The world was tranquil and serene, and then I opened my eyes.
Releasing a breath, I pushed my head off my arms, staring at the small desk my limbs were resting on before looking around at the empty classroom.
I sat in silence for several seconds, then got to my feet and headed for the windows opposite .
Soothing morning sun, white clouds, green lawn, paved terrace, and a wide parking lot.
The simple sights I saw through the window held my gaze for nearly a minute. There was no one in sight, and in the end, I turned and exited the classroom.
It was surreal to find myself in my blue pyjamas while in school, and I shoved my hands into my pockets as I walked through the hallway.
I took the routes I was familiar with, and when a particular door ca into sight, I slowed. A woman stepped out of it and turned to face with a surprised smile.
"Marcus, what are you doing here?"
I remained standing quietly, gazing at her, and when her smile did not retract, she quickly made her way over to .
Worry clung to the edges of her lips as she got closer, observing my expression remain blank, and when she was close enough, she reached out for my cheek, her expression now one of care and concern.
What a sweet woman, I told myself, feeling her genuine worry.
"Is sothing wrong?"
"Yes."
"What is it?" She leaned closer.
"Let’s go watch the sun together."
"Okay." Mirah showed no hint of objection.
I lost track of my mind for several seconds, and when my brain ca back online, I was standing on the school roof, a nun by my side and the rising sun ahead of us.
"Do you always watch the morning sun?"
"No, but with you I want to."
My left hand slipped from my pocket and smoothly went around the nun’s waist, resting on her large rump, and then I gently pulled her closer.
Mirah did not object. She put her arm around and rested her head on my chest.
"Does this feel better?"
I didn’t reply, honestly enjoying the rays from above, and then the scene transford.
The school building disappeared, but the sun remained. A adow filled with lilies and sunflowers spread out around us.
We stood in front of a cottage painted in a variety of colours and looked ahead at several children laughing and playing.
Older children tried to organise them, and even young adults popped up, laughing amongst themselves off to the side.
Mirah stiffened in my grip, but before she could begin to think too deeply, we were no longer standing. Now I sat in the adow, the nun seated on my thigh and held close, my arms around her thighs and back.
"Marcus, you’re holding Sister Mirah like she’s a baby."
The words ca from a little girl who had run away from her friends and was looking at us with a bright gaze.
"That’s because she’s my baby."
"Really?"
"I’m not a baby," Mirah imdiately reacted, pushing herself out of my hold and standing to the side.
"Everyone is sobody’s baby. Just as you are Sister Mirah’s baby, so is she mine. Or do you think she doesn’t deserve to be cared for?"
"Everyone deserves to be cared for. They should have a special soone."
"Good. Alright, go play with your friends."
"Co and join us."
I obliged, moving away from beside Mirah and soon finding myself playing tag with a group of children.
The joy from the kids was infectious, and at so point, I let myself forget about Mirah and focus entirely on the ga.
I don’t know how long passed, but suddenly I found myself back on the school roof.
The cottage had been replaced with the school building, but the scene below remained the sa.
Mirah stood to the side, staunchly looking down, and I walked up beside her.
"Why didn’t you co play with us?"
"I’m busy."
The next second, we were back in the adow, playing with the kids, and this lasted until night.
Everyone else was gone, and we sat together looking at the stars in the sky, our hands entwined.
"If this is what you love, then why go into doing business? There are other career paths you could have followed."
"You don’t like business?"
"For the well-paying type you seem to do, I’m sure it has its hassles and trying monts. It’s difficult to be prominent and not be tainted by the world."
"Yet it is only from such positions that one can effectively disburse joy to many others."
"Then what of your own joy?"
"I’m tainted. I’ve pledged to sacrifice, but at the sa ti, I can’t help but want to feel joy."
I lifted our locked hands, making Mirah look at them, and she shook her head.
"I have my vows."
"Which is more important, to keep to the rules or to bequeath salvation?"
I turned to Mirah, and the woman turned to , our gazes boring into each other, sparks flying.
Mirah could see or think of no one else, her ploy having backfired as our recent activities had softened and accelerated the severing of her emotions to others.
The mont was right. All that was left was for soone to make a move, and I knew that soone had to be .
Just as I readied to flip myself over the woman, a thunderous lightning shot through the sky. The calm breeze that had been blowing was imdiately replaced by strong winds, and both Mirah and I sat up.
"Wait here."
Mirah’s image disappeared, and seconds later it popped back up.
Worry was on my face as the woman returned quite quickly, but within, I lanted the beautiful opportune mont that had just been ruined.
"Yes, everything is fine."
The weather returned to the peace it was before, proving Mirah’s words.
"What was the problem?" I honestly asked.
"Soone troubleso. They ca for you. You need to be careful, Marcus," Mirah said.
The woman was obviously worried for , but her eyes stared into mine inquisitively, an energy spreading through my being, and I could feel myself being laid bare before her.
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