Chapter 10

My mouth fell open. Tomichii chuckled as he supported me. We were stood on a balcony overlooking the edge of a large garden. The sound of a waterfall filled the air, providing a perfect background to the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind and birdsong from various trees. Some of the trees were so large they shaded areas of the balcony with their canopy.

It would have been beautiful anywhere, but over forty stories high on top of a building, it was breathtaking.

“Thank you,” I said, meaning every word. “I used to love walking among trees before I was frozen. It was one of the things I missed most when I had MND.”

“You’re very welcome.” He smiled at me, our eyes meeting. His shone, genuinely pleased with my reaction.

“How do you ever leave here?” I asked as a small bird fluttered onto the balcony railing not far from us.

“Sometimes reluctantly, but there are times when the alternative has a beauty all of its own.” Tomichii looked at me, his eyes leaving my face to admire me, but not