By the time the angel made it to the garden, the sky was already turning inky as the shades of the night sky began to roll in. Her day had been...chaotic. The temple needed cleaning after the latest round of offerings, and the acolytes were tending to their organization within the temple walls. So Aolani had taken to the task herself with a small handful of priests. Polishing the floors and the statue of Haliea, making sure the gold sparkled in the light of the setting sun...the temple was always beautiful when Aolani tended to it. She made sure the goddess' home sparkled.
Even if it meant being late for meditation, and the stranger she was almost certain wouldn't be there.
Even for all the golden splendor she wore, the angel looked tired. While she still wore a neutral smile, there were dark circles under her eyes, and her fingertips ached from scrubbing the scuffs out of the polished marble floors. Yet as she reached the height of the stone bridge and she saw the mysterious stranger sitting with his back to the magnolia tree, she felt a spring in her step as she quickened her approach to the island. Even though she barely knew the man, she was pleased by his company.
"It's nice to see you again," she said with a warm smile, though her eyes were tired. With a sigh, she took a seat beside him in the grass, and leaned back against her tree, too sore to hold herself up. It brought back the days of training for the army, how her limbs ached from the work, but her back had never ached as it did now. Stooping over on her hands and knees to scrub, maybe she was getting too old for such things. Ha! An immortal complaining about feeling too old, it was enough to make her chuckle inwardly. She was in the prime of her life.
Resting her head against the tree, she cast her gaze skyward as the first stars over the evening began to twinkle to life. My, had it really gotten so late? As Aolani focused on her breathing, her body relaxed, shoulders sagging as she folded her hands on her lap. Another breath, and her eyes closed halfway. She was so tired tonight, but there was always time for meditation.
Even if it meant being late for meditation, and the stranger she was almost certain wouldn't be there.
Even for all the golden splendor she wore, the angel looked tired. While she still wore a neutral smile, there were dark circles under her eyes, and her fingertips ached from scrubbing the scuffs out of the polished marble floors. Yet as she reached the height of the stone bridge and she saw the mysterious stranger sitting with his back to the magnolia tree, she felt a spring in her step as she quickened her approach to the island. Even though she barely knew the man, she was pleased by his company.
"It's nice to see you again," she said with a warm smile, though her eyes were tired. With a sigh, she took a seat beside him in the grass, and leaned back against her tree, too sore to hold herself up. It brought back the days of training for the army, how her limbs ached from the work, but her back had never ached as it did now. Stooping over on her hands and knees to scrub, maybe she was getting too old for such things. Ha! An immortal complaining about feeling too old, it was enough to make her chuckle inwardly. She was in the prime of her life.
Resting her head against the tree, she cast her gaze skyward as the first stars over the evening began to twinkle to life. My, had it really gotten so late? As Aolani focused on her breathing, her body relaxed, shoulders sagging as she folded her hands on her lap. Another breath, and her eyes closed halfway. She was so tired tonight, but there was always time for meditation.
