Raining Hard

Epilogue:

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you." -Jeremiah 29:11-12

April 23rd, Jade received a letter from Elemental. She hurriedly ripped open the handwritten letter.

Purest Jade,

I was very honored to hear that you did a project on me. I was also very surprised. It never occurred to me that anyone would look up to me while I am still perfecting my character and my life. But life is a very funny thing.

That's mostly why I'm writing. Black said you were asking him about my life, and that he told you some vague answers so that you would be able to do your report and quench your curiosity, though I'm thinking only all the knowledge in the world will satisfy the questions in your head.

My life is not one to put down on paper, but I can pass on a few pieces of knowledge that I have learned from life, friends, and teachers. But I will not bother with most of them, except the most important:

The first is, Life is full of trials. And those trials are storms that will make you or break you. Note: those two terms are not always separate. Sometimes it takes a broken life to make the best life. The important thing is to weather the storm. To take the rain, to accept the lightning, to hear the thunder –and to not be fearful. You can be afraid, but do not let that fear govern your actions. Never let that happen.

Second, Life is too short not to live with Passion. I'm talking serious Passion. Be passionate about life, but not to the point of abandonment. Be smart, but be passionate and live life the way it was meant to be lived.

And third, there is a future for you. I know that life is hard, annoying, pestering, and downright...frightful. But, to know the security of the future is safe, to know you have a purpose in your life, that will give you all the passion you need to get through life. The verses I give you are Jeremiah 29:11-12. Look them up or don't; it is your decision. But take comfort in what they say...that these verses are true.

In closing, I must say thank you for what you have taught me. You have retaught me to see through a child's eyes. You have strengthened my faith. You have renewed my conviction and my prayer for the world. So, thank you once again, and may God bless you.

Ever a Teacher and Confidante,

Elemental of Mercy and Grace,

Cassona "Kassie" Ishida

Jade refolded the letter and put it on her bedside table. Elem taught her a lot, and she was still willing to teach as long as Jade wanted to learn.

A knock at Jade's door startled her thoughts.

"Yes?"

"Jade, may I come in?"

"Sure Jackie."

Jackie came in and saw the opened letter.

"So what did she say?"

"Thank You."

"For..."

"I'm not really sure."

There was a pause in the room.

"Jackie, why do people stop seeing the world as kids do?"

"It's part of growing up."

"Why?"

"Some people think that to make informed decisions, you have to see the world for what it is. You can't have illusions, like children sometimes do."

"Like asking the rain to go away?"

"Hmm?"

"Rain Rain go away; Come again some other day."

Jackie smiled. "Something like that."

"Storms are needed and accepted. We can't just get rid of rain."

"True."

Jade looked Jackie in the eye. "Did you like Elemental?"

"Yes," Jackie responded, "in my own way. I respect her for what she does and for what she will do. However, I cannot believe that she is alone in all her struggles."

"Storms can make or break a person, and not necessarily in that order."

"You may be as wise as Uncle one day."

Jade smiled.

"But until that day you have homework."

And in place of the customary groan came, "I was just gonna do that."

"Good."

And it then dawned on the pair, that Elemental had done much more than impact Jade's life...She had altered its end.

THE END

AN: Hey Y'all! It has been a long long long time since I've been able to write. March was incredibly busy and annoyingly long. Anyways, here are responses to some:

VampireNaomi: Thank you so much for reviewing as much as you do. I really reallyl really appreciate it. I hope you like the last of the story!

ShadowElfBard: Thanks, glad it's a good thing. (

Soulful-sin: Thanks, and I don't recall saying that Jade was ten. I just said she was in fifth grade. And even if she was ten, what's not to say that she can be mature for her age? Thanks for the review.