had come undone, confused, uncertain and overwhelmed with grief and guilt. It was under the swaying leaves that he came to her, rushed to her side, rescued her. He had led her from the deepest and darkest pit inside her mind, making her reach out to find the light. It was under the swaying leaves the strongest feeling had been ignited and they had confessed their love for each other. Life's situations had forced them to grow up. They couldn't act like pups anymore. In this world, constantly changing and fluctuating, they needed each other.
She couldn't imagine herself making her way back to Fiori now. She wasn't ready; she had to start over, regenerate herself. Though she had calmed down a bit, her body still felt the effects of her earlier trauma. Was she well again? Would she ever be fine? She didn't know. All she could do was hope. Nuzzling into his cheek with his body wrapped around hers, she managed to close her eyes, falling into a light slumber. Before the world faded out, she focused on his breathing and the beats of his heart that soon fell into a rhythm with hers.
