It's been too long. I had other stories I was caught up with, mental health, school, all that jazz. Anyway, here's the next chapter! (And if anyone can tell me how to update stories on here, that would be much appreciated)
Zane never had much growing up, having only a blanket and 2 other outfits, so packing wasn't much of a hassle. Zane grabbed his white blanket and folded it carefully into a small bag. That blanket had gone through so much; food spills, mud, a few rips, and tears, so the white, fluffy fabric had faded into a dull gray with a few gashes at the edges, the fluff feeling less soft and more firm. Despite its condition, Zane still loved it dearly. Zane folded his clothes and placed them in his bag along with the blanket, zipping it closed. Zane looked around his room one last time. He looked at the ice-covered wall, glancing over his past dreams. 'Maybe the ice will melt once I leave,' Zane wondered. Without a second thought, Zane picked up his bag and walked out of the room.
The man was waiting for him when Zane walked into the lobby, slightly surprising the young boy; He never remembered a time when someone waited for him. The man looked over to him with kind eyes.
"Are you ready, Zane?" The man asked. Zane hesitated, thinking things through before making a final choice.
"May I have a moment, please?" Zane asked. The man nodded, watching as Zane walked over to Skyler, who was standing by the door to the playroom to watch Zane leave. Zane could almost see tears in her eyes as he wrapped his arms around her waist in a soft hug.
"Thank you for taking care of me, Miss Skyler," Zane said, feeling her wrap her arms around him in a warm embrace.
"Do you want me to come by and visit sometime? I can help out again if you wish," Zane offered, looking up at her. Skyler kneeled down to Zane's level, resting her hands on his shoulders.
"Zane, you don't need to worry about us. You go on and be happy with your new family. And if anything goes wrong, or if you don't feel safe anymore, you can come back if you need to," Skyler said, wiping away tears that fell down her cheeks. Zane pulled his sleeve over his hand and patted her cheeks, soaking the fabric and drying her face. Skyler lightly chuckled as Zane released himself from her hug, walking over to the man again.
"Do you need another moment? Or are you ready to go?" The man asked, a patient tone in his voice. With a deep breath, Zane nodded. The man smiled, tilting his head to the door before walking in that direction. Without a word, Zane followed.
. . .
So far, it has been silent between the two; not a word was spoken, not a hum, not even a hiccup. The only sound was the crunching of the grass beneath their feet. Zane looked up at the man again, who continued to look ahead. Hesitantly, Zane looked back ahead of him, the silence becoming more uneasy.
"May I have your name?" Zane asked, desperate for the sound of a voice.
"My name is Sensei Wu," The man answered.
"What's a Sensei? Is that part of your name?" Zane wondered.
"Not quite. A Sensei is a teacher. More specifically, a teacher in the martial arts," Sensei Wu answered.
"How do I address you? Do I call you Mr. Sensei? Or Mr. Wu? Do I give you a parental title?"
"You can address me however you feel comfortable. Although, if you're thinking about more ideas, I believe Sensei sounds simple enough, don't you think?"
"Yes, Sir. Uh, Sensei," Zane quickly corrected his mistake. Wu chuckled to himself.
"I don't believe I've ever met a child like you, Zane," The man said quietly.
"Are you referring to the ice incident that happened years ago?" Zane asked. Surprisingly, Wu shook his head.
"Not because of that. I've met a few children who can do great things with abilities similar to yours, especially if they know how to do it right," Wu answered.
"Then what were you referring to?" Zane wondered, bits of confusion and curiosity in his voice.
"I've never met a young child who put so many people in front of them. So many people to care for and worry about, even if they don't deserve it. So much care for others, but not enough care for yourself?" Wu's words clouded Zane's mind like storm clouds covering the earth with a dark blanket of rain. 'Care for oneself?' Zane thought.
"Is caring for others not important?" Zane questioned.
"Caring for others is natural and well rewarded, not with riches, but with the love that comes back to you, while self-care is a powerful thing that only you can give yourself," Wu answered. Zane went silent in thought.
"Is self-care natural?" Zane asked curiously.
"Self-care is very natural. Anyone and everyone can do it. It takes a little effort, and it's rewarding to the mind and body. Like right now, we are walking outside on a sunny day. A simple walk outside can improve someone's mind and body. But something like that is only the beginning," Wu said.
"How do you know all of this?" Zane asked. Wu paused, quietly humming in thought.
"Experience," he simply replied. Zane stopped with his questions. The two continued on their journey (which Zane had realized was quite long) until they reached what looked like a mountain. Zane's eyes glanced up at the tall rock, tilting his head back in an attempt to see the top, but then sadly discovering that the clouds had hidden the peak.
"Why did we travel to a mountain?" Zane asked. Wu walked towards the mountain's side, guiding the young boy over to a set of stairs. Zane's eyes trailed up the concrete staircase, his heart starting to pound in his chest. Was he afraid?
"Do you live up there?" Zane asked, his voice more hesitant.
"We all do. And I can assure you, the stairs are safe to climb," Wu answered, beginning to ascend the stone steps.
"Who is "We?" " Zane called up to him, ignoring his racing heart and climbing up one step at a time.
"You'll just have to wait and see."