her sister came to visit in the city. three days together, and it was three days of beautiful life. on friday morning, she woke up early to welcome her sister through the wooden front door. bags and suitcases and boots were dropped on the fresh linens in the guest room. she made oats, he made lattes. purple tulips blossomed and caught the sunlight between their petals. she dressed in black and pearls and cashmere. the morning was quiet as she worked and her sister studied. each typing on silver macbooks, glancing up to smile at one another. they made lunch, they spinkled paprika, they talked about their lives over the dining table. her sister is nearly four years younger. they connect, because they are so familiar. they see themselves in the other's face. they shared and laughed while she styled and pinned her sister's hair. they went into the downtown, visited tiffany's and went for tea at the urban tea merchant. surrounded by the soothing water feature, photographs of asia and simple french luxuries, they perused the tea list. she ordered a pot of histoire tibetaine, a blend of black and green tea hinted with jasmine, bergamot and vanilla. her sister ordered a green tea with caramel flavors. served with a french accent, hot milk and raw sugar were laid on the table. one warm scone each, light and soft, with thick cream and tea-infused preserves. they brought a mocha macaron with them to treat her love at the end of his day. the rain fell softly as they returned home to meet him. her sister dressed beautifully in silky layers of navy, black and cream, hinted with silver. he knotted a purple tie around his neck and she smoothed her fishnets over her legs. they traveled to gastown, past the steaming clock, to a restaurant, newly opened and recently discovered by the couple, to celebrate her sister's birthday. as they had visited only two weeks before, they were recognized as 'the attractive young couple with the stylish fashion sense', she blushed. they began at the bar where her sister asked for a cocktail that was fresh and feminine. the bartender squeezed pink grapefruit and lemons, mixed libations and handed her a cold martini glass filled with a rose-hued cocktail, garnished with a curl of grapefruit rind. all at once sweet and tart, and it was delicious. she noticed that they were among well-styled company, loose draping cashmere, skinny black pants, silky layers in coral, thick bangles. once they were seated, he ordered a bold, complex italian red. they used their hands to tear into a slightly charred margherita pizza topped with fresh basil and rosemary oil. at the end of the night, they had espresso and the dolci pizza, topped with preserved figs, gorgonzola, honey and confectioner's sugar. they walked back through gastown, on the cobblestoned streets that shine in the rain, under the twinkling lights. once home, they crawled into bed and she and her love stayed awake for many hours discussing the qualities of her ideal clients and dreaming of where her artistic business will take them.
saturday morning, they all slept. it was nearly afternoon when they awoke, and they took the morning slowly. they took the afternoon slowly. they took the day, moment by moment, as it came, mostly spent around the table and entirely spent in the comfort of home. three lattes and three macbooks were spread across the table. soon they dressed in comfortable layers and cleaned the home until it evoked a sense of freshness. the flat smelled of recently mopped floors and the spiced caramel of a lit candle. the sun shone around, bouncing off of the walls, and making everything gleam. they turned on arab-inspired music and they sliced pears. they layered ciabatta with rosemary ham, with french dijon, with asiago, with black pepper. they poured water from glass bottles. again, around the table. they spoke of dreams. they shared wisdom of their few years more than her sister's. that sister declared that she would live her life like theirs. that she dreams of the love, of the education, of the style, of the achievement, of the travels that they have found. they were so touched that one who watches their life would want to imitate it in her own way. they made assam in the cast-iron tea pot, and poured many cups with whole milk. raw sugar cubes dissolved in the bottom of delicate white tea cups. they unwrapped hazelnut-currant organic dark chocolate from gold paper and snapped off small squares to savor. they poured over financial strategies to advise the young university student, so that she might achieve all of her dreams. they taught her everything they know, and imparted all of the thoughts that they had wished someone had shared with them when they were beginning. the sun stayed bright all day, into the evening, a sign that spring is near. the girls painted their nails in feminine hues, and then all three squeezed onto the couch to watch films with one ivory fleece blanket and a large bowl of kettle corn for sharing.
sunday, she woke up early to the golden light, radiating through the curtains. the girls pulled on layers of flexible black textiles and went to yoga. the warmth of the sun washed over them through tall glass windows on a busy street. the yoga was slow, detailed. each sun salutation took handfuls of minutes. adjusting each muscle, adjusting each alignment. grounding, awareness of the body. and, of the mind. they relaxed into the poses, and let everything go in savasana. at home, they toasted bagels, spread them with cream cheese and brewed gogi tea. all three laughed together around the breakfast table, in the sunlight. they dressed: she in stripes, in cap toe flats, in pearls, in a silk scarf tied around her hair. he in a prep school-inspired collared shirt, sleeves rolled up and linen scarf knotted. sister in a silky navy top, wrapped in thick flax-colored knit, and hair piled high on top of her head. they went to coco et olive and ordered coffees. she poured cream into the decaf americano until it was the color of caramel. they spread the table with philosophy books and fashion glossies, and got to sipping and studying and sharing for hours. they walked home, down main street, to peek into boutiques and to breathe in the fresh air. three days spent with her sister. as much as the sister admires the couple, they too, so admire her, and are inspired by her dreams. in the evening, a visit with her family and a warming late-winter meal, just as winter turned into spring. they finished the weekend with a stunning foreign language film, entre nos. it stirred their hearts on the issues of poverty and immigration, and made her weep tears of amazement at its close.
