Journey to Happiness

e sisters and her eagerness to learn. She had a knack for making others laugh and a curious mind that kept her bustling around St. Haven's with a broom as big

lza. Older by a year or two, Elza had always been a storm of her own-tall, proud, with sharp eyes that rarely softened. She had a way of finding

fternoon, snatching at the small lavender bloom Zazriel had carefully

e flower in the air just out of reach. Elza's

looms even when the world forgets," she said, l

t you?" Elza's eyes narrowed. "Just because Sister Miriam found

ace, the truth of her abandonment had always been like a quiet shadow lurking behind her. But she wasn't alone. She looked around, findin

ice shaking but steady. "I'm different becau

tched her go, feeling both the weight and relief of her words. She wanted so badly to

, Zazriel hesitated. "Why does Elza hate me?" she asked,

ple carry storms inside them. It isn't always fair, but they don't know any o

her storm go away?" Zazri

. "Not always, my dear. But kindness plants seeds, even in the har

ith the warmth she had always known, but a new understanding settled in her. Elza's darkn

sisters watched her with pride, her presence a balm to their hearts, even as Elza's resentment simmered in the background. For Zazriel, each da

nd for a brief moment, Zazriel saw something in Elza's gaze that wasn't anger or bitterness. It was a glimmer of somet

kly. But she didn't mind. She would wait, just as flowers waited for the sun to return after a long winter. Becau