02-12-2025, 12:50 PM
Elyse laughed at Anna’s quip. Anna was a bright spot in an enormously bleak day. All joking aside, what Anna said meant a lot, and there was truth to what Anna had told her. Elyse needed to quit beating herself up for things she had no control over, and she needed to let herself grieve.
”Why are you so good to me, Anna?” she asked with a smile, knowing the answer.
”You’re my best friend, Elyse,” she said, with a smile.
Best friend. Not just friend. Elyse hadn’t expected the adjective, and it filled her heart with joy. ”Best friend?” she asked, almost disbelieving m.
”yeah! You’re the first one to really welcome me to Moscow and get me connected to the others at Kallisti. And this,” she pointed at the both of them. ”this is real special. My life is so much better because you’re in it.”
Elyse felt herself wanting to cry again, but she didn’t. She just pulled Anna close in a strong hug. It really did mean a lot to her that Anna felt so about her. They broke off the hug and Anna stood and pulled Elyse to her feet. ”Come - time for the tour.”
Anna gave Elyse the tour of her house. It had three bedrooms; one was Anna’s, another was a guest room, and the third acted as a workout space. It wasn’t an incredibly big house, but Elyse could tell Anna was proud of it. Anna then dug into her picked and handed Elyse a key.
”As I said - you’re welcome in my home anytime. I know you want your independence eventually. You’re welcome to live here until then if you wish, or you can stay in Nox’s building. No pressure. Either way, my door is always open to you. Day or night.”
Elyse hugged Anna again. It was such a simple thing. Plenty of people have others their house key, but it was usually a situation where they could get access if they locked themselves out or for something like housesitting if they were out of town. This was a different. It was a standing invite. It was proof that Elyse wasn’t a burden to her.
”Why are you so good to me, Anna?” she asked with a smile, knowing the answer.
”You’re my best friend, Elyse,” she said, with a smile.
Best friend. Not just friend. Elyse hadn’t expected the adjective, and it filled her heart with joy. ”Best friend?” she asked, almost disbelieving m.
”yeah! You’re the first one to really welcome me to Moscow and get me connected to the others at Kallisti. And this,” she pointed at the both of them. ”this is real special. My life is so much better because you’re in it.”
Elyse felt herself wanting to cry again, but she didn’t. She just pulled Anna close in a strong hug. It really did mean a lot to her that Anna felt so about her. They broke off the hug and Anna stood and pulled Elyse to her feet. ”Come - time for the tour.”
Anna gave Elyse the tour of her house. It had three bedrooms; one was Anna’s, another was a guest room, and the third acted as a workout space. It wasn’t an incredibly big house, but Elyse could tell Anna was proud of it. Anna then dug into her picked and handed Elyse a key.
”As I said - you’re welcome in my home anytime. I know you want your independence eventually. You’re welcome to live here until then if you wish, or you can stay in Nox’s building. No pressure. Either way, my door is always open to you. Day or night.”
Elyse hugged Anna again. It was such a simple thing. Plenty of people have others their house key, but it was usually a situation where they could get access if they locked themselves out or for something like housesitting if they were out of town. This was a different. It was a standing invite. It was proof that Elyse wasn’t a burden to her.