The Teller of Small Fortunes

by Julie Leong

Familiarity could look very much like love from a certain angle, if one didn’t look too hard.

Everyone deserves a home, Tao thought, patting Laohu’s whiskery grey nose. And what was a home but somewhere you wouldn’t have to feel quite so alone?

“People think they want true fortunes, but they don’t really. What they want are lies. Small lies, big lies, entertaining lies, comforting lies.

“I think you have changed,” said Tao. “In enough small ways that you just don’t quite notice it while it’s happening, but then you look in the mirror one day, and you’re altogether different. That’s how it was for me, anyway.”