Title: Her Last Gift

Summary: Pre Series. Inara is preparing to go to Companion school.

Author: Bashipforever

Prompt: ff_Friday school

Word Count: 545

 

 

“Now Bao Bei, why are you crying?” her mother asked, bending at the waist so that she could take Inara’s chin in her hand and lift her face up to hers.

 

The little girl sniffled and shrugged, her dark eyes filled with tears and guilt. She was trying to be brave, trying to hold back her tears but her trembling bottom lip betrayed her.

 

“You can tell me Bao Bei. I won’t breathe a word of it. Cross my heart,” she said as she made an x over her heart. They both knew the person they were talking about not telling was her father. He abhorred weakness in people.

 

“I’m scared,” she said in a tiny voice. “I’m scared of the new school and I’m scared to live away from you.”

 

“Oh Bao Bei, you’ve got no reason to be scared. This new school is going to be such a wonderful opportunity for you. You’re going to get to go places and see things. Everyone is going to love you.” She tucked a strand of Inara’s dark hair behind her ear as she spoke.

 

“How do you know?” Inara asked.

 

“Because you shine so bright, Inara. Your light is just dimmed here, but there…there you will outshine them all. You’ll outshine the stars and the moon. You’ll be the envy of everyone who sees you and the love of everyone who meets you,” she promised her daughter. “You’re going to see the universe and it is going to fall in love with you.”

 

Inara knew what she really meant was that she was going to be able to get out of this house and away from her father. She knew that she meant that Inara’s life would be more then her own was. “The universe is a scary place, whether it loves me or not. Will I ever see you again?”

 

Her mother smiled and smoothed a hand over Inara’s hair. “Not so scary. Of course you’ll see me again. I’ll come visit on holidays and long weekends.”

 

Her lips lied but her eyes told the truth and even at twelve Inara could interpret that truth.  Her mother sighed and sat back on her heels, holding Inara’s hands in her own.

 

“Inara, you are going to grow up to be the most beautiful lady. You’ll be your own person, exactly the person you want to be. No one will ever be able to tell you where to go or what to do.  You won’t be beholden to a man or a person. Only and always to yourself.” She paused, looking up into Inara’s eyes and sighed. “There are so many things in this world, Bao Bei, that I will never be able to give you but there is one thing I can give you and I want you to hold onto it with both hands as tightly as possible. Don’t ever, ever let anyone take it away from you. That’s what this school is all about, that one thing.”

 

Inara listened, awe sweeping over her as she wondered what sort of gift her mother could give her that would be that precious. “What, Momma?”

 

“Your freedom, Baby girl. I can give your freedom. Just make sure you don’t let anyone take it away from you.”