Reflections

"Do you think we've changed at all?"

The unexpected question broke the silence that had fallen on the dock outside Robin's lakeside home. Electra was lying on the old pier with her white paws dangling over the side, staring at her reflection in the water. Framed by the lights from the house behind her, she could barely discern whether there was any difference in her now compared to ten years ago.

Robin stretched and laid down next to Electra, her purple fur switching to Electra's red shades like a mood ring. "How d'you mean?"

"I met you almost eleven years ago... and I don't know if I'm any different now than I was back then. Or if I've changed. Which is worse?"

Robin considered it. "Which would be worse to you, personally? Changing, or staying the same?"

Electra was silent for a time, until eventually she said, "Staying the same, I think."

"For what it's worth," Robin looked down at their reflections in the water, "I think we're both unrecognisable. Look how far we've come." She raised her paw, indicating the tree-lined far shore of the lake. It was a metaphor, but she felt compelled to do it anyway, just to illustrate the point. "I can hardly see where we started from."

Electra laid her head on her paws. "I'm still not where I want to be."

"Maybe. When are we ever?" Robin answered the pessimistic statement with her characteristic easy optimism. "But we've got time to get there. We did well to get this far, no reason to think we won't go even further."

Robin made everything sound so easy, Electra thought. Sometimes she was frustrated by it, but most of the time she appreciated it. Opting to not argue for once in her life and just let Robin be optimistic for both of them, she said, "Well, one thing hasn't changed."

"What's that?" Robin was still studying their reflections on the surface of the dark water.

Finally looking away from the water and looking at Robin, Electra said, "I'm still glad you're my friend."