Alyssum was not much younger than Skye, she could tell - they were almost around the same age, in fact. And yet Skye felt as if she were older than Alyssum, who sought her help and her company - she did not know why. The accumulation of Skye's experiences - they made her more jaded, they made her more shielded, but looking at the woman now, seeing how she realized and knew that she loved Jazper, seeing how she did not hide her feelings, planted a small seed of doubt within Skye's mind about herself.
She almost saw herself in Alyssum's gaze as the other woman flattened her ears against her head. She almost saw herself, much younger, much more innocent, and yet so much more feeling than she was now. So much more - alive, was that the word? Was that the flaw in Skye's life, the missing link? Would Alyssum become with time who Skye was now, starting with the small almost betrayal of Jazper?
She shook her head at Alyssum as she told Skye her thoughts. "No," she said, although she did not know what she was saying it in response to, at first. "Don't shrink from it, don't let yourself hide it - listen to what you want. No one will get hurt from it.. I promise." Jazper loved Alyssum, or that was what he told Skye - and Skye, perhaps even foolishly, believed him even then. Jazper would be happy this way - and so would the woman standing before her. Perhaps the cream d'Artisan would not be happy, but then - she was already unhappy, already hurt before. It was nothing that would change, and nothing that Alyssum had done.
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