Shadows Heart

I didn't think I'd ever come back to Romania. Not yet, anyway. There's so much going on—presentations, new research, and people depending on me—but every time I sit down to write Sao another letter, it feels like it's not enough.

So here I am, stepping off a plane and into the cold, crisp air of a country that feels like another lifetime. I don't have much time—just a few days—but I need to see them. Sao, Oriel, the hospital, the place that shaped me.

I need to remind them—and myself—that I haven't forgotten.

The hospital hasn't changed much. The halls are the same sterile white, the faint hum of machines filling the air. It feels smaller than I remember, like I've outgrown it somehow.

Oriel is waiting for me in the common room, pacing back and forth like he's been counting the seconds. When he sees me, his face lights up in a way I don't think I've ever seen before.

"Janus!" he calls, striding toward me.

Before I can say a word, he grabs my hand and pulls me into a quick, almost aggressive hug. It's awkward, but it's Oriel, so I let it happen.

"You're actually here," he says, stepping back and looking me over like he doesn't quite believe it. "I thought you were too busy saving the world."

"I made time," I say with a small smile. "I missed you. Both of you."

"Yeah, well, you picked a good time," Oriel says, his excitement practically buzzing in the air. "Come on. I have to show you something."

I follow Oriel down the hallway, past Sao's room, where I pause instinctively.

"She's not there," Oriel says quickly, glancing over his shoulder. "She's up on the rooftop. But you can see her later. You've got to see this first."

I hesitate, but Oriel's already pulling me along, his grip firm.

"What is this all about?" I ask as we head toward the exit.

"You'll see," he says, his tone cryptic but tinged with pride.

---

The apartment is… impressive. Luxurious, even. It's still empty, the air heavy with the smell of fresh paint and new wood, but I can already tell Oriel's been working on this for a while.

"Okay," he says, gesturing toward the kitchen. "What do you think?"

I step inside, my eyes immediately landing on the vintage-style stove, the cream-colored cabinets, the intricate molding that lines the ceiling. It's warm, inviting, and undeniably Sao.

"This is incredible," I say, turning to look at him. "How long have you been planning this?"

Oriel shrugs, trying to play it cool, but I can see the flicker of pride in his eyes. "A while. She deserves it, you know? Something that's hers."

"She's going to love it," I say honestly.

Oriel leans against the counter, crossing his arms. "That's the idea."

---

We sit down in the empty living room, the hardwood floors cool beneath us. For a moment, neither of us speaks.

"You're serious about her, aren't you?" I ask finally, breaking the silence.

Oriel's jaw tightens, and he doesn't look at me. "I always have been."

I nod slowly. "I know. But this… the apartment, everything you're doing for her—it's big, Oriel."

"She's worth it," he says simply.

"She is," I agree.

He finally looks at me, his expression guarded. "What about you? You're the one who left, Janus. Do you even know what she's like now?"

His words sting, but I don't let it show. "I know what matters," I say evenly. "And I didn't leave because I wanted to. I left because I had to. For her. For you. For everyone like us."

Oriel studies me for a long moment, and I can see the wheels turning in his head.

"You meant it, didn't you?" he says finally. "When you said you'd come back."

"Of course I did," I say firmly. "And I'm here now, aren't I?"

"Yeah," he says, his voice quieter now. "You are."

---

We spend the rest of the afternoon talking, something we haven't done in years. Oriel tells me about the hospital, about how things have changed, about how Sao has grown into herself in ways I never could've imagined.

"She's stronger now," he says, his voice softening. "But she still needs people. She still needs me."

"And you're there for her," I say. "That's what matters."

He nods, his gaze distant. "She still talks about you, you know. Not all the time, but… enough."

I smile faintly. "She's never far from my mind."

---

When the time comes for me to leave, Oriel walks me back to the hospital. He doesn't say much, but his steps are slower, like he's trying to drag out the moment.

At the entrance, he turns to me, his expression unreadable. "You're leaving again, aren't you?"

"I have to," I say, my voice steady. "But I'll be back, Oriel. I promise."

For the first time, he doesn't argue. He just nods, his shoulders relaxing slightly.

"I'll hold you to that," he says.

"You should," I reply with a small smile.

As I walk away, I glance back once, and I see him standing there, the faintest hint of hope in his eyes.

And for the first time in years, I feel like I've done something right.