Life's Lessons on Stress

by Nona Mae King

  ~*~

  "Hey, Sally?"

  I looked up and to the left, giving a blink of surprise when a very morose and uncertain Marshal headed toward me. It had been two weeks since he and Fujin had gone undercover to Winhill. The fastest and most relaxing two weeks of my life. They had single-handedly stopped an arms ring that had been shipping stolen missiles--and other Garden equipment--to fanatics and rebels all around the world.

  And I found out that Marshal's 'baby' sister had been raped and murdered by the same men three years ago.

  When Marshal and Fujin had come back, everyone could see they had been beaten up pretty bad. Apparently the men had become suspicious of Marshal and Fujin's presence due to surveillance equipment installed in their room and a power-outage (caused by Marshal's security handheld) shortly after their arrival.

  But I had noticed a deeper change in Fujin. She still didn't talk very much, and she was just as strict and foreboding as I remembered, but there was something different. I'd heard a rumor that she didn't go by the name Fujin anymore. There hadn't been any kind of announcement, and she hadn't corrected any of us when we called her that, but still.

  "Hi, Marshal. How are you?"

  He gave a slight shrug and sent Fujin's office a sidelong glance as he passed it to stand at my desk. "Okay."

  I watched him with growing concern. I had known Marshal for a couple years, and I had never seen him like this. "Marshal? Did you need something?"

  Marshal cleared his throat and looked down at a soft package in his hands. I followed his gaze and arched an eyebrow with curiosity.

  "Is Ahn--I mean, is Fujin in her office?"

  I blinked. "Um, yeah. Did you need me to see if she's busy?" Normally I wouldn't volunteer to do anything of the kind, but his expression reminded me of mine.

  Before.

  I stood and gestured toward Fujin's office. "Come on. I'll go check."

  Marshal shook his head and adjusted his footing. He presented me the package. "If you could just give this to her, I would really appreciate it."

  I slowly took the package. "Sure, Marshal."

  Marshal slightly smiled. "Thanks, Sally."

  I lowered my gaze to the package and the simple 'To Ahndra; From Marshal' as I stepped toward her office. Ahndra? I softly smiled. It was a gorgeous name, and I could see her as that. Now especially. There was a softness to her face that hadn't been there before her days in Winhill with Marshal. How romantic!

  I knocked and felt my knees go weak when Fujin looked up from her desk and the report she looked over. I hated disturbing her, but something told me this was important. Very important.

  Fujin paused a moment before motioning me in, watching me as I stepped forward. She then motioned to the chair in front of her desk. I shook my head while softly saying "That's okay. I just needed to deliver this," and presenting her the package.

  Fujin accepted it and looked at the 'From' with a clear change in expression. I softly smiled again and turned to exit her office. I recognized the expression as well as anything. Something had happened in Winhill for Fujin and Marshal the same as it had happened for Zell and me. Something good. Something that I believe she needed more than anything.

  Marshal straightened from where he leaned against my desk. I smiled wider as I stepped toward him. "I haven't had a chance to talk to you about everything that happened in Winhill,” I told him. “Do you think you and Zell and me could get together tonight?"

  Marshal glanced behind me to Fujin's office. "Uh, sure, Sally. That would be great."

  My lips twitched. "Great. If you could hang around, we could take off to Balamb right after work. I'll let Zell know right now."

  And I passed to my desk to do just that, hoping that Marshal would take the opportunity to go to Fujin's office and say 'hi'. Go on, Marshal. Do it. Shoo. Shoo. Sure enough, a few moments later I heard his steps move toward her office. I restrained a giggle and sat at my desk, enjoying the shiver when I heard Fujin's office door click shut.

  I brought up an instant messenger window and typed in Zell's ID. I couldn't wait to tell him. But when his response to my 'Guess what?' came up, I couldn't do it. It would have been worse than spreading a lie about someone. Why? Because, well, this was Fujin. If she wanted everyone to know, she would have said something. So would Marshal. I sat back in my chair and lightly worried my lower lip. How would Fujin ever respect me if I didn't respect her privacy?

  I typed a simple 'I invited Marshal to dinner.' Your secret is safe with me, Fujin.

  (AUTHOR’S NOTE: to find out what happened in Winhill with Marshal and Fujin, read Few Words.)