“Well, Charlie, it’s been a few weeks now since we started seeing each other. How are you feeling? Is this working for you?”

“This is fine,” She nervously fiddled with her shirt.

“How do you want to start today?” The man flipped to a new page in his notepad, “Good or bad?”

“I have some good things to share.”

“That’s wonderful,” He smiled and adjusted his glasses.

“Olivia got me a job at her boyfriend’s bar,” She nervously said.

“I feel you want to add a ‘but’ to that statement?”

“I probably won’t be a nanny or au pair again. At least not around here.”

“Grieving is a hard process. Given enough time and your situation, your last employer may forgive your absences and help you find a new family.”

“I don’t know if I want to nanny again. I only ever started because—” She closed her mouth.

“We don’t have to talk about anything you don’t want to, Charlie, but it will help me help you,” He scribbled his notes down, “Will you answer if it has to do with your mother or sister?”

“Both.”

“I see. Well, many people change careers before they’re thirty,” He reassured her, “You could always go back to school. Before that, let’s get you into a better state of mind before you try too many new things.”

“Another good thing—” Charlie closed her eyes, “Roman’s parents found a spot to scatter his ashes.”

“Are you going to go with them?”

“I haven’t decided yet,” She looked out the tiny office’s window.

“Do you want to talk more about him?”

“No… I just,” She sighed, “I’ve been angry with myself lately.”

“Why would you say that?”

“I still feel like it’s my fault.”

“Accidents happen at unfortunate times,” He adjusted his glasses on his nose, “Your decision from a week earlier had no more influence on their deaths than their decision to drive home that day.”

“But if I never—”

“The only person who is rightfully to blame is the man that was arrest for drunk driving,” Her therapist set his notepad down, “We know it will be a long time before you don’t feel guilty, but it may help to look at it objectively.”

Charlie didn’t look up at the man as he waited for her to reply.

“Let’s talk about something else. Have you been journaling?”

“Yes.”

“Do you want to share your journal entries with me?”

“No.”

“Will you tell me what you have been writing about, then?” He picked up his notebook.

“I took your advice about writing down when I noticed Roman and Sasha’s behavior was off,” She drummed her fingers in her knee, “It makes me feel stupid for—”

“Charlie, you shouldn’t feel bad for trusting the two people you were closest to.”

“It doesn’t feel that way.”

He decided to change the subject, “Olivia has told me that you are indulging in self-destructive behaviors. Is that true?”

“I wouldn’t call them self-destructive,” She laughed, “I’m just acting like any other woman my age.”

“Which means?”

She frowned at his accusation.

“Your friends are worried about you.”

“I’m trying to enjoy myself! Is that so bad?” Charlie crossed her arms, “I feel like I’ve earned drinking myself sick and sleeping around a fair bit.”

“Find a new normal is good after a tragedy but,” He pushed his glasses up his nose, “You cannot make good decisions if you are intoxicated and will put yourself in dangerous positions.”

“Its been a few months and nothing bad has happened yet.”

“You are a young woman in a large city. I’m sure you know statistics. I, along with your friends, are worried you will trust the wrong person.”

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“I don’t care if I do.”

“Are you saying you don’t care because what happens to you?” He watched her reaction, “Are you still having suicidal thoughts or ideations of death?”

Charlie took a deep breath and sighed, “Yes.”

“Thank you for being honest,” He took a long pause to write notes, “Is it more often than before? Are you making plans?”

“No. I usually start drinking before I get too far into it.”

“Are you taking your medication?”

“I try to remember to.”

He checked his watch before he sat his notepad down, “Well, that is our time for today. I urge you to stop drinking and schedule more sessions with me during the week. Perhaps twice a week? Does that sound good?”

She took a deep breath, “Yeah. I can do that.”

Charlie slowly blinked as she felt the hair brushed from her face. She saw a cheerful smile greet her in the midday sun. She sat in between Wade’s legs and rested her back against him. The picnic basket in front of her was new.

“You fell asleep,” He whispered in her ear, “If you’d like to go back to the manor, we can head back.”

“Shit,” She yawned, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to fall asleep. I was just so relaxed.”

“It’s fine, Charlie,” He chuckled, “Cynthia told me you haven’t been sleeping well these past few days. I took you out for a picnic so you could relax.”

“This wasn’t you trying to take me on a date?” She shifted from his lap.

“My lady, I would hope you wouldn’t fall asleep on our dates,” He raised an eyebrow, “I’m not that boring, am I?”

“How did I fall asleep?” She rubbed her forehead, “I remember coming out here then you ran off for a minute.”

“I was pulled away for work,” He pointed to a nearby guard standing within eyeshot, “Sir Ferron told me you laid down to look at the clouds and fell asleep.”

Charlie yanked the corset around to give herself more room to breathe. He rested his elbow against his knee with his hand on his face as he looked at her.

“What?”

“You are just beautiful, my lady.”

She blushed, “Shut up.”

“Even though I watched you sleep for a whole month,” Wade chuckled at her, “It still makes my heart skip a beat at how magical you look. Almost like the fairytale kiss would be the only thing to wake you up.”

“Is that why you pulled me into your lap?” She raised her eyebrow, “Tried to kiss me but I moved around too much?”

He flushed, “Is it that bad I want nothing more than to hold my lady while she sleeps?”

“Sure. That’s what you were thinking,” She lightly punched his arm, “What’s my kidnapper’s plan for today?”

“I don’t think I’ve kidnapped you,” Wade grinned, “You’ve been free to leave.”

“And the guards you have constantly following me?”

“They are to ensure you are protected. I would hate for my future wife to be hurt while she explores the city.”

“Don’t think I’m in more danger with a bunch of your men following me constantly and making me a big target?”

“Well, if you would like,” He winked, “I could escort you around. They will give you more room then.”

Charlie sighed, “So, picnic for lunch?”

“I’m sure you’ve noticed that my family insists on asking you questions during meals. I thought you may want a break from them,” He inhaled the pleasant air deeply, “Plus, the gardens this time of year are immaculate. It’s a wonderful day to spend with my beautiful lady.”

“I will admit that’s getting harder to be ladylike with how much your brothers ask me weird questions,” She shook her head, “Exactly how much of your family saw me naked?”

“I—uh,” He furiously blushed, “I already apologized to you for that, I think?”

“I know,” She laughed, “Just seeing you get embarrassed is cute.”

Charlie stood and stretched. He watched her walk around the flowering garden. The picturesque scene reminded him of his own explorations during his childhood. When she knelt next down to smell a flower, he almost said something about the bug floating towards her. When she didn’t scream as it circled, her calmness puzzled him.

“Why does everyone in your family have matching names?” She furrowed her brow and looked at the different flowers.

“My father thought it was fitting to match,” He shrugged, “His siblings all had ‘son’ in their name.”

“What an odd tradition.”

“Did your family not have any?”

“Nothing like that.”

The soft petals felt silky against her dried-out fingers. Charlie plucked it and pressed it to her nose. As she looked back at Wade with a question, the weird, winged bug buzzed and landed on the flower in her hand.

“Oh, hey little fella,” She whispered to the it, “No need to worry. I’m just looking at the flowers too.”

> Identification spell incomplete at current level. Current identification:

>

> Race: Winged Serpent

>

> Level: 3

>

> Class: Beast

>

> Subclass: Elemental

>

> Racial abilities: Levitation

“Winged serpent?” She brought the bug closer.

A tiny, eel-like creature flapped it butterfly wings as it hovered from the flower to her nose. She laughed and held her finger against it so it would sliver there instead. Charlie looked back to the horrified man.

“What is it?” She furrowed her brow, “Are you scared of bugs?”

“No. I just—” He stuttered, “If that bites you, it could stun you.”

“This little guy?” She cooed and looked at its reflective blue wings, “Are you dangerous?”

The bug buzzed on her finger and slowly flapped its wings. When Charlie moved her hand back towards the ground, tiny teeth pierced her skin. She yipped and scrunched her nose.

“Hey now. That’s not nice,” She blew air at it, “Going on and find another flower.”

The tiny bug buzzed away. Charlie slid the flower behind her ear and went to sniff another.

“Is that one of those—”

“Adiona said I was immune.”

“That’s incredible!” He applauded.

“It’s just a bug,” She rolled her eyes.

“Most women I know would’ve screamed.”

“I guess I’m not like other women,” She smirked.

Charlie’s dress quickly stained from kneeling in the freshly cut grass. As she reached for more flowers, Wade sat next to her.

“What are you doing?” He looked over her shoulder.

“I wanted to make a bouquet for my room,” She froze, “I’m allowed to pick the flowers, right?”

“Well…”

Charlie looked around at the oddly familiar and alien combination of flowers. Some looked like roses or tulips that she knew. Others were clusters of bulbs that formed constellations like stars. Most of the flowering plants were situated by size and color throughout the garden.

“I should’ve asked first,” She dropped them on the ground, “I’m sorry.”

When she felt breath on the back of her neck, she squeaked. Wade wrapped his arms around her to hold the flowers in her hands.

“No,” His face rested in her hair, “Make one. I have the perfect place for it.”

“Are you sure?” She whispered.

“I’ll take you there when you’re done.”

He gently squeezed her hands before he wrapped his arms around her waist. She relaxed a bit before he rested his head on her shoulder. Charlie leaned back into his embrace as she pulled more nearby flowers.

“Is your sister going to be mad that I’m plucking flowers?”

“I’m telling you it’s okay. She will take it up with me,” He buried his face in her neck, “Don’t worry. My sister doesn’t care much for the gardens.”

She laughed, “Why is there just a field of flowers, then?”

“My mother planted most of these. They were her favorites.”

“Oh,” Her handfuls of plucked treasures felt more intimate, “I see.”