Dinner went as usually. Ian stood beside me, respecting my silence and talking to Jamie about everyday things. At the end of the night, as always, some stayed to listen and ask me questions. The story of the Knight of the Beast was everyone's favorite now. Jamie, in his innocence, would say:
"I don't know why you haven't told us this one before."
"Indeed ... I don't know either." Jeb always completed with that false air of innocence of his, while giving me a wink that made it clear he liked to tease me.
Now, besides my own stories, I also had some memories of Pet. But I did not like to talk about them, it seemed disrespectful and it was very painful too. I felt bereaved. I miss this soul I never knew and also suffer for the mother who stayed behind and I would never see. Much was different now. Most for the better, but this was the painful part I had to deal with.
Despite all the changes, nights after dinner ran almost the same as before. I still had a captive audience: my friends, plus Kyle and Sunny, and occasionally Candy.
Sunny particularly enjoyed hearing my stories, I think it helped her cope with homesickness. Sometimes she became so excited that she also told some of her own memories or even rushed to answer a question posed to me. When this happened, Kyle smiled to see her happy, but soon this expression started to become dark and Sunny, realizing this, then mimicked him. I think for Kyle, knowing a little more about Sunny's past was a painful reminder that now she is the one who's there. Poor Kyle felt torn between memories of Jodi and his feelings for the Soul living inside her body. The more he liked Sunny, the more he felt abandoning Jodi. Love smiled, but the guilt was silent and when Sunny saw it, she was silent too.
Candy also kept some memories from Summer Song, sometimes she ventured telling us something, but this was not very frequent. She did not like to think about how long she was broken and undone inside herself, her consciousness scattered and dormant. She was a great woman and could offer friendship to the two Souls who were now her co-habitation, but I knew that what we were brought right to her disgust. The people with whom she felt more comfortable among all of us were Melanie and, incredibly, Lacey. Her roommate was still difficult for most to endure, but it was easy to understand why Candy felt that the three of them shared a unique experience between This seemed to create a bond between them, like I had created with Sunny.
I believe Lacey must have some stories too, I'm sure, but even she was sensible enough to know that no one would want to hear about the past of the Seeker, so she remained distant. One night, she tried to follow Candy, but we were all so uncomfortable that she never returned. Moreover, she did not like me. She still hated Melanie, despite the efforts of Candy. And Mel had almost the same disgust for her that she had for the Seeker. Ian and Jared also felt difficult to accept her in the group and Jeb barely tolerated her. I was sorry because, despite knowing that she would never admit, Lacey must be very lonely. Mel and Ian always repeated, almost in chorus rehearsed: "Let it go, it's not worth it. She is lonely because that's what she brings to herself. She wanted it that way." But I knew no one would be lonely and unhappy if they could have friends and family. It was sad, simply.