Chapter Text
The rain was pouring heavily. Aya could barely walk on her stone floor because she had pots and buckets to collect rain from the leaking roof. She was worried--not about her roof or the nearby river—but she was worried about—
"Aya!" called a familiar voice.
"Pepa!" Aya called back. She got up from the bed and nearly tripped over her pots as she hurried to the door. The young woman in a yellow dress was walking down the path. Her tight red curls were soaked straight. Her green eyes were wide with distress.
"I'm sorry. This is me. I can't stop and mamá is so upset with me."
"I'm so worried about you," said Aya, embracing her friend tightly.
Pepa let out a long exhale, like Aya was a hand and Pepa was a sponge that was saturated with water.
"The rain was so strong and I was wondering what has made you so sad." The rain became less heavy. Aya led Pepa into her hut and sat on the bench with her.
"I wasn't sad, not at first," Pepa explained. "Remember the newcomers from the coast?"
"Yes. I've been treating some of them. Some have been having trouble sleeping because their minds have not yet settled on this being their home now. And they could only sleep 'at home.'"
"Well, one of them asked me out," said Pepa.
"That's wonderful!"
Pepa smiled. The rain slowed but did not stop. "I don't know about wonderful. He doesn't know me."
Aya laughed. "Well, isn't that the point of going on a date, to know each other?"
"Well, would he still like me if he knew I could do this?" Pepa raised her voice and her arms. A lightning bolt flashed nearby almost immediately followed by booming thunder that shook the whole forest.
"I like you, Pepa. I don't see why this guy could possibly be any different. Has he seen your gift?"
"Yes."
"And does he understand what it means?"
"Yes."
"So what's the problem?"
"The problem isn't the gift, Aya. It's me. Today was not just getting nervous about the date. It's being nervous for hours and hours until my chest hurts and my stomach hurts and I can't eat or sleep. Mama is convinced I'm doing it on purpose to spite her. But I'm not! I want to stop, too. But wanting it isn't the issue. It's actually doing it."
Aya admitted to herself that she couldn't really understand what was happening to Pepa. But who was she to question her friend's experience? She had an idea.
Aya let out a comically loud sigh. "Oh, you are so much like your brother!" Aya tried not to laugh at the startled look on Pepa's face. Aya continued: "You both worry too much about the future. The difference is that he's actually seen it, but you have only imagined it."
Pepa froze. The rain had finally stopped.
Aya smiled. "Look outside, Pepa." Sunlight was piercing the clouds and the forest canopy. Aya squeezed Pepa's hands. "Pepa, you wouldn't have accepted to go on that date if you didn't believe, deep down, that that boy would accept you for all of you."
Pepa's shoulders sank as she let out another long exhale. "Thank you, Aya. It's stopped." After a moment, she squinted at Aya from the corner of her eye. "What was that you said about me and my brother?"
Aya finally laughed. "I'm just saying! You asked, 'Would he like me if he knew I could do this?' Well, what if he does?"
A lovely blush shone on Pepa's cheeks.
Aya took a small glass jar of dried passionflower blossoms. "I know I can't make you stop taking coffee—"
"You wouldn't dare!" Pepa snapped with mock outrage.
Aya chuckled. "So I encourage you to take this at night. It will help you sleep."
Another sigh of relief from Pepa, and the sun shone a little more brightly.