"Heal"

For many people, healing is a good thing. It's something that's encouraged and embraced.
But to heal, something has to be hurt or broken.
Whether it's physical or emotional, something has to hurt before it can heal.

Poppy Coates was sat in her room clutching a photo album that her mother had given her before she left for the Black Order. It had been a hard, long struggle, and she still missed her home. But she didn't hurt quite as much, looking back at the memories didn't make her cry any more, they made her stronger but there was something she couldn't quite get used to.

She missed the Florentine streets, the market stalls and the views. She longed for the foods and the familiarity of everyday life.
But that was all snatched from her when Klaud Nine visited the Inn close to her home, Poppy was outside playing with her brothers when Klaud approached and held this strange glowing piece of metal.
Everything happened so quickly after that, another carer had to be brought in to look after her dad and brothers and her mother had to work even harder to pay for the upkeep.
On her last few days she felt isolated, like they where moving on already and she hadn't even left.
But on Poppy's last night in Florence, the whole street had a party for her. There was wine, food, dancing and her mother gave her the photo album with loads of memories in it and her old engagement ring. Her brother's painted her a picture and Old Lady Petricca had given her an old scrapbook of all the drawings of Florence she had done when she studied art as a young girl.

The morning she left, Poppy was in tears and so was the family.
A part of her hated Klaud for dragging her away from everything, but if she could help save the word, help save her family. Then she would.

The first few days at the Order where tough on Poppy.
She had been dumped there by her General and her English was rather broken.
But then she met Lavi, Allen, Lenalee and Kanda.
Lavi helped her with her English and she helped him sharpen up on his Italian, Allen kept her entertained and Lenalee was always there when she felt lost.

When they threw a party for her and she received her own customized mug, it made her think back to the Florentine Party. Jerry had researched authentic Italian foods and prepared the most amazing dinner and wines.

Slowly the wounds began to patch up, she met more and more people.
Krory, Miranda, Johnny, Reever and Kumoi just to name a few, they all made her feel so welcome.

Weeks past into months and the pain of moving was a distant memory.
She had her brothers painting on the wall and some old and new photographs. She wrote to her family every month and they would send her chocolate that she would share amongst her friends as they talked about anything and everything.

To heal, something must first be broken or hurt.
But when it is healed, it's stronger than before.
Whether it's bones, skin or even hearts. They will piece themselves back together.
And in time, things will settle into place.