12/27/2019
“Mother. I...” Anais says to her mom sitting in
her quarters a week after the mission with the sloughts.
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12/27/2019
Maria looks at her daughter and patiently waits
for her to continue.
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She breathes in and then out. “We need to talk.
About... us being out here and then me and you, I guess.”
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The older woman nods and says "We should,
yes."
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She sits down near her. “I did not think we
would ever leave Wylde. The Imperium seemed to prefer to leave the noble
families to keep them ruling and readying the next tithe. I was shocked when
father sent for us. I had to leave the sisters. However, I was more reeling
from the sudden change than having to leave. I do not share your fascination
for these stars but I do feel I can serve a greater purpose out here.”
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Maria nods and says "It's an incredible
change. And harder for you than the rest of us, I think."
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“I don’t know if it is harder. I’m not
questioning your judgment I just... have such mixed feelings about it.”
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She nods sympathetically. "That's what I
meant. Internal conflict is very hard on a person."
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He looks at her and drops her posture and her
guard. “You were right in that I do need to be able to trust others and rely on
them. I don’t think I’ll ever shake my doubt in others, however.” She looks
away.
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Maria reaches out to put a hand on her shoulder.
"Thank you. Trusting other people can be difficult and dangerous, but it's
necessary and can be uplifting."
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“I don’t think people trust in me, though.” She
allows the hand to stay.
12/27/2019
"I trust you. Your
sibling trust you. I know your father trusts you. And I believe our future
allies will trust you too." She looks at her daughter solemnly.
12/27/2019
“I don’t know if you do.”
She stays silent and looks down. “Why did you look at me like that the day of
the attack on the carriage convoy?”
Maria wraps Anais in a hug and says "I'm
sorry. If I'd known you still carried that day with you so strongly, I'd have talked
to you about much sooner. I was never afraid of you, I was afraid
for you. An experience like that can he terribly
damaging to someone as young as you were. I was afraid of how much it could
hurt you. But I have NEVER not loved and trusted you with all my heart."
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Anais slowly brings her arms up and embraces her
back while trembling. She sobs across her shoulder.
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She holds her tightly and gently runs her hand
across her back in soothing repetitive motions.
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Anais stays in that moment for a while.
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Maria gives her as long as she needs.
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She lifts and smiles at her mother.
“I can’t promise this changed everything. But I
will endeavour to treat you with more respect.”
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12/27/2019
Maria returns the smile. "Thank you. I'll
try to be more considerate of you as well."
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She goes to her own room but not before softly
shutting the door.
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