With a quick wave, she left the others and swam rapidly after the messenger. They had almost crossed the drop off before her companion spoke.
“I’m from Tilssted, you know.”
“You are?” Merletta looked at her in amazement, and the other mermaid smiled.
“My family lives quite close to the border with Skulssted. We’re better off than most in Tilssted. Still, my parents were really proud when I got this messenger job. We didn’t know if they’d give it to someone from Tilssted.” She hesitated, and her pale face flushed with color. “I’m not proud to admit it, but when I first started working here, I used to hide the fact that I came from Tilssted. I didn’t tell anyone if I could help it. I was ashamed.”
Merletta was silent, wondering why the other mermaid was telling her this.
“Not anymore, though,” the messenger said, her back straightening. “I tell everyone. I’m proud to be from Tilssted.”
Merletta stared at her. “What changed?”
The messenger gave an incredulous laugh. “Surely you know the answer to that! You’re what changed. Everyone was impressed that someone from Tilssted could get a job as a messenger in the Center. But you got into the program! You’re one of them, and you’re proving from the inside that our problem has always been opportunity, not capability.”
“I…don’t know what to say,” Merletta said, a ripple that was half pride, half discomfort passing over her. “Thank you, I suppose.”
The other mermaid laughed again. “Actually, thank you is what I’m trying to say.”
They had reached the edge of the drop off, and there was no time for more. The messenger peeled away once they entered the building, and Merletta swam into the lobby alone. Tish was floating there, her arms wrapped around her frame in obvious discomfort.
“Tish!” Merletta cried, and Tish brightened.
She swam forward to meet her friend, but Merletta thought Tish returned her embrace only half-heartedly.
“What’s going on?” Merletta asked, when Tish didn’t speak. “Are you all right?”
“Yes, I’m fine,” said Tish. “I’m sorry to interrupt you here. You’re probably supposed to be in class.”
“Don’t apologize,” said Merletta firmly. “I’m always glad to see you.”
Tish’s face flushed, and Merletta realized too late that her friend may have misunderstood her words as a reproach for the last time they’d met.
“Can…can we talk for a minute?” Tish glanced toward the middle-aged mermaid sitting behind a desk nearby.
“Of course,” said Merletta. She glanced around. “How about you come through into the drop off?”
“Trainees can only invite friends and family into the Center with prior permission,” the older mermaid interjected, her voice bored.
Merletta scowled at her, then turned back to Tish. “Oh all right, let’s go out into Skulssted. There’s a public coral garden not far away.”
When the two mermaids were seated in as private a corner of the garden as Merletta could find, she turned expectantly to Tish.
“What’s really happening, Tish? Has someone hurt you? Threatened you?”
Tish stared at her. “Why…” She swallowed. “Why would you ask that?”
“Tish, what aren’t you telling me?” Merletta asked in an ominous voice.
Her friend sighed. “Nothing terrible has happened, Mer. I came to apologize, first and foremost.” Her eyes were on her hands, twisting in her lap. “You haven’t been back to visit me since that day when I was working with the others, and…” She trailed off.
Merletta waited, but it seemed Tish had nothing more to say. “To tell the truth, I wasn’t entirely sure I was welcome,” she said. “But I don’t bear you any ill will, Tish. I just want to understand.”
Tish looked miserable, and she still wouldn’t meet Merletta’s eye. “I’m sorry,” she said. “It was cowardly of me not to tell everyone we were friends, or to invite you to join us.” She looked up at last. “But you know me, Mer. I’ve always been better than you at keeping my head down. It’s how I survive. And I wasn’t sure I wanted people to know I grew up with the famous Tilssted trainee. I was worried that they would want me to introduce them, or to use our friendship to ask you to do things for us, things I know you wouldn’t have the influence to achieve.” Her face darkened. “And I was absolutely right.”
Merletta felt guilt swirl in her own stomach. “I’m sorry, Tish,” she said gently. “I didn’t even think of that, but I should have. I guess I’m protected from unreasonable expectations, living here in the Center. It didn’t occur to me that people might want things from you if they knew of our friendship.” She grimaced at her friend. “I’m still not sure how to respond to being known by strangers. It’s unnerving, if I’m honest.”
“I can imagine,” said Tish emphatically. “I’m sure I’d hate it.” She looked up, her expression strangely shy considering they’d been friends all their lives. “I am proud of you, though. I hope you know that. I’m proud of all you’ve achieved. I just don’t think I’m brave enough to be in the thick of it, like you are. To tell the truth, I felt that way even before…well, from the beginning.”