Even the stars fall sometimes

Water This, Water That!

What was supposed to be only Saturday classes turned into late night classes during the week as well. It wasn't so bad. At first I hated it because all I ever did was water the plants and feed the animals. As more and more time passed this became a place that I would hide from the outside world. Even when Emmie was holding normal classes the mini jungle was so dense there was always a place I could hide away from everyone else. I started skipping my normal classes. I actually got the head master to agree to me spending my days with Emmie in her class as long as I picked up the assignments from my other classes and was able to pass the tests. Tests were never an issue for me. Even if I never studied I would still get top marks. It became a routine. Wake up, shower, eat and head to the nursery. Days turned to weeks. By the 4th week Emmie came up to me. “Are you ready for your lessons to start? A little shocked I choke a little. “I thought this was my lessons.” With a chuckle she replies “Oh dear no! I just wanted you to get accustomed and comfortable. A student will never truly learn and more importantly retain what you are teaching them if they are uncomfortable in the space you are in. It needs to be like a second home to them.”

A little shocked I realized that she's right, I would have never listened to her if this hadn't become my home. Now I would feel weird NOT being here. Oh how foolish I have been thinking this is all I would learn from someone so perceptive. “Alright, what will I be learning then?” I asked truly curious to see what I would learn.

“Well...” she starts. “You've already learned the names of the plants and creatures you've been tending to. I didn't even have to teach you them.” Gasping “How did you know?!”

She chuckled at me with a kind smile. “I noticed you would look at them then run back and find the information in the pile of books. I assumed that's what you were doing. Its good! That actually saves us a lot of time. Not to mention you learned them all in a much shorter time frame than I would have given you to learn everything.” Picking at my nails nervously I didn't realize she has been watching me that closely.

With a little skip she heads back to the pile of books and pulls out a leather journal. “This my dear Rora is for you. My hope is that what ever notes and bits of information you find interesting or don't want to forget you will write in here. You may leave it with the other books or take it home with you. Either way it is my gift to you and I will only ever read it if you ask me to.” I can't help but smile. Looking at the journal I notice my name on it. Looking up I wonder to myself if the roof is leaking only to realize the drops are from me. When I realize it's like the floodgates of the heavens have opened and my tears turn to sobs. Clutching my gift as if it was the most precious gem in the world because in that moment to me it was. Never had I been given such a beautiful gift. As I stop sobbing I realize that Emmie had me locked in the most tender hugs. Stroking my hair as if she were my loving mother. “It's okay! I wont force you to use it! Please stop crying!” All I hear in her voice is concern.

After a moment I look at her. “You don't realize what this means to me. I will keep this with me even to my grave. This is the most beautiful and loving gift anyone has given to me.” I meant every word of it when I said that. Even today I still hold it dear to my heart. The next few weeks continued. I would water the plants, feed the animals and Emmie would teach me how to use all the properties of the plants. Both the good and bad. I would often wonder why she was also teaching me the bad things you could use them for. Maybe it was best to understand how they could hurt so you could properly heal. After about a week It became one of my duties to help the medic teams. Eventually I became the only medic for my Hand to Hand unit. The more serious the injury the more difficult it was becoming for me to do things alone. However once I treated something successfully I knew I could do it again even better than before. Soon after the more experienced medics were coming to me for advice. It was strange how the once ostracized orphan freak was now being sought out for advice by extremely capable individuals.

“Emmie?” “Yes Rora?” she replied “Why are the asking me for advice? They are the ones who went to school to become court doctors. Shouldn't I be asking them for help?” Emmie just chuckled “Oh Rora you don't understand just how gifted you really are do you? You shouldn't be doubting yourself. You have learned everything about the healing arts that I can possibly teach you and in such a short amount of time as well” She spoke softly almost with a bitter sadness “You my dear Rora have enough knowledge that you yourself could become a court doctor today if you so wished it.”

“Can I really do that? Even with out the proper degrees?” I asked this mostly out of shock. “Yes. Although I will not permit it. There is still much I need to teach you. Hopefully you will choose to use these things for good and not evil. I know the kind of good you are capable of. Just watching how you care for our plants and creatures here. I know you are capable of so much greatness.” She said this as she spun on her heels and headed back to the cave of books she calls an office. Rummaging through everything so intensly I wonder if she will cause an avalanche of books.

“Emmie what are you looking for?” I ask. As soon as I asked what I feared happened. All the books came crashing down on top of her. In that moment my heart stopped and I felt as if the last of my family were dying right in front of me. “Emmie?!” I cry “Emmie are you alright?!” the silence echoed through my bones. Even the birds were completely silent. It was so eery that even now I have to have some sort of sound going at all times. I start to dig frantically through the avalanche of books. I didn't even realize there were so many here. After almost an hour of searching I still can't find Emmie. Frustrated and defeated all I can do is sob silently inside the mess of books. I was startled by the sound of books moving behind me. Out pops Emmie. “Found it! I knew it was here somewhere!” She says glancing up “Rora... Why are you...” She didn't even get the chance to finish when I completely tackled her in a hug and started bawling like a small child. Snot bubbles and all. “I was so scared! I thought you died... Death by books! I know that's how you would want to die but I was so scared that I lost another member of my family and would be alone again!” Emmie just stroked my hair and slightly rocked me as if I really were a small child. “It's okay Rora. I'm not going anywhere and you're not alone.” we stayed like this for quite a while. Once I had calmed down we started to clean the mess of books up. There had to be thousands of books. I didn't even realize we had so many here.

Once we finished our clean up Emmie turned to me. “Tomorrow we start your ACTUAL real lessons. Please stretch before you come and make sure you drink enough water.” I know she added the part about the water because of how much I had been crying. That's okay though. Its one of the ways Emmie shows she cares. Heading back to my room I end up collapsing in bed and falling asleep instantly. There were no dreams for me tonight. Only blackness and rest.