Chapter 14:
As the Blackbird soared into the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning, Sienna still had her head bowed in silent tears and sobs. Staying in that position for hours, she finally looked up to see herself alone in the plane. Moving out, she locked it and then made her way to her room to think. Her eyes were puffy and red and she was stopped by a few children but shrugged their concerns away and entered her room. Flinging herself on the bed, she buried her face in the doona cover and cried more hot tears of grief. Jean was dead, dead. How could she have died like that, how could she have thrown her life away to save them? How?
Rubbing her cheeks vigorously as she sat up, Sienna reached for a cushion and hugged it to her body tightly. Shedding some more tears, she rested against the wall and looked out the window. Sure enough, a rose was spreading near the window glass and it was in full bloom. Opening the window, Sienna plucked the flower and pressed it near her nose and inhaled the sweet sensation. Smoothing one or two mangled petals, Sienna placed it on her desk as a silent reminder of the spring morning and went to have a shower. Maybe that was what she needed to calm herself down and help her forget the last few days. Stepping into the bathroom, she stared at herself in the mirror dazedly. She had a small cut across her cheek still, a reminder of the slap from Stryker and she sighed. Rubbing it softly, she turned away and stripped before stepping into the shower cubicle.
About an hour later, Sienna had changed and was feeling all aglow. Stroking her top carefully, she slipped downstairs and out to the Japanese Garden she had sat in before the attack. Putting her feet into the water, she twirled them about as she thought of the last few days and especially Jean Grey. The woman had been so kind, so patient and so friendly. Jean had been her confidante, willing to listen and even more willing to help with her problems. Now, she was gone and nobody could ever take her place. Looking up suddenly as something hit her head, Sienna smiled as a leaf floated into her lap along with the culprit, an acorn thrown by a pesky squirrel. Fingering the leaf, she put it gently to one side and put her elbows on her knees before letting her chin rest on her hands. Musing, she began to sing in a fairly happy tone as she relaxed.
Maybe there was hope after all...
