https://youtu.be/bi5Gnog_TMI

 "Irina..." Mother's voice called.

"Mother...where are you?" I ran in the direction of her voice and saw her standing near a lake with her back turned towards me, in her Valerian royal clothes with the crown on her head. She stood like her Queen self but her mind was wandering somewhere else.

"Irina..." She turned back and smiled at me warmly. I quickly went up to her and hugged her tight. 

We stayed like that for a few moments letting our thoughts slide open to each other. I felt peace and warmth in her embrace. She pulled out slowly, still smiling and looked at me.

"How are you, Ira?" She asked me and my eyes teared up to hear her calling me by the nickname she gave me when I was young.

"Don't cry, I'm right here for you." She said and wiped away my tears.

"Mother, I can't do this anymore," I said looking down while she just hummed to my words and pointed towards the lake.

"Ira?" She called and I looked back at her.

"Look into the water and tell me what you see." She asked me and I slowly nodded before doing what she asked.

"Me?" I replied and she softly brushed her hands in the water, asking again, "And now?"

"Still myself. Why?" I asked back, in a confused tone while she patted my shoulder and smiled.

"You always see everything through your eyes and never try to see them through your heart, daughter. " She exclaimed.

"What do you mean, mother?" 

"Everyone has two sides to their story. Yours has too. But you never see the second one.  And finding that story is the key to having reached your destiny." She turned around to face the lake again and stared into the water.

"Mother, I don't understand. Please tell me what to do."

"I'm not the one who decides your fate or the one who chooses your path, Ira, It's you. And I know you'll do the right thing. No matter what happens, you'll always be my daughter."  She told me and faced the trees on the opposite side before continuing, "But I'm afraid it's my time to leave. " She said and slowly started to fade away.

"Wait, no! Mother, stay please! Don't leave me!" I cried out. 

"Stay strong, Irina. I Love You." She whispered and disappeared into thin air while I fell down on my knees and broke down. 

 She was beyond my reach and I couldn't do anything as her words rang in my head consistently.  The ground beneath me started to shake and I started losing control over myself.

"Whenever you feel like you can't control yourself, count till three with your eyes closed and focus on what's around you. Remember, the pain will pass. And when it does, you'll be stronger." Father's words were ringing in my head.

"AGH! " I screamed. 

I could feel myself burning with pain and anger. I closed my eyes and started counting.

One. 

"Irina!"  Zephyr's voice.

Two.

"Irina, wake up!" He called again and I focused on his voice. 

Three.

"Irina..." 

I opened my eyes slowly and came back to reality to see that the person near to me was not Zephyr but Dylan.

"What happened to you?" Dylan asked. 

He was sitting on a chair that stood next to the bed and from his voice itself, I could tell he was worried.

"Dylan? But I thought I heard Zephyr's voice," I said slowly.

"He's with Lucas, probably on his way here. Now tell me what happened. You were screaming in pain, Irina." He said with a sad look on his face.

"I'm fine. It was just a dream."

Footsteps came closer to us and we turned towards the door to see Rosario and Zephyr. A cold chill shivered down my spine to see Zephyr but I pulled myself together. He stood there with an expressionless face but kept on staring at me that I pretended not to notice.

"Irina, are you alright?" Rosario asked me.

"Yes, I'm fine." I gave him a small smile while he glanced at Zephyr before turning towards me again.

"He won't hurt you anymore. But if you don't want him here, he'll leave," He told me and I nodded my head slowly.

"Please. I would like to talk to you alone."

"Sure," Rosario said and gestured for Dylan and Zephyr to leave the room, which they did right after. 

Rosario came near me and looked into my eyes as he spoke. " May I see it?"

"Huh?"

"I want to check your wound and see if it got any better." He said with a warm smile.

"Okay." I nodded and let him see it, watching his every action, without letting my guard down.

 After a few minutes, he leaned back and sat on the chair, keeping his gaze fixed on me as he spoke.

"So...how are you feeling?"

"I don't know," I replied with my head down.

"Hmm?"

"I thought I would be fine as long I have my mother and sister alongside me. And now that they're not here, I'm weak. I honestly don't know what to do anymore." I said with my eyes tearing up.

"If you think that you're weak just because they're not with you, then you're wrong. Your sister has never been your strength. You're weak because that's what you think about yourself." He told me, firmly.

"But... that's what I am right now... Ever since I left their side, I've turned into this weakling," I said, looking into his eyes, hurt.

"Life is full of obstacles. You may feel like you're alone. But you should have the courage to face all those if you want to survive. You want to stay here for your family, don't you? Then stay and fight." He said and got up to the door.

"I'll let you take some time to think. Just keep in mind what I tell you, Irina." He looked at me again before continuing, "If you are strong, you'll stay here, for your family, and one day, even for yourself. Never let anyone know this weak side of yours. You're the Princess of Valeria, you're of royal blood. So be that person." He advised me before leaving the room, leaving me in thoughts just like he said he would.