Aya sat alone upon the floor of the small, simple room that had become her home in Ul'dah.
It seemed like yesterday that Natalie and Kage had greeted her with welcome smile, and raised mugs. Their cheer, and their hospitality had set her upon the course that brought her to the heart of the desert. Now, months later, many of their friends, struggles, and trials were her own. She had become intricately tied into the world in which they had lead her.
Days had passed, and she had hardly the opportunity to grieve. Now it seemed to come at once, behind closed doors, where the need to be strong, to comfort, and to support faded into lingering shadows.Â
Stained cheeks gave testament to sorrow. She lifted a peanut from a bowl resting on the floor, staring at it intently, as if it could summon back that goofy smile. Instead it summoned only its image, from the bittersweet of pleasant memory.
It seemed like yesterday that Natalie and Kage had greeted her with welcome smile, and raised mugs. Their cheer, and their hospitality had set her upon the course that brought her to the heart of the desert. Now, months later, many of their friends, struggles, and trials were her own. She had become intricately tied into the world in which they had lead her.
Days had passed, and she had hardly the opportunity to grieve. Now it seemed to come at once, behind closed doors, where the need to be strong, to comfort, and to support faded into lingering shadows.Â
Stained cheeks gave testament to sorrow. She lifted a peanut from a bowl resting on the floor, staring at it intently, as if it could summon back that goofy smile. Instead it summoned only its image, from the bittersweet of pleasant memory.
![[Image: 21282370099_a814a08664_o.png]](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/590/21282370099_a814a08664_o.png)
