The morning after her programme aired, llhaesa was out of her bed at first light, quickly pulling on running shorts, a sports bra, loose and airy top, and taking a seat on one of the paisley patterned, wing armed chair in her bedroom, laced on her tennies.

She moved methodically for the door, walking down the steps and out onto the lawn to the sizeable, full foliage tree in the centre. Leaning in, llhaesa placed both hands on the tree and began to stretch.

Within minutes she set out for a long run along the streets of her neighbourhood.

There was a lot on her mind on this day, and her early morning jaunts always helped to clear her mind and refocus. Llhaesa rarely brought music with her; there was time for music later. This was a time of contemplation.

Of primary interest on this morning was Jahrae Khentavra. Llhaesa was confused; what she was feeling towards Jahrae was new territory. When she was rooming with and sort of M’traliel’s partner, she certainly loved her – and still does – but Jahrae was triggering feelings inside she never encountered before.

There was the first symptom, her thoughts always shifting back to Jahrae – her eyes oh, those eyes… the shape of her face, the feel of her smooth skin, deceptively long legs for someone noticeably shorter than llhaesa, a great body… there was Jahrae’s simple touch that set off every nerve ending in her body, the smell of her hair, her warm embrace, lying in bed next to Jahrae after their first – and only to this point – night of lovemaking. One night was not going to be anywhere near enough.

Llhaesa had only just met the college student, but there was something here she knew was touching on forever, and that was something she really had to sort and rationalise.

As she ran along the streets of the still sleepy neighbourhood, llhaesa tried to rationally analyse how she felt, only to have her mind revert to just thinking on how she could spend more time with Jahrae.

After running 10 kilometres, llhaesa returned to her flat, looked at the time and promptly disregarded it. She called the Khentavra home.

The phone signalled longer than usual, but llhaesa persisted. Finally, a very sleepy Hrilleae answered, her voice acquiring a more lively tone as soon as llhaesa identified herself. “One moment, llhaesa… I’ll go wake Jahrae.”

There was a delay as Hrilleae jumped out of bed and moved down the hall to Jahrae’s room. Jahrae slept quite soundly, and Hrilleae struggled to rouse her daughter. Finally in exasperation, she half shouted ‘llhaesa!’

Jahrae sat up immediately, pulled from a dream of she and llhaesa. Hrilleae handed the portable to Jahrae and walked out of the room, silently closing the door behind her.

Three hours later, Jahrae walked into the Khentavra kitchen, softly singing one of llhaesa’s songs, and Hrilleae knew the connection she saw spark on llhaesa’s first visit had now taken root and sprouted into full blown love. The fact that a call came in as early as it did suggested the musician’s thoughts were now dominated by those of her daughter, and Hrilleae rather suspected that Jahrae – who to this point had said little – was experiencing the same symptom.

With Djellrin off at a meeting on Nenseru Woods, Hrilleae saw her chance and spoke. “She is something, is she not?” Hrilleae started, looking right into her daughter’s eyes.

Jahrae’s face pulled into a puzzled look, and then as realisation came, changed to sporting a great big smile. “Yeah” she answered simply, as she grabbed bread from its bin, sliced off two thick pieces and popped them in the toaster. After setting the timer, she pulled out a chair and sat down as Hrilleae did the same on the opposite side of the table.

“Jahrae, she is wonderful. Llhaesa has an outgoing personality; she is respectful of others, caring, empathetic, intelligent, talented, motivated, committed, absolutely drop dead gorgeous, and totally and completely smitten with you.”

“Mum!” Jahrae felt hearing her mum describe to a tee what she thought was revealing some deeply private secret truth her immediate world already knew, but was nonetheless embarrassing to hear another voice aloud in the moment.

“Jahrae, look at me and tell me you don’t feel for her what she obviously feels for you.” Hrilleae attempted to get her daughter to openly acknowledge what Hrilleae sensed and what Jahrae tried to hide from.

Jahrae paused for almost a minute, rose up from her seat, walked to the disposal and emptied the remainder of her breakfast into the receptacle, and set the plate in the automatic wash. Turning towards her mum, a wide eyed grin deployed, but Jahrae remained silent and left the room – still sporting the unspoken facial confirmation of Hrilleae’s strong suspicion.