Sammi had always known that Eriko’s happiness was something she’d work for, not something she could magically grant with a smile or a laugh. Eriko’s life had been shaped by deep scars, and Sammi understood that true happiness for Eriko would be a long journey—a project that required time, patience, and love.
Their story went back to their earliest years, to a time when neither could fully grasp the profound ways they’d impact each other’s lives.
### **A Shared Childhood**
When Eriko arrived at Donegal Academy Children’s Home, she was just a shy, quiet girl with big, somber eyes and an aura of silence that was rare in a place as loud and chaotic as Donegal. Sammi, just a few years older, had already become a fixture there, her lively spirit filling every room she entered. She noticed Eriko immediately. She couldn’t help it—Eriko’s stillness and sadness seemed to draw her in, like a magnet pulling her closer.
Sammi had tried everything to get Eriko to smile that first week. She shared her favorite books, invited her to play games, even offered up her favorite blanket. And, little by little, Eriko responded—not with smiles, but with small gestures of trust. She began sitting next to Sammi during meals, handing her crayons when they colored together, and once, she even asked Sammi to read her a story before bed.
### **Bonding Through Pain and Play**
As the months passed, Sammi learned about Eriko’s past from the caretakers. Her heart broke to hear that Eriko’s father had died when she was only three, and that her mother, overwhelmed by grief and circumstance, had eventually left her. Eriko’s mother’s parents had taken her in for a time, but as their own health declined, they had no choice but to bring her to Donegal.
The loss and abandonment weighed heavily on Eriko. She was guarded, quiet, her moments of joy fleeting. Sammi, who had always known a kind of boisterous love, sensed that Eriko’s wounds ran deep, and she wanted nothing more than to help.
Slowly, their friendship deepened. Sammi became Eriko’s protector in the crowded, sometimes harsh world of the home. When other children teased Eriko for being so reserved, Sammi would step in, shielding her with words and kindness. They created their own little world, sharing books and stories as if building an escape together.
### **A Forever Friendship**
Years passed, and Sammi and Eriko became inseparable. Through the ups and downs of life at Donegal, they shared countless small, precious moments—nighttime talks, stolen laughs, and whispered dreams of the world outside. They promised each other that no matter where life took them, they’d stay together.
As they grew older, Eriko began opening up, revealing glimpses of the pain she carried. Sammi listened quietly, offering comfort and understanding. She didn’t push Eriko to talk; she simply sat by her side, offering presence and warmth, letting Eriko know that she wasn’t alone.
For Sammi, helping Eriko find happiness wasn’t about forcing smiles or ignoring the past. It was about being there for her, consistently, through the quiet moments and the dark days.
### **A Future Built Together**
When they both left Donegal Academy, they stayed true to their promise. They moved in together, finding a modest apartment where they could start anew. Sammi filled their home with warmth—plants, colorful decorations, and bookshelves lined with yuri manga, her laughter brightening even the rainiest days. Eriko, in turn, brought a quiet beauty, her love of literature and art giving depth to their space, a place that was becoming their sanctuary.
But Sammi knew that true happiness for Eriko was still a journey, and she didn’t expect instant changes. Instead, she focused on creating a life with her—a life where Eriko could feel loved, where every day, Sammi could help her feel a little less burdened by the past. She wanted Eriko to see that happiness was something she deserved and could claim for herself, slowly but surely.
### **One Day at a Time**
On quiet evenings, they would sit together on their couch, Sammi reading yuri manga, Eriko absorbed in a book of poetry. Sometimes, Sammi would reach out, taking Eriko’s hand, and without a word, she’d lean her head on Sammi’s shoulder. In those moments, Sammi felt that even though Eriko’s happiness was a long-term project, they were getting closer every day.
And while Eriko’s pain would never completely disappear, she was beginning to understand something important—that love could be a constant, gentle presence, healing her not by erasing the past but by helping her build a future she could cherish.
For Sammi, nothing mattered more than that journey.
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