Ah, if only

ㅤ The sun shone brightly outside the door, as if it were completely white outside. After bidding Elize farewell, Jude and Milla, smiling softly and caringly, left the Sharil estate. The light, like their smiles, radiated an unforgettable tenderness. That's why Elize felt less pain and sadness in saying goodbye. That's why she accompanied them with a broad smile. Teepo flew around restlessly, filling the space with loud good wishes asking them to return soon and visit more often. Driselle and Cline stood behind Elize, each placing an arm on her shoulder. The girl had found a family. A reliable and kind one. With a light heart, Jude left her, pursuing his destiny. He nodded to Rowan, who bowed respectfully at the door as they departed. Elize briefly felt a sense of emptiness, but Driselle didn't let it linger. "How about a stroll through the market?" she smiled, cupping her hands sweetly against her cheek, leaning forward slightly. "They brought in some new jewelry today; you're sure to find something to suit your taste!" "Just don't get too carried away," Cline chuckled, blessing the two girls he now held most dear. Driselle always pampered Elize. Jewelry, toys, pretty dresses—the girl was never deprived of anything. Every trip to the market began with delicious ice cream and ended with a wide variety of desserts. In moderation, of course! Driselle took care of her young friend's teeth. She also took care of her figure, which was even more important, since for teeth it was enough to brush, while losing weight required much more effort. After walking around, Elize hid in the guest room, resting in silence. Even Teepo was silent. She simply sat on the floor, hugging her toy, lost in her thoughts. She fell asleep until Cline found her and carried her to the bed. At first, Elize felt uneasy at school: so many people, so many curious glances. Driselle and Cline's support was a big help, along with their school stories. Funny and not so funny. They didn't hide the negatives, but emphasized the positives. The opportunity to make friends… Elize's social circle expanded significantly, as did her range of emotions. They were mostly positive, because she was surrounded by kind and reliable people. And she made friends, not enemies. Studying was sometimes quite tiring. Not wanting to associate her room with lessons, Elize usually did her homework in the guest room. In the evening, Cline would come and check her homework, so Elize would feel more confident at school, not afraid of making mistakes. She often fell asleep while waiting. Right on the floor, hugging Teepo. And time after time, Cline would carry her back to her room. Hearing Elize's laughter seemed like a blessing, as once the girl could only smile shyly and demurely. Now she could allow herself to open up, looking more confidently to the future. It was still uncertain, but filled with color and light. Every eventful day was like a fairy tale. Elize learned so many new things that the excitement literally never left her, charging her with energy and positivity. And she managed to spend it all, satisfying her unbridled curiosity! Exhausted, Elize returned to the guest room, where Cline was reading quietly in a chair. Elize sat in her usual spot, listening to Cline read aloud to her. Unfortunately, the reading proved too monotonous and boring for the girl, so she soon fell asleep again, hugging the silent Teepo. Cline exhaled with a smile, standing up. "If you sleep here all the time, you'll catch a cold." Cline reached out to her, but the translucent hand passed right through. His palms literally melted before his eyes. And Elize didn't look pleasantly tired at all, but tense, her arms tightly around Teepo due to emotional distress. And Cline couldn't do anything about it. Just as he couldn't help the fact that the face he saw in the mirror wasn't his own…

* * *

Jude woke with a start. Elize was lying on the floor, snoring. Milla was breathing heavily in bed. Cline was no more… The dream quickly faded from his mind. When Jude picked Elize up, intending to carry her into the next room, there was nothing left of it. ㅤ