YOU CAN NEVER GO HOME

 
She knocked at the door. She waited a moment and knocked again. Perhaps she was asleep?
“Come in Gabrielle.” Dantien called out smoothly.
Gabrielle arched her eyebrows. She opened the door to see that Dantien was putting away some sort of painting, and gathering up her brushes.
“How did you know it was me?”
“You knock. Others knock and barge in, the ignorant rats.”
Gabrielle rolled her eyes. “I’m not going to go through that again with you.”
“They are rats, and she showed me her tail today.” Dantien wiped her hands on a rag and motioned to Gabrielle to sit down at the table. “I can prove it to you.”
Gabrielle looked at her with suspicion. “If you show me a rat’s tail, that won’t convince me.”
“I’ll tell you the rat’s tale, same as she told it to me.” Dantien’s dark eyes locked onto Gabrielle’s.
“She told me that you and your sister were here before, that you tell stories, that you’re a good friend of the King, and…” she lowered her voice to a gentler tone “she told me your sister is dead.”
Gabrielle sat down at the table, speechless. She turned and stared away.
Dantien pulled up a chair and sat near her. She reached onto the table and took Gabrielle’s hand.
“I’m sorry about your sister.” it was sincere, soft. Gabrielle sniffed and wiped her eyes with her free hand.
“Why.” she muttered hoarsely.
“Why what?”
“Why did she tell you.”
“Because I was asking her about you, and it came up.”
Gabrielle disengaged her hand, and turned to look at Dantien. Their eyes locked again.
“You were asking about me.” Gabrielle said flatly.
“I was…curious. Are you saying that you didn’t speak to anyone about me at all today?”
Gabrielle put her hands together slowly, interlacing her fingers. She stared at her fingers for a moment, then cleared her throat. “She wasn’t my sister.”
Dantien reached over and touched a tear on Gabrielle’s cheek. “Whoever she was, you cared for her a great deal, I can see.” she sighed. “Gabrielle, I’m sorry I upset you. I just wanted to show you that you can’t trust any of them here, that’s all.”
“I didn’t come here for lessons about rats and trust. I came here to have dinner with you.”
Now it was Dantien that looked down, twisting her hands. “I’m glad you came to see me. If you come to see me again I won’t ever mention those rats, or spout any more silly lessons.”
Gabrielle studied her hands. Dantien studied the table. Finally Gabrielle spoke. “You have to promise one more thing.”
“What?”
“You have to be nice to people. No matter what they are.”
Dantien opened her mouth but Gabrielle put up her hand. “Dantien, all the time, not just when I’m here.”
Dantien clamped her mouth shut. It was almost a pout, and it made Gabrielle smile. Seeing the smile on her face, Dantien relented. “I can’t believe I’m doing this, but yes. Fine. You win.”
Gabrielle reached across the table and grabbed both of Dantien’s hands. “I think,” she said with a broad smile, “we all win on this one.”
Dantien squeezed her hands lightly. “Then you’ll stay. Stay and have dinner with me.” her voice was low, almost a whisper. It made Gabrielle catch her breath, although she couldn’t say why.
“I’ll stay.” it was a whisper, but all she could manage.
It was enough.
8