Cecily sat at the café table, anxiously sipping her tea. She glanced at the clock in the corner. Already ten past, where was she? She pulled out the letter again, scanning it just to verify the time. Ten minutes late. Her heart beat a little faster, and she pressed her foot into the floor to keep her leg from bouncing.

The door opened, and a young woman walked in, hastily closing the door behind her against the winter cold. Cecily looked anxiously at her, hoping that the woman would come to her table. She did not.

"Where are you?" Cecily muttered to herself.

"Pardon?" A man stopped next to her, looking down at her strangely.

"Nothing, monsieur. Pardon me." He nodded and moved toward the door, holding open the door for a frail little slip of a girl.

The girl walked toward Cecily, then paused, unsure. "Cecily?"

Cecily practically jumped up from the table to pull out a chair for the girl. "Yes! Oh, my goodness! You have no idea how happy I am to have heard from you, to see you! Oh, my dear, dear girl! Let me look at you!"

The girl pulled back a bit, taking her seat. "You're causing quite the scene, Cecily."

Cecily sat down in her own chair. "Oh, I'm sorry, truly I am, but hearing from you after all this time… How did you find me, Sophie?"

The girl coughed into her handkerchief, and Cecily gave her a worried look. "Oh, it's just a little winter cough is all. I heard about you and your great work at the opera house."

Cecily laughed self-consciously. "Great work? Who have you been talking to?"

"Some clients who attend the opera. When they speak amongst themselves while waiting, I pick up bits and pieces."

"Clients? Where do you work?"

The girl bit her lip. "I used to work at a millenary. However, the proprietor took rather a dislike to me and dismissed me upon finding adequate replacement."

"Oh, Sophie! That's wretched! Something should be done!"

"Oh, hush," she said, reminding Cecily that the young woman before her was no longer the little sister she had left so long ago. "I will simply find another job."

"And until then, what are you doing for money?"

Sophie shrugged. "Living off what I have."

"Sophie, if you need something, money, a place to stay, anything, just let me know."

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice losing the harsh quality it had had. "I think I will be fine if I can get through the month."

Instinctively, Cecily reached for her clutch. "How much do you think you'll need?"

"Cecily, I really don't think…"

"How much?"

Sophie sighed. "Two hundred francs for rent and food in a normal month."

"Of course, of course," Cecily muttered, pulling out two hundred and fifty francs. "Here. Consider it a bit of makeup for all the years…all the years I couldn't do anything."

Sophie took the money silently and put it in her pocket. "Thank you so much. Now, how are things for you at the opera house? Do you have a beau?"

Cecily colored. "A beau? Well, yes, actually." She smiled embarrassed.

"Really?" Sophie leaned forward conspiratorially. "Do tell."

For the rest of the meeting, Sophie asked question after question about Cecily's life, and Cecily happily satisfied her sister's curiosity, all the while painfully aware of her own burning questions. When it came time to go, Cecily grabbed her sister's hand. "Where are you living? Can I visit you?"

Sophie shook her head quickly. "No, I'm living with a friend at the moment. But I'll come to the opera house soon. It has been a wonderful afternoon, Cecily."

"Yes, yes." Cecily embraced Sophie, biting back tears. "Well, we had better go before I make an even bigger scene than before."

Sophie laughed lightly. "Of course. One of these times I want to meet that man of yours."

"Oh, you will!" She kissed Sophie's cheek and started to walk down the road to the opera house. "Come soon!"

Sophie nodded and disappeared around the corner.