The Crossroads - Lesbian Story

The Crossroads

“I don't care what you say! I'm going and you can't stop me!” I cried, stuffing my clothes into my pack.

Caysia’s eyes were full of anguish, but her voice betrayed nothing.  “I know,” she said quietly. “That is why I will come with you. You must not go alone.”

I nodded, then turned away, and knelt down to lace my boots. They were a little big, and I was not used to wearing such sturdy boots. My leather slippers would not do for my journey, they were all right around the city, but out in the deep dark forest and up to the mountains they would not suffice.  

I touched my cropped curls, thinking ruefully of my beautiful tresses, now long gone. I had sold them for the boots, to a tailor who specialised in unusual wigs. My hair, the colour of fire, would make a beautiful wig.

“Xenae?”

I looked up into Caysia’s beautiful, beautiful eyes and saw nothing but the sorrow reflected in them. I looked down, refusing to meet her gaze again. I could not feel the sorrow, I lived and breathed my anger – it was all I had left.

“Don't, Ysie.” I called her my pet name, the name no one else heard, it was for behind closed doors only. “You left first, remember? You broke your promises, remember? It's too late... there is nothing to say. I have to do this, you know I do.”

I dared another look at her. Her silky hair flowed down her shoulders like a golden waterfall. Her eyes, a soft grey, like smoky glass, luminous in her grave and pale face.

She did not answer, but I knew that look. She was resigned to whatever I had decided. She knew my stubbornness, better than anybody else. She knew everything about me better than anybody else.

I had everything ready, and headed for the door, knowing she was behind me, as she always was behind me, there for me, every step of the way.

I paused before I turned the handle and glanced at her again, looking her pallid dress up and down.

“Are you going to change?” I asked. “You'll probably ruin your dress if you don't.”

She shrugged. “It is not important, and you are in a hurry.”

I shook my head, but continued on my way. She is always like this; I'm not the only one who is stubborn. I knew her as well as she knew me, we had been together for a long time.

We left the city just before daybreak; the guard who manned the gate snoozing quietly in his post did not notice our retreat. We had hidden in the city for so long, I loved the obscurity it provided, but it was over now. We have been found, our perfect illusion of safety shattered.

I did not blame Caysia; she had been trying to protect me. But she had not considered the implications of her act; she had put herself in danger. So I must journey, to the Crossroads, to make a new choice.

The road was not unfamiliar that we trekked. We had done it before many times, but this time we would go further than we ever have before. The Crossroads were the deepest, farthest part of the world and few who went there ever returned. And those that did return never got what they went for. I knew this journey was dangerous, but my stubborn heart refused to consider failure.

The first few days, I did not talk to her, I could not. But she was always there, my constant shadow. Her slim pale arms encircled me at night, but I took no comfort in her embrace. She made me cold, my heart was cold, but I could not say why... everything had changed. I still loved her, a fierce love, strong and powerful, beyond what most people had.

That love was what made her betrayal so deep.

I was angry, and I am stubborn.

When the silence got too much for me, I talked to her, and found I could not stop. I talked about everything, and anything, but I held onto that anger, let it simmer inside me. It was all that kept me going.