[SE] Piece of Mind

Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again,
this time more intelligently

Keeping her comforting hand on Alys's shoulder, Elizabeth watched as she opened the gift. She knew it would be a difficult reminder, but she hoped it might one day be a source of joyful memories rather than pain. As she saw her friend's bittersweet tears, Elizabeth gave her a reassuring squeeze of her hand. "Of course. I wish I could do more, but I'm always available if you need." To talk or to help in any other way. 

Her smile was soft and patient as Alys gathered herself. She wasn't in a rush, and the cold air was starting to make her fingers tingle even through her gloves. Glancing towards the docks, she said, "I have some time before my skyship is scheduled to take off. Do you want to join me for a cup of tea?" It might help for the seer to have some normalcy, a way to decompress after the swell of emotions, but she would also understand if she'd prefer to be alone.

Elizabeth

and i'm still waiting for a life that never was

Alys might have welcomed the cold, relishing in the chill that bit at her nose and her fingers, but Elizabeth's patient presence had warmed her enough that it no longer felt like a fitting punishment to give in to frostbite. The temperature was uncomfortable, at best, and so when her friend offered a cup of tea, Alys was happy to accept the invitation.

The pair of them wandered off to a local tea shop, where they could sit and converse. Fortunately, the conversation stayed away from Sascha and from Alys's myriad emotions, and she was able to reasonably enjoy the time spent with Elizabeth, even if the hollowness of her grief still weighed her down.

fin

Alys