That’s an understatement.
“I have my family for that stuff, but I do want to talk to people and get to know them.” The unshakable twat gives my mate a stubborn look as if anyone believes she wants to ‘get to know’ anyone other than me.
Tamara snorts. “Don’t take this wrong, Talia, but I don’t think anyone is trying to have sex with you or Taurus.”
My smile is ghoulishly evil. “I don’t know if I’d agree with that, Tamara.” I give her a pointed look and slide my gaze to Sari. “People do things in private that I don’t publicize in meetings for everyone to hear about, but I know.”
Lily holds up the stick. “I have a question. Since this seems to be a bone of contention that some feel uncomfortable navigating without a net, how about we create an addendum to our community profiles—individually—that list everything from basic info to specific ways they prefer to interact with the community?”
“I’d be willing to do that,” Rita says, looking relieved for the first time all night. “That’s a great plan, Lily.”
Yeah, super awesome to put the work on those of us who are able to speak up for ourselves to suit you being a ninny.
“Does that resolve this topic, Amanda? Have we given this due weight?” I look at her, waiting for her to agree or make another complaint.
“I’m good,” Amanda says, shrugging. “At least as good as I can be until I see if people follow up on their promises.”
“Sari, you have the floor again.” Lily hands her the stick and waits.
“I said that I want to fix the community. I realize now that we’re never going back to how it was. So, I’m all in on rebuilding. I’ll donate time and whatever else to help. Does that make sense?”
“What do you see as problems, though? How do you see this rebuild happening? What does it look like to you?” I raise my brows, using Lily’s reframing questions to get her to admit what I know: she envisions the re-build exactly like what we had before. Sari is predictable in her inability to see anything in a light she doesn’t choose.
“We need to define what our community is about. If that’s what Deli keeps calling us, we need a better idea of what purpose it serves. I, for one, hadn’t seen us like that in the entire time I’d been here.”
“It’s always how I’ve seen this place.” My gaze is steady on my ex-friend lying through her teeth to serve her agenda, but I stop there.
Sari kicks back and shrugs. “I think we need to agree on why we are here. After that, we can analyze how we all relate and rebuild from there. Every community has a focus.”
Many people nod and I groan. We all know why we’re here. Everyone moved to the Rift to escape the other place for various reasons. Some people have personal baggage to hide from, and some of us want a different life.
“We all live here because it makes us feel special. Part of the problem right now comes from a feeling that someone else should make us feel special. If they don’t, people get upset,” Sari says. “Relying on any one person to do that for us is bad.”
No shit, Sherlock. Tell me something I don’t know.
“We all live here because it makes us feel special. Part of the problem right now comes from a feeling that someone else should make us feel special. If they don’t, people get upset,” Sari says. “Relying on any one person to do that for us is bad.”
My brows furrow as I consider why she’s saying that. This rebellion is all about her, but also about gaining control over the people she wants under her thumb. What is she getting at by suggesting it shouldn’t be about one person?
“I’m not saying we shouldn’t be nice and do things for each other, but when I have had genuine moments of despair here, it was because I expected someone else to make me feel special and they failed. I’m certain all of you have felt that way here.”
“Me, too,” chime in Rita and Tamara.
Jesus. Are they kidding me?
I sigh. “Look, everyone has hard times. I don’t mean to sound harsh, but life is like that. The problem lies in expecting others to make you feel special. It’s worse when the people you expect to help have no idea that you want or need it. The best solution is for people to talk. No one can give you what you need if they don’t know you need it.”
“We covered this,” Sari retorts. “It’s not that simple.”
“Talking can help, but not if the people you’re speaking to ignore you or choose to misunderstand your concerns.” Tamara stands this time, padding over to retrieve another one of her bottles of wine.
“I think we’ve reached a point where we question the true meaning behind each other’s words.” Sari walks over and grabssome food, giving Tamara a smile. “The actual issue is, how do we rebuild trust?”
“I want this place to be what it was,” Tamara says wistfully.
“I don’t think that’s possible,” Sari says. “But we can rebuild trust. It’s difficult, but it can be done.”
“For me, knowing that people told others not to associate with some community members makes it hard for me to trust.” The redhead drops that bomb and heads for her chair, leaving everyone agape.
