The Healing Garden!!

Amara sat in the garden, in silence, observing flowers, trees, birds, butterflies, and flies. She even witnessed two squirrels playing with each other, a cat sitting and yawning lazily, eagles flying high in the sky, ants searching for food; their discipline as usual wondering her.

As her gaze wandered around her surroundings, Amara noticed an old man in the wheel chair was observing the environment, enjoying the peace of nature, just like her.

However, his face clearly expressed that he is worried. Why?!

Amara getting up, reached him slowly, greeting him, "Hello grandpa!"

The old man seemed confused by the sudden interaction, "Hello....miss! May I know who you are?!"

"I am Amara, daughter of Mr&Mrs.Winslow. This hospital is theirs!"

The old man smiled, "Ohh! So I happened to meet the future owner!"

Amara shook her head in shy, "That's too much of a tag for me!" saying with shake of her hands.

The old man smiled again, "My name's Jack! Nice to meet you child!"

Amara smiled back, "Nice to meet you too! Well upon me disturbing you, sorry for that, but you....seem quite worried, may I know what happened?!"

The man took a pause.

"Only if you are comfortable to share?" She added.

Jack shook his head, "No secrecy dear, I was just enjoying the environment which I may miss in my upcoming days!!"

"Miss?!" She wondered.

Jack nodded, "I just went through a surgery, a week ago! Now I am healthy, and will get discharged tomorrow!"

"That's good to hear though!"

However the man still looked upset!

Amara didn't understand, what was the reason for him to be upset if it is not for him having any health issues?

With a crouch, she sat on the soft grass, "Then what is bothering you?!" she asked softly.

Jack sighed, looking ahead to the view of the garden, "I am not worrying but, I'm quite upset. I have been staying in this hospital from last three months! And just a week ago I had an operation and should leave here by tomorrow! The problem is that I got habited to this place, and environment! This garden always managed to make me feel stress-free. I am just in fear that I won't be feeling the peace it provides me, anymore!!"

Amara chuckled, "That's in no way a problem, grandpa, you can come and go as you wish!"

"Can I?"

Amara bobbed her head, "Of course you can!!"

Jack sighed again, "Only staff and patients are allowed my child, it would bother them if I come often!!"

She with a deep breath, looked into the nature, "Can you see all of them?!" she asked softly, "Those beautiful butterflies, silly squirrels, flower feasting flies, bees and birds!" She turned back to him, "They never asked for human's permission to feel the presence of nature and to blend within it." She said, placing her hand on his gently, "Neither do we need any permission! You can come here whenever you feel high or low, or just a wish to witness!!" She assured with a tap.

Jack smiled, caressing her hair, "Such a beautiful heart you have! God bless you my child!!"

Amara smiled wide, the breeze getting heavy suddenly, her open hair swaying along with it! She with a bright smile tucked her hair behind the ear, in process noticing the crystal shine.

The fragrance of petrichor embracing her suddenly.

Her gaze immediately searched for him, finally finding him seated on the same bench she had been sitting on for a while, a while ago. With a smile, she excused herself from the oldman promising him to return by some time.

As soon as she neared him, with folded hands, she cleared her voice, reminding him of her presence.

Zamiel just looked up at her with a smile.

Upon seeing him speak nothing, she rolled her eyes, "Why didn't you reach me if you have already come!!" she asked calmly.

Zamiel nodded at the oldman, "You seemed busy!"

She looked back at the oldman briefly before turning back to the man. "I wasn't, let's go!"

Zamiel with a smile joined her, his hands resting in his pockets, as he along with her walked towards the oldman.

After a moment of silence, she cleared her voice again, "I wanted to ask you something!!"

Zamiel looked at her, waiting for her to speak.

"Were you....." She hesitated, "were you alright yesterday?"

Zamiel's steps halted, his silence making her turn back, realising he wasn't walking anymore.

"Why did you stop?" She asked.

"I'm just wondering what made you question that!" Zamiel said feeling strange.

Amara shrugged, "I know you're an immortal but, are you okay?"

Zamiel looked at her in awe, did she sense anything? How come? He sighed, "I, was and also am alright and completely fine!!" he assured.

Amara nodded, finally being able to push away her nightmare with ease, them reaching the oldman, "Sorry if I'm late!!" she apologized.

Jack chuckled with a shake of his hand, "It's okay, it's completely normal in love!!"

Amara's eyes widened upon the statement, looking at the man beside her for a moment who seemed to smile. What was he smiling for?? 'Stop smiling you immortal!!' She scolded him inward, an act which somehow made him smile more as if he could hear her.

With a shake of her head, she looked back at the oldman, "You seem to have mistaken, he is just a friend of mine!!"

Jack nodded thoughtfully, "Forgive my misunderstanding, I just thought you two were close to each other! Well mind me, you two can be a great pair!"

Amara looked at Zamiel, great pair? Did they really look good together?!

'It was my wife who gave a name for them!' she recalled him saying.

What was she even thinking of, he is married!!

With a shake, she thought of introducing him, "He's Zamiel!!"

"Hello young man! My name is Jack!" Jack with a smile introduced himself.

"Hello Mr.Jack! Nice to meet you!" Zamiel said with a nod.

Amara who was smiling till now looked at Zamiel with wide eyes, what's wrong with this man by taking his name that way?! This immortal.

However Zamiel looked confused at her sudden change of behaviour.

Amara turned to the oldman, "I apologise, he lacks a bit of manners!!"

Jack waved his hand, "Not a problem! I love the way how he calls me! It makes me feel like I am still young! Haha....!"

Amara smiled, "Let's go to your ward! I will leave you in your ward and will also inform the authorities to allow you to come here anytime!"

Jack smiled, "That's so nice of you dear!"

Amara then took hold of his wheel chair while Zamiel followed her to the ward. After leaving him in his ward, she said her goodbye to him promising him to greet him tomorrow when he will leave, before leaving.

Amara then went and ordered the authority to allow ex-patients into the garden and the one who wants to explore more and enjoy the nature of the garden and told to arrange more benches for their comfort! They assured her that they would do as she said! Then she went into the elevator and Zamiel just followed her like a lost puppy, his hands still in his pockets!

"You did great!" Zamiel appreciated.

"Leave about me! What about you? What's that? How can you call him by his name?!" She asked angrily.

"How else should I call him if not by his name?"

"You would definitely be aware of pronouns such as grandpa or grandfather!" She said with a roll of her eyes.

Zamiel shook his head with ease, "I cannot , he is probably younger than me!!"

Amara stared him in silence, that.... does make sense! "And what's your age?"

"Take a guess!" He said with a playful wink.

She looked at him with a glimpse of annoyance before deciding to actually take a guess, "Two hundred?!"

Zamiel gave out a shook of 'No'.

She frowned, "Three hundred?!"

He shook his head again.

What?

"Don't you say you are five hundred years old!!!" She wondered as they reached her mother's department's floor.

Zamiel chuckled, "I am a thousand years old immortal!!"

Amara gasped, her eyes widening!

Oh God!

"For.....real?!" She couldn't believe it!!

"I'll never lie to you Amara!" He assured.

Her heart skipped a beat again, why and how does this man say stuff like this with so ease?!

"It's just.....too difficult to digest!!"

Zamiel nodded thoughtfully, "So.....are we friends now?!"

Amara frowned.

Zamiel's brows raised as if remembering her something, and she gasped low recalling her own statement. "It was the fastest reply I could find!!" She defended.

"Was it a lie then?!"

She denied with a shook, "Not entirely!!"

Zamiel pouted, pretending to think something seriously, "Then.....what am I to you?!"

Amara took a thoughtful pause before turning to him with a soft smile, "You are more than a friend!"

"And what lies within that?!" He asked playfully.

Amara sighed, turning to him completely, taking his hand into her palms, "You are my blessing, Zamiel!!" she confessed.

Zamiel, taken aback by her confession, remained silent, his eyes shimmering in gold all of a sudden, surprising her.

"What.... happened?!" Amara asked confused, her eyes searching his.

Zamiel with a faint smile shook his head with a sniff, "Your words...ingnited few distant memories!!"

Amara watched him with more confusion now, what did he mean? She was about to question him when he looked away.

"You mother is searching for you!" He said surprisingly.

She doubting it looked back, witnessing her mother reaching towards her with a bunch of files held, her barely being able to hold them firm.

Amara was dumbfounded to feel his absence after turning back, her hands suddenly feeling empty to not have his hand held by hers.