Business at the spa always ran the same way. Between the two of them, the twins who ran the spa had it all figured out. Aloe would welcome every new customer and guide them through their chosen programme while Lotus would scurry around in the background, fetching supplies and helping her out with treating the customers when the situation gave her an excuse not to talk to them. It had gone that way since they'd taken over the building and they'd likely continue in the same way until one of them died or, worse even, they tired of one another.
Aloe struggled to imagine a greater pain than to lose her sister. They were always together, they cared for each other when nopony else would. It was a constant like the daily sunrise or their business routine. They only ever separated for a few hours on Saturdays, the designated time to relax on their own. What they did then was their business and neither of them was going to interfere with the other's choices. However, when Lotus picked up the habit of coming home later than usual and hurrying directly to bed without allowing any questions, Aloe couldn't help but worry.
Thus, when the same procedure repeated once more on another weekend, she intercepted Lotus before she could escape upstairs. "Care for a word, sister?"
Lotus paused, her forelegs already through the door to safety, before turning to face her. "Does it have to be? I am very tired, you know."
Aloe made a few very clear gestures. Lotus sighed and sat down beside her on the brown couch that was the only seat in their living room. "As of late, I noticed you always come home later, look troubled, never want to talk. I worry for you. You know that I'm here to help you, always, no matter what problem you may have."
She tried to look Lotus in the eye, but she avoided her gaze. "You cannot help me, nopony can. I am a silly filly for even thinking of such things. Just leave me alone." She tried to stand up, but Aloe held her down and laid a comforting hoof on her shoulder.
"That is untrue, and you know that, sister. Anything can be cured, if only you are honest with me" – her hoof slid downwards, to Lotus' heart – "and with yourself. What is it that is keeping you busy?" No response came as Lotus hid behind her pink mane. It looked so beautiful when unbound, beauty which often made Aloe question why they pulled them back while on duty. She knew that she would always love Lotus, the question was whether her sister knew that. As that thought dribbled from her mind, its last drop ignited a train of thought powerful enough to drive away the fog of uncertainty. "Oh, let me guess," she said. "I ask what, when the delicious question is who, is it not?"
A tiny nod answered her. A few agonising seconds later, the hopes it had built up were smashed again by Lotus' response. "Not that you could do anything about it. It is stupid anyway, I should just forget it." Her eyes went back to her own hooves again.
"No, it is not stupid," Aloe snapped with more force than she'd expected herself. "It is your heart's desire, and you know it will only consume you if you try to ignore it. Besides, it does not seem that you are ignoring it very well. By this point, the lucky colt is probably wondering why you always stalk him without ever saying anything." In response to Lotus' perplexed look, she added, "Lucky guess. You are not all too stealthy on evenings like these, you know. Who is he, anyhow?"
"It is not like this. You would not understand. I do not understand, I am only telling myself things here."
Aloe had gained ground, but she needed to act fast if she didn't want to lose it again. "Why? Lotus, there is nothing that you cannot tell me, nothing that would make me hate you. You know that." She enforced eye contact again. "Is he somepony I know? One of our frequent customers? Somepony famous? Or..." Realisation hit Aloe with the force of a speeding carriage, and she could hit herself just as hard for not noticing it earlier. "It is not a he, am I correct?" Another nod, smaller even than the one before it, accompanied by a single tear ruining Lotus' wonderful fur. "I see."
It appeared that Lotus had only been holding together balanced on a straw. Now that it was broken, she sputtered forth words, "I am only making myself illusions, I do not love her, I cannot... I cannot be a–" Something interrupted her, forced her to breathe.
Once Lotus had calmed down, Aloe said with the most neutral of voices, "Why is it that you cannot? I assume your heart tells you something completely different. You have a desire, sister, and it will not better until you admit to it. Do you not remember that our princess used to be married to another mare, even? Lotus, no one but you can argue about what is right or wrong for you to do. Never forget that, nor another thing." She pulled Lotus in so that her head came to rest against Aloe's chest. It was a hug, in some way or another. She acted surprised, but didn't resist. "No matter what, I will always be there for you. Tomorrow, we will see that mare, no matter what you say."
"Thank you," breathed Lotus once she was released.
"Anything for my baby sister." Aloe rose and led the way to their bedroom.
"Mother was right, you are never going to stop rubbing in those twenty-seven minutes, are you?"
"Not a chance, sister." A small chuckle escaped Lotus as she followed up the stairs. The sound brought Aloe's heart up to unknown heights. Her sister was embracing a new part of herself and she was a part of the adventure. She could not ask for more. They would always be there for each other, no matter what.
