everything happens for a reason

 Qing felt stuck. She had no answers for everyone. It hurt even more that everyone was so angry. As if it was all her fault for all that had happened. Still, no one was there to help her figure this out.

Maybe, whoever she was now had to have something to do with the guard. Maybe the guard knew who she was.

"How did you come up with that?" Naturally, Cheng was a smart mouth about it. She couldn't decide if he was playing with her or just plain rude.

"I dunno," Qing sighed. She did confess she'd had strange dreams. Dreams about the guard.

"Oh really?" Cheng was ever so close as he sat next to her while she was in her bed as if he already knew her secrets. "Enlighten me?" That smirk of his only made her dislike him more. She wanted to slap him silly.

"I don't know," bitter tears emerged. "It's like I'm drunk or something. I can't understand it. I want to." She shivered, worried she'd changed into someone else, but of course, she hadn't.

"I just didn't know having this skill would be such a disease," he squinted as if he wanted to understand her plight. "I mean, I had an aunt who was always messing with people. She could stir up trouble when least expected. She always had everyone at each other's throat, but she was the kind who could just leave and we wouldn't hear from her for years, and then she'd show up and we'd wonder if she was..you know, who she said she was." Chen shrugged. He took her hand and clasped his fingers through hers. "I want to give you a new name, you know." He smiled. "I really think you are so lovely..I mean, you're just cute at the moment, but you know what I mean."

She would try. Was he saying that he thought more of her than what he saw on the outside? Still, she knew how he was. He was someone just to toy with her. Perhaps.

"Do you think your appetite has changed or anything?" He then asked. She shook her head, no. She was still on bed rest, but she was restless.

"I'd ask if you'll like to fly with me, but I know they'd be angry if we did that," Cheng sighed. He kissed her then as if that alone would suffice. And she kissed him back as if her world might change. However, her body didn't.

It was only a distant thought of who she'd been, maybe he liked this new face and body better than he imagined. Still, she didn't care. It was enough that he was here and they were together. In her room. Alone.