Even in winter, Rosalind found it pleasant to walk through the park on her way to the bazaar after work—though she did walk a little faster, since it
was chilly out. This island was more familiar now, months after the fire that had changed everything she'd only just managed to memorize at the time.
Thinking about that day still hurt, deep inside, and she slowed her pace as she remembered how things had appeared directly after the fire. Rubble and scorch marks superimposed themselves over the real world in her mind, and then faded. She didn't need to worry now. Things weren't perfect, but they were better, and—
Huh? She squinted at a small, shiny thing that had caught the light as she moved. Walking closer, she realized it was a tiny crystal in wire framework, stuck between a couple of rocks.
A memory crystal! She'd heard of them, but never seen one with her own eyes. Maybe it was time she finally discovered something about herself, like so many others had; reaching out to touch it, she willed her fingers to be steady.
( Just distract him. I'll check it out. )When she opened her eyes, Rosalind found herself sitting on the ground in the park, her fingers curled around the darkened crystal. What had she seen? She didn't really know, but she did know one thing: this meant that she had known Mr. Justice. And that meant she should let him know.
A chill breeze interrupted her, and her teeth began to chatter as she realized she was much colder—and when she looked down, she saw why. Her clothes had been replaced by some kind of sleeveless hoochie dress!
She got up to run home. The bazaar and Mr. Justice could wait.