Every breed of the tree was here. Maples, alders, acacias, beeches and many more, the shrubs of endless classifications being rooted everywhere. Tree trunks stood out bare and bleak during winters, leaving branches leafless. Regardless, Windrose Park still remained a pleasant border of green. But the true attraction during this time of year was the blooming orchids, with its fruitful growth, chromatic collections and powerful scents of citrus.

The imported gulls, ducks, geese, and moorhens rarely wandered too far from the pond, instead preferring to welcome generous pedestrians, young and old, to offer pieces of bread or biscuit.

The typical hour for riders was from 8 am to noon, with carriages on the drive between 5 to 7 pm. But the only people that were privileged with the right to drive carriages down were members of the aristocracy and the mayor of Pearlrock. However, cyclists were permitted a portion of the park to use.

Shoren and I were around for a little while when I suddenly felt as if somebody was watching me from behind. But this type of feeling was different to me. It felt nothing like the presence of the spiritness nor did it feel like the cries for help. This one was far more relentless and malevolent. I was shivering involuntarily because I was inferior to it, enslaved by it.

"Phiysilya, you better run for your life. I'll skin you alive bit by bit by bit until you're screaming. For mercy for what you had done. Regretting being born into this universe, regretting your life decisions. Regretting the moment you choose to run from your fate and what you were meant to be."

I was thoroughly paralyzed from the outside. I couldn't move a fiber of my body, no matter how hard I tried.

"I know you're afraid darling. I can feel your shivering, delectable little body begging for another chance at redemption."

I remained frozen, forcefully biting my upper lip in order to stay quiet. I was wise enough to know that screaming would attract nothing but unfavorable attention. Which was the last thing I needed.

"But don't worry beautiful, you will. "

No. I said. I won't. I'm not just some doll you can toy with.

The voice cackled ferociously. Contemplating. Making me feel sick to the stomach.

"Oh really? Just wait until we break you and have you begging on your knees again like the coward you are. Like you usually do..."

I felt an imminent urge to rip them apart. I didn't give a damn if this was King Ruperous or one of his blasted soldiers. I'd rip them all apart for what they had done. Cleaving apart other families, killing numerous innocents and manipulating the most vulnerable.

I felt Shoren firmly grasp my arm.

"What's the matter?" He asked worriedly. The expression on his face screamed concern and it didn't help that my body was still quivering so badly from the creeping pain in my bones.

I shook my head stubbornly to conceal the fear the best I could. "It's nothing, I'm just feeling chilly," I said, trying to calm his disturbance.

But little did I know, I had clearly forgotten how observant and smart he was as he signed in the way he only did when he was annoyed.

"Seriously Phiysilya? Your body language is telling me otherwise."

I shook my head vigorously, "I said I'm fine! Now stop touching me!" I again insisted, jabbing his arm away and hurriedly walking off. I didn't want to cause an explosive scene in front of children.

He still saw right through me. He knew I was lying. I could just tell by the tenseness in which he moved, by the fury and doubt in his eyes.

"Come here." He managed to catch up to me, roughly pulling me away by my wrist. Along the way, I fought him. I did everything I possibly could in an attempt to let me go but to no avail.

He didn't stop until we were in a secluded area with shrubs surrounding us and a bench nearby. However, he ignored the bench entirely and instead went towards the colossal sized oak tree.

"What in darnation are y-"

I was cut off abruptly when he pinned my arms up at an alarmingly impressive pace. I was aware he had muscle but I never realized how greatly I had underestimated his strength until now.

I avoided eye contact, looking at anything but him and instead focused on the feel of the harsh, scaly bits of bark scraping against my back. I wasn't sure what he'd do next.

"Look at me please." He coolly demanded.

He loosened his grip but even then, I was still trembling and aching from the pain. His face softened along with his grip and he got closer, tenderly turning my face as if it were glass towards his.

"I apologize for startling you." He said.

"It's just... I hate seeing you like that. My heart can't stand it Phiysilya. It kills me inside. Especially when you won't tell me what's bothering you."

In those words, I felt everything. The sincerity in it, the unusual vulnerability, even the frustration.

I heated up, I felt my pulse quicken and I averted my eyes once more. Why did I always get like this around him?

The truth was I wanted to tell him. I really truly did. But I was still afraid of what he'd say to me. What he'd think of me. Still contemplating whether I was worthy of that sort of attention.

But then, I remembered my father's last words to me, 'Take risks in life. More importantly, for the ones you love.' I remembered how I thought I could never love anyone in the same way again. How inhuman, how incapable I was of emotion or going out of the way to risk anything for anyone. But now I was going to break the glass walls that were once bulletproof. Even if he ended up shunning me. So be it.

"Shoren I..." I stepped closer to him, letting out a soft breath, "I'm not a lunatic nor am I making this up so when I tell you this.." I felt my voice crack.

"Just promise that you won't shun me, that you will do nothing but just listen until the end. That's all I beseech of you... okay?"

Shoren nodded, "Of course."

I breathed in and out; here goes nothing.

"On the day I turned five, I'd get these visions in my head. Some were atrocious enough that it left me sobbing late into the night, some were heartening to my senses, and others were of grievous subjects that no five-year-old should be objected to."

"Initially, my parents thought they were dreams. Just mere figments of my imagination that I'd outgrow as I got older. But that wasn't what happened. As I grew older, I'd get fevers so high, stomachaches and nausea so grueling, I'd be forced to spend weeks on end in sanatoriums." I heard my voice crack with raw emotion.

"But everything truly went to hell on my 13th birthday. I started to cough out blood after having a vision and every once in a while, I'd see this spiritness with big white wings and long silky dark hair."

"And that's when I made a senseless decision that I will forever regret. I told the doctors about that spiritness, they diagnosed me as schizophrenic and threatened to send me away to an insane asylum far away in Pinelhill." I felt my voice decay even more. Wheather it was of distress or anger or pined up resentment for having to keep it in for so long, I couldn't tell.

"They were going to do it! They could and would have done it if it weren't for my grandparents! My mother was there and yet she said nothing, she just stood there in shock and didn't give a dime! If it wasn't for my grandparents, I'd wouldn't be standing here today. I'd would have starved to death in Pinelhill!"

I looked away from Shoren and continued after a few moments of silence, "I never had another conversation with my mother ever again. I avoided her for days until those days turned into months and until those months turned into years. I never went to school again, I rarely went outside again because all people did was shun me and tell me I was better off dead."

"I started to hate myself. I just wanted to end the pain I have caused to others. So one day I tried to silt my throat with a knife when no one was looking. But Eiriam caught me. She took the knife right out my hands and told my mother. My mother locked me up in my room for weeks afterward and to this day, I don't think either of them recovered from that incident."

Shoren took out a handkerchief from his right pocket and held it out to me, soundlessly uttering, "Your crying."

I accepted the handkerchief. I didn't realize I was crying until my vision was fuzzy. I looked up at him, sadly smiling, "And you know the worst part? To this day, I still miss Ellisburg. Despite everything that has happened, I still miss the scenery, I still miss it all because I was born there, I grew up there. But with that came a price. I never forgot Eiriam's face that day, I still think of how traumatized she must be." I stifled another sob and turned away from Shoren, absolutely humiliated that I was practically induced to a blubbering mess in front of him.

Yet he still said nothing. Instead, he motioned his arms out to me and I complied. He caressed my hair and cradled me so tenderly in his arms. Not caring about the fact that I was more than positively ruining his gray day-suit. But he didn't budge.

"Phiysilya..." He stroked my cheek, wiping away a tear with his finger, "I didn't mean to act so forcefully with you. I'm sorry." He said.

I rubbed my aching eyes, "Shoren, do you hate me? I mean if you do then I don't blame you. I'm so selfish and incompetent. I don't deserve what I have."

He stopped caressing my hair when he heard that, "No, why would I? You had no control over that, you did nothing wrong to deserve that treatment. I will admit you are to some degree incompetent at times but I assure you aren't the one to blame entirely. Nobody ever gave you a proper chance to improve yourself."

"And when I look at you, I don't see a lunatic. I see a somewhat timid person who's passionate, humble, and has the determination of a bull."

The determination of a bull?! Is he saying I'm stubborn?

I immediately pushed him away, "How dare you? I'm not as determined as a bull!"

He didn't do anything but just laugh and laugh at me, "You just proved my point."

I huffed, crossing my arms, "Now you sound like Laiechen."

He shrugged nonchalantly, "Well it's true."

I threw the handkerchief at him, "You can have this back."

Shoren held it by the tip, about ready to hand it back to me but suddenly, we heard the sobs of a child nearby.