Hello Guys - I have to say that I'm quite disappointed in you - I only got 3 reviews so far! *cry* Please, give me some more! I want to know whether you like the story or not! PLEASE, pretty please?

CHAPTER 2 – Meeting Alberta

How long does it take for a broken heart to heal? It certainly didn't fix itself within a few days; of this much I was absolutely sure. Someone had told me once that a once broken heart will never heal up fully. It may be functioning again and maybe one day you'll find another person whom you could love but not to such an extent as you love a soul mate. This kind of love will never fade, it will always exist, buried deep down in your soul and from time to time it would come back up and remind you of how it felt. How it felt to really be in love.

I started to understand these words better than anyone else. My soul mate had left me with a broken heart and the love that will never fade. Someday I would have to bury my emotions and memories deep down but not yet.

During the next days I had stayed in my dormitory, pretending to have a really bad cold and Lissa supported me with talking, giving me a shoulder to cry on or even with food she smuggled into my room. I had told her about Dimitri and I the same evening she had found me at the gates broken down. Once I had told her everything I felt some weight leaving me but still I felt like carrying a mountain on my back. I fought for every breath and every single heartbeat. I fought to go on though there was nothing for me to look forward to.

One week after Dimitri had left Lissa talked me into attending classes again. It was hard to follow the subject matters at first but as some routine had established again it got easier with each day. Nearly all of my classmates saw the changes that happened with me but didn't dare to ask. They knew not to mess with a Rose Hathaway when she was not in her right state of mind. So the days and weeks went by in daily routines.

Now that the training with Dimitri was over I only attended the regular classes. This left more time for me to sit in my room and sulk which really was something I was doing often lately. When it all got too much for me to bear I changed into my running outfits and did some laps. And sometimes, when everything got to difficult for me I went to the gym and sat there, remembering each lesson with him.

This is where Alberta found me one day. I didn't hear her entering the gym sine I was deep in thought and I yanked out of them when she sat down beside me.

"Hello Rose.", she said, staring ahead of her the same way I did.

"Hi." I answered, unsure of what Alberta wanted from me. Since Dimitri had left I felt her watching me closely and sometimes even keeping Guardians off my back.

"How are you, Rose?" she asked turning around to look me straight into the eyes.

"I'm okay. I guess I've been better before." I answered sincerely letting her see the sadness I still felt.

"I've been watching you guys for quite some time now and I knew that his decision would break your heart." Alberta explained. I was a little surprised that our affection had been so obvious but didn't think that there would follow any consequences now.

"I wasn't aware that we had been so obvious. We tried to stay away from each other in public." I said, the memories paining me badly.

"Yes, I know that and I'm very proud of you for doing that. But if it comforts you I can tell you that nobody else had any idea and I didn't mind." A small smile crept over her face. It actually was the first time I saw Alberta smiling. She usually was a very strict and stern woman but she had also been fair to everyone.

"Well, not that it matters now anymore …" I said with a little bit of sarcasm in my voice.

"I figured that much."

"What do you mean?" I asked her curiously.

"When Guardian Belikov came to me and asked to be re-assigned to Mrs. Ozera, I knew that it would actually break your heart. If it is for any comfort to you I can tell you that it has not been easy for him either."

This information let my heart jump for joy. It told me that he still had feelings for me and it was his feeling of duty that kept us apart. But in the nest minute it also made me sad. Exactly this responsibility and his determination to stick with his decisions he once made would stand between us forever. The chance of coming back together one day was slim to none existing now.

"Thanks." I said.

"I just wanted you to know this." Alberta said. Then she stood up and walked out of the gym leaving me to my depressing thoughts.

I still couldn't understand why Dimitri had done this. I'm sure there would have been a way to work this through! Maybe he could have re-assigned to Christian, so that we wouldn't be responsible for the same Moroi or even a Moroi not so close but still near. It was not like Dimitri to take the easiest way out of problem. Usually he would have thought everything though and made a decision when he was absolutely sure it wouldn't hurt anyone. But with the decision of going with Tasha he had not only hurt me but himself also.

The debating wouldn't help the pain to go away and I knew that. Still it was the only thing I could do to stop myself from going insane. And maybe – but only maybe – I could heal and find another person to love. Not the same as I did with Dimitri but maybe close to this.

And one day I would meet him and I would have the strength to look him into the eyes and thank him for what we shared. Then I would also tell him that I had found some other person that I had given my heart to and in whose arms I could also find the peace and safety as I did in his.

I sighed, one tear slowly running down my cheek. I had pulled my legs close to my body and wrapped my arms around them so I could let my head fall down on my knees.

Deep down in my heart I knew that this would never happen. I would never love another person the same way I did love Dimitri and if would have to face him again sooner or later, I would only get sad, nothing else.

This was the fortune of my life.

Just click on the link, yes?

Lilian85