I went and sat beside Sherry. She was startled to see me.
"Zack-sama, what are you doing here," She said, wiping her tears.
"Nothing, I just wanted to talk to you."
"What did you want to talk about."
I paused for a second and thought if I should ask her or not. At last, I decided to ask. "Why do you want to follow."
"I don't know myself. It's just that my heart won't allow me to be so far away from you. It pains me to think about you drifting away from me..."
Her world sounded so melancholic. She looked depressed. It felt that she was about to break. If I were to disappear, she would be driven to madness.
I couldn't understand her. When did she get so attached to me? How can she think like that even after what had happened? Does she not loathe me for how I have ignored her for the past few years.
"Zack-sama, I know what I had done to you was unforgivable. Despite all that, you saved my life. I know you can't forgive me now but... Can you please give me a chance to redeem myself. Be it as a maid or a slave I want to be with you. Please, let me stay by your side."
I didn't answer. In reality, I couldn't answer. I couldn't understand what drove Sherry to say those words. To me, it was foolish. To give up her freedom just to stay with me? Why? Am I that important to her? What dad had said was correct indeed. I was too oblivious of other's feelings.
Was I really too hung up on the past?
I decided to give her a chance. It was not just giving her a chance, it was giving myself a chance to understand others around me.
The flowers were dancing in the wind. Waves formed in the lake. It brought back some good old memories which I had locket away.
"Sherry, do you remember we used to come here when we were young."
"How can I forget it. Those were the happiest times."
"I don't know if we can go back to how we used to be For now I need a companion. Not a maid. Not a slave but a companion who I can entrust my life. So, Sherry, will you be that companion?"
"Yes, Zack-sama you can count me. I will be your sword."
"I don't know if I can trust you fully. I know I will give you a lot of problems in the future, so can you wait for me until I have sorted my feeling."
"I will wait. I will try my best to gain trust and go back to how we used to be."
"Ahh... by the way, don't use sama. We are companions after all."
"yes" Her face looked much better. It had warmed up. It looked like a heavy load was lifted off her shoulder. For the first time in a while, we talked so much. I felt better too. Maybe be we are not as we were before. Maybe be won't be as we were before. But I was satisfied with our present relation.
This happiness was a little different. These were the seeds of new feelings I had never felt before.
Feeling I never had towards anyone in my previous life.
As they got up to return home, Sherry was walking behind Zack. She was very happy. The guilt that she had been carrying for so long had lessened.
For a very long time, she didn't dare talk to Zack, she often found herself looking out for him. She realized it later that unknowingly Zack had found a place in her heart. She had often tried to talk to him but couldn't.
It was all fine until she came to know that Zack was leaving. She was terrified.
She decided to take bold action and follow him. Somewhere in heart, she knew that he would refuse, but she still did it. She was rejected. She couldn't handle the grief and ran out in fear of hearing such cursed words from her loved one.
Soon Zack approached her and gave her another chance. She was delighted. She didn't know when her love would be answered, but she was determined to make him fall in love with her.
Their journey was about to start with both having different goals. One wanted answers about himself the other wanted love.
Let's see what fate had in store for them.