Music Recommendation: Forgiveness- Hyunpill Shin-

  Julie felt anguish fill in her chest.

  "Cillian?" She called his name, but she didn't sense his presence. She couldn't believe that he had disappeared just like that, not giving her time to digest or let the information sink in on what he had planned.

  Her eyebrows furrowed deeply, and she sat in silence. She could feel the memory of his lips on her forehead, where he had pressed them affectionately. How could he leave…… just like that.

  The reason why Julie had even stepped into the forbidden door was only to bring him back to life, not to lose him all over again. Suddenly it felt like everything she had done had gone in vain.

  "Winters?" Roman had come to stand at the door, noticing Julie staring at her palm.

  "……he left, Rome," Julie informed him, her voice cracking in the end. "Didn't stay back even for a minute more."

  It took Roman two seconds before he realized whom Julie was talking about right now. He stepped inside his former room, coming to stand in front of her. She hugged his waist while still sitting on the bed, and Roman gently ran his hand on the back of her head.

  "I thought he would live his own life, where he would be able to live the parts of his life which had been stolen from him," said Julie, her lips pursed and her eyes moistened.

  Julie had never wanted Cillian to give up his life for her sake. She would have found a way to bring her parents back to life, and it was something she would deal with. Right now, the weight on her shoulders felt heavy, and she didn't know how to handle the sudden loss.

  "He probably knew something that we didn't, Winters," Roman consoled her. "Something he wanted to do before he left. Did he say something?"

  "He said he had fulfilled his purpose, and there was no reason left for him to stay here," replied Julie.

  The furrow that had appeared on Roman's face quickly disappeared as he understood what it could mean. He knew Cillian would have many reasons, and it was probably hard for the Corvin to leave Julie's side, but he had done what was right.

  Leaning forward, Roman dropped a kiss on top of Julie's forehead.

  "He said I can open the portal again," added Julie and Roman could only tell that Cillian had found it hard to stay around Julie when her heart belonged to someone else. No matter how great or generous a person's heart was, one couldn't stop the prick of pain.

  "Don't be sad, Winters. You will still be able to see him. Maybe you can alter the past a little," suggested Roman, and Julie wondered if she could really do it.

  "But it would alter things in the present," replied Julie, and she pulled herself away from him. She craned her neck to look up at him.

  Roman cupped her face with his hands, looking straight in her eyes, "It never has to be too much alteration. Sometimes a simple thought, a memory to be carried forward can be implanted. So that it can make way for the future."

  As much as he wasn't fond of Julie having more admirers, he knew that she shared a connection with Cillian.

  "But you will need to think carefully about it. Taking in all the possible consequences, and if you are ready for it," stated Roman. "Don't be sad. I don't think he left your side to make you sad. All of us want you to be happy, and smiling."

  Julie nodded, and a soft sigh escaped from her lips, "Okay."

  Roman looked around the room and asked, "Is that everything?"

  "There are four pairs of clothes and a few essentials in the cupboard for the next few days," replied Julie because she wanted to be there for Melanie. "Did you catch up with your mother?" she asked him curiously.

  "Yeah, halfway there," replied Roman. "Tristan and Piper are planning to have a wedding before the next term starts."

  "Oh?" asked Julie, her eyebrows slightly raising. "Have they pick a date or venue yet?"

  "The venue is going to be right here in Veteris. And it should be in three weeks," responded Roman. "Actually I came here to tell you that Piper wanted to speak to you about something."

  "She did?" asked Julie, and Roman gave her a nod. "Did she tell you what it was about?"

  "No, she said it was something personal, and would like to talk to you about it," replied Roman.

  Julie stood up from where she had been sitting until now.

  Roman leaned forward and kissed her lips, offering her an assuring smile. He said, "There are times when certain things don't make sense to us. But as time passes by, you reach a point and realize that it was meant to happen, and it is why you are where you are. Don't be disheartened, Winters. If you ever need to, I will tear open the forbidden door for you. I will always be next to you, so lean on me as much as you want."

  Julie's eyes once again moistened, and she said, "And you can lean as much as you want on me. I will do my best."

  "I know you will," replied Roman, and he said, "Why don't you go and meet Piper, and I will take these boxes outside."

  "Let me help," said Julie, going to pick up one of the boxes.

  "Don't worry about it. I will be fine doing it myself. You don't want to keep my sister-in-law waiting now, do you?" said Roman, and Julie smiled.

  "I will be back soon," replied Julie, and she walked out of the Dormitorium to look for Ms. Piper.

  As Julie headed in the direction of where Ms. Piper was, she reached the building where the theatre was located, which felt like many years had passed since she had last been here. But at the same time, she relived the memory of what happened on the stage during the play.

  A smile appeared on her lips, and she walked down the stairs before making her way to the back of the stage. In one of the makeup rooms, Ms. Piper stood in front of a large trunk that had been pulled open. Julie knocked on the door to let the woman know of her presence.

  Piper turned around and offered a bright smile, "Come in, Julie. I remember keeping a dress in here, but it seems like when we were shifting things around which were unburnt during the massacre, it must have disappeared then. Come sit," she said, walking towards the chairs that were fixed in front of the dressing mirrors.

  "Rome said you wanted to speak about something," said Julie.

  Looking at Julie's concerned face, Piper said, "Don't worry, it is just something I wanted to ask from you," Julie nodded for her to continue. "As you know, I lost my family in the massacre that took place a century ago. I was wondering…… if maybe you would like to be my bridesmaid."

  Julie was taken aback by Piper's words.

  "It is perfectly alright if you don't want to. I have asked Dante and then I thought to ask you. I know we have mostly had a student—"

  "I would be more than happy to be your bridesmaid, Ms. Piper," Julie replied with a smile.

  "You wouldn't mind?" Piper confirmed again.

  Julie shook her head, "We are all going to be a family one day. It doesn't matter if I get a sister now or later," she said to the woman, who was touched by her words.

  "I cannot tell how much your words mean to me, Julie. I really appreciate it. Both Tristan and I really do, for what you have done for us," Ms. Piper was grateful to Julie for more than one reason.

  Though Julie wasn't able to bring her family back, she had people here who cared and loved her. A family that wasn't related by blood but by feelings.

  Julie asked, "I am guessing that you may want to go shopping?" Piper already had her dress, but surely she would want to add something to it.

  "Maybe if you are free, we could go later?" asked Ms. Piper. Julie was more than happy to agree to it.

  Julie then wished her, "Congratulations, Ms. Piper. I hope your wedding is exactly the way you imagined it to be many years ago."