Runa was walking home from work. The town looked beautiful, all decorated for Christmas. There were garlands and wreaths on every lamp post in town with various lights and the Gazebo in the square was decked out too. Runa barely noticed any of it. She was so dazed that nothing seemed to faze her. Until Grant came walking the other way.

She crossed the street to avoid him and it seemed to work but, when she got near the bookstore, there he was, waiting for her.

"Hey Runa," he said. "How are you doing?"

"Okay," she said dismissively. She went to go around back.

"You have a minute?" he asked.

"Not right now. Maybe later," she said and kept moving.

Grant watched as she disappeared and he walked away, head lowered.

When Runa walked around to the back door of her apartment she saw something she did not expect.

Sable Weihl was at her door, knocking.

"Um, hello?" Runa asked her.

"Oh there you are dear," Sable said. "I was just coming for a visit to see how you are doing."

"Oh," Runa said, "Fine. Thank you."

Runa went to the door. She was clearly confused. Sable had a small bouquet of flowers. They were pretty purple and yellow flowers of some kind that Runa did not recognize.

"Would you like to come in?" Runa asked reluctantly.

Sable followed her up the stairs.

"This is kind of a pain in the neck," Sable told her, "having to walk up all these steps every day?"

"Yes," Runa told her. "I like it though. It helps me remember to exercise."

They got to the top of the stairs and Houdini ran to hide under the bed.

"Well this is a neat little apartment," Sable told her. "It is very cozy indeed."

"Thank you," Runa said. "I was thinking about making some tea or coffee."

"Tea would be good," Sable said. "Thank you."

Runa put down her things in the bedroom and Sable sat down on the couch. She looked around at everything.

Runa went into the kitchen to start some hot water on the stove.

"So I take it that everything is getting back to normal?" Sable asked.

"Normal?" Runa asked.

"Your health dear," Sable said. "I know you don't want to talk about it but your poor mother was so upset. She needed someone to talk to. Naturally I made myself available to her."

Runa stood there and listened but didn't say anything.

"Now Runa," Sable said. "We ladies of the book club must stick together. And when one of our own is in trouble, we have to help. You are one of us and no one is going to hurt you like that, ever again."

Runa put her head down.

"I would like you to come by the museum sometime," Sable said.

"The Museum?" Runa asked.

"Yes," Sable said. "There are so many things about this town that are so very boring. But I know all the juicy stuff that isn't."

Runa looked at her funny.

"There are so many secret things they don't want on display at the regular museum but, I happen to know someone who can give you a behind the scenes tour."

"You?" Runa asked.

"Yes dear," Sable said. "And I thought that maybe we could have a little 'girl time' too. Oh I know I'm just an old woman but trust me, there's a fun side to digging things up. If there wasn't I wouldn't be doing it."

"Okay," Runa told her. "Sure."

"Good," Sable said. The tea kettle whistled and Runa turned to take it off the burner.

While she began pouring tea, Sable stood up and walked to the beveled window and looked out.

"I know you've recovered physically, but what about the rest?" Sable pried. "I know you've been seeing that Dr. Grey."

"You do?" she asked.

"Yes," Sable said. "I know it wouldn't be my business but I have to watch out for my girls at the club. And Dr. Grey is good at what he does. I hope you listen to him."

"I do," Runa said as she brought her the tea.

Sable looked at the cup and began to sip at it. "You take all of your pills like he tells you?"

"Well I..." Runa started.

"Because everyone needs their medicine you know. You have to take care of yourself," she told her.

"I know," Runa said as she picked up her own cup of tea.

Sable smiled at her. She finished her tea and set the cup down.

"I almost forgot," Sable said, picking up the flowers off of the coffee table. "These are for you."

"Oh thank you," Runa said, taking the flowers. "They're pretty."

"There my favorite kind. It's not easy to get them here."

"What are they?"

"They're called 'Columbines'," Sable told her. "My mother loved them. She had a broach made that looks like one. My sister has it."

"I see," Runa said. "Is that June's grandmother?"

"Yes," Sable said.

"I still feel so bad about it," Runa whispered.

"It's okay, Runa; life is full of random things like that. It's like an unbroken horse that we have to keep working at until we tame it."

"What do you mean?"

"Some people watch life or just let it take them wherever it wants. But some of us, a very few of us believe we are here to make life take the direction we give it. I found that out too late in life. If I had known that at your age, I swear things would have been different."

"Different?"

"Yes," Sable said. She was deep in thought for a moment. "Do you ever feel like that?"

"I'm not sure what you mean," Runa said.

"Are you the type of person who lets things happen to her or, will you make things happen?"

"I don't know yet," Runa admitted.

"You need to listen to your doctor so you can figure it out. He's just trying to empower you, after all."

"Okay," Runa said.

"Well I better be going" Sable told her. "Just let me know when you want to come by and I'll get everything ready at the museum for you."

"Okay," Runa said. "Thank You."

Sable stopped at the door to the steps and looked at Runa. "You're such a pretty girl, aren't you?"

Runa blushed.

"If you need help, don't be afraid to ask your sisters at the book club. That's what they're here for," Sable said as she descended the steps.

"Okay," Runa said after her. She watched Sable leave. Then she went into the kitchen and got a large mason jar out of one of the cupboards. She filled it with water and put the flowers in it. She smelled the flowers. They smelled nice. She smelled them again and set the jar down. She felt a little light headed and went into the bathroom.

Runa opened the medicine cabinet and looked at the bottles. She picked one of them up and opened it. She turned on the water and took a pill. Then she put it back and grabbed another bottle.