Kuru handed her a couple of his royal Manjipoorean coins, and we started to talk. "Kuru, I can't let him die, I have to do something!" "Must we? I mean, all he did was hurt you. Why should you heal him?" "It's called forgiveness, Kuru. You told me that a princess should always forgive. And even though right now I might want to throw him in the haunted marshes of Everway, someday I'll regret it if I let him die. I would always feel the blame of killing him." "But he almost killed you! You almost died yourself!" Exclaimed Kuru. Oh, I love when he is concerned for me! But not that much. "But I'm not dead! See, Kuru? Touch me, hear my voice, see me. I'm here, and I'm not a phantom either. I don't want anyone to die. I must help him if I can." I told him. He nodded solemnly, then spoke in a grave tone. "But you won't go alone. I'm going with you." "Kuru, he's in a coma. He's not going to hurt me." I said, shaking my head at my silly Kuru. I walked into the room after Kuru, who wanted to make sure everything was safe for me. There he was, my attacker, lying helpless on the white sheets of the hospital bed. I read his record, he had nearly drowned. I had a choice; I could kill him there and then, or I could heal him. Kuru, of course, wanted me to kill him, while his sister wished for him to live. I made my decision; he would live. I remember a quote that I heard once, and I believe that is true. "The emptiness cannot be destroyed, it must be filled." I made sure no one was lurking in the halls, and did a healing spell. Immediately, he sat up. "What, who?" Then he saw me and Kuru. "Ah! Have you come back to haunt me? To terrify me in my sleep? Please, please leave. I cannot bear it. I cannot bear it." He cried. We quickly left the room. The doctors passed by us, and I heard one of them shout , "It's a miracle!" I smiled as I went back to the waiting room. Do you know how good it feels to be able to give good news to someone who is in the pit of despair? Well, it's awesome. "Lilia, I have good news; your brother is awake, and he's asking for you." I told her. She stared in disbelief a moment before jumping from her seat and hugging both me and Kuru. Then she ran to her brother's room, squealing the whole way there. The test results came back. The good news is, I'm not pregnant. Of course, I already knew that, but they made me take a test just in case. The bad news, is that I have an infection in my, um, stomach, and five broken ribs. I also had a dislocated hip, which is why I couldn't walk very well. Apparently last night it straightened itself out. So, good news, and bad news, and some really good news, which is that I can love Kuru with nothing holding me back. I'm totally free. And my heart can be light again, I've taken the first step to forgiveness. It will take years, and I will never forget, but I will let my heart heal. Kuru, of course, was ecstatic when he heard about me being okay. He actually twirled me around, which hurt, but I didn't care. He kissed my forehead and cheeks several times. We got the medication from the chemist, and went to Manjipoor again. We got Amanda and J.B. and Taylor, and took them all back to the warehouse. Veronica popped in and asked where we had been the last week, then noticed me and exclaimed, "Alex! What happened?!" "Boyfriend." Replied Amanda. "Oh my goodness! Are you alright?" She exclaimed. "Yeah, I'm alright, just tired. It's been a long day." "Of course. I'll go now. See you soon. Get better quick!" She said, walking out the door. Kuru brought me up to the loft( he still wouldn't let me walk up stairs.), and laid me on the bed. "Goodnight, Princess. Sweet dreams." He said, close to my face. I sat up so I could be even closer, and whispered something in his ear. He looked confused for a moment, then he blushed. Of course, then he laughed a bit before complying. "But, Princess, why do you wish me to fetch these things? Why not have Amanda get them?" He asked. "Because, Amanda would laugh and tease me. I know you won't tease." I answered. "Hmm, maybe I should change that." He said playfully, gasping my waist and began tickling me. His long, slim fingers moved expertly along my waist till he accidentally hit my gigantic bruise. I yelped in pain. He immediately retreated his hands. "Are you alright, Princess?" He asked, worried. "I'm okay, Kuru. You didn't hurt me." I knew what he was thinking, and I wouldn't have it. "Kuru, it's okay. I'm fine. It was fun." But he frowned and looked at his feet. "It is not okay. I lost my control; which I must never do. I am sorry." He said with a catch in his throat which sounded like he was trying not to cry. "Hey, I told you; you didn't hurt me." "But I did; you screamed." "Did you ever think it was a pleasureful scream?" "It was not, I am sure. I did hurt you; I am an unworthy servant." "No, Kuru, don't be so hard on yourself. Look, I'm fine. You didn't hurt me. What is it going to take to convince you? Proof? Because I'll give you proof." I said, lifting my top just enough to show my stomach. There was the bruise on my left side, and several smaller marks. "How am I to know if I did this, or this!" He exclaims, touching my wounds with his gentle hand. I cringed, but only halfway for pain. But Kuru thought he was hurting me. "See, Princess! I am hurting you!" He shouts, backing up. But I catch his arm and pull him down to my level. "Kuru, that didn't hurt. Watch." I said, taking his hand and making it touch each wound. He made no sound, only got up and grabbed the ointment. He didn't need to be prompted this time; he knew I would not do it myself. He put two fingers into the ointment and scooped some out, then he gently rubbed it into my wounds. Oh, the willpower of that boy! Goodness! Anyone else would have lingered, but not Kuru. Not that he didn't want to, I'm sure. He's just nice like that. "Princess,why don't you just conjure up your toiletries instead of having me fetch them?" He asked. "Um, because I can't. I do know how, but I might mess up because I'm really tired." I replied, almost lying. "Of course. I will do as you wish." He kept staring at me. "What?" I asked. "You are so beautiful." He said in a dreamy voice. "No I'm not. I'm all banged up and bruised. I'm not beautiful." "But you are. You are the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Or will ever see." "Amanda is way prettier than me, Zamira too." "They are beautiful, but you have a unique beauty, which shines though you from the inside. You glow with a light I have only had the opportunity to see one other time." "Who?" "Your mother, Queen Nefari. She had the same glow. Both of you are similar. I'm sure Omar would agree." "He loved her very much." "Yes, he did. And she loved him back. They were happy, even through the hard times. Because of their love for one another, the kingdom thrived. I can only hope for love so strong." "You will have love, Kuru. Mine. And I will love you forever till the day I die. I love you. So what if it's against the rules, this girl loves this boy, and nothing can stop us." "The elders will not be happy." "They won't need to worry about it. It's my kingdom. I choose who I love." "I do love you, Princess." "I love you too. Now hurry! I don't want to wait all night for my things!" Kuru's P.O.V. I had crept through her window and was walking to her bathroom when suddenly, a light came on. I turned abruptly to face Alex's parents and sister. "Where is Alex, Kuru?" Asked her father. I feigned faintness, and fell to the ground.
