𝟏𝟔

ELSIE

"Sally?" My voice betrayed me and came out broken.

Sally stood close to the restaurant. She was like I remember her. My little sister was standing in front of me after more than year.

The last time I saw her was a couple of months after she left Ian at my place.

At that time she was more skinny and more tired looking. Today her hair looked more healthy and she looked more put together.

"Hi." She said softly and I saw her shoulders slump.

"I'll go and talk to her for a bit" I turned to Fenix who still had his palm protectively on my back.

He observed my face for few seconds and nodded his head. "Of course. I'll wait for you in the car." He leaned down and kissed my temple before running his hand on my back gently. After that, he rounded the car and got into the driver's seat.

I turned to Sally and felt tears sting my eyes. It has been so long that it feels like decades since I last saw her.

Her hair was in a ponytail, only few strands falling around her face. She had a grey hoodie and washed out baggy jeans.

I closed the distance between us with long strides and wrapped my arms around her shoulders.

Sob broke through my lips as soon as she hugged me back. I missed her so, so much. She was the only family I had left other than Ian.

We were inseparable when we were younger. Sally used to always come into my room and we would spend all night gossiping and watching movies.

Sometimes Aiden would take us out shopping and would have bought us as much ice cream as we wanted. After he died a lot of things changed but me and Sally tried to stay positive and remember him and still do all the things we were doing with him.

Then our parents left us with our grandparents and Sally started distancing herself from me and at that time she got pregnant with Ian.

"I missed you too. I'm sorry Elsie. I'm so sorry."

"It's okay." I rubbed her back and reassured her that it's fine. It didn't matter that she hasn't contacted me and it didn't matter what she has done in the past. She was my little sister and I can't get mad at her.

We slowly parted and she wiped her eyes with the sleeves of the hoodie.

"How are you?" I asked her and took hold of her palm in mine.

She shrugged her shoulders and smiled. "I'm doing better. I wanted to visit you at your place but I saw you here..." Oh... my old apartment really was close to this restaurant.

I nodded and smiled back at her. "Do you wanna go and grab a coffee? We can catch up." She agreed after few seconds of thinking.

We were literally standing in front of the small restaurant so I decided that we should go there. I quickly send a text to Fenix who was parked down the street now.

I told him that he didn't have to wait and if he wanted he could leave but he told me that he was going to wait.

We entered the restaurant and sat by one of the free tables.

Sally placed a small gift bag on the table. I just noticed it and my eyebrows creased together.

"What is this?" I asked her and pushed my hair back.

"Ian has birthday soon so I bought him a small gift. I want you to give it to him." My heart warmed at her gesture.

"Yes he does. He's really excited."

"I couldn't buy him a gift last year. So I wanted to do it this year." I nodded and the waiter arrived at our table.

I ordered a coffee and made Sally ordered a breakfast because she must have been hungry. After few seconds of protesting, she finally gave in.

The waiter left and I popped my elbows on the table.

"How have you been?" She somehow looked healthier and I was curious if she started doing better and gave up on her bad habits. She has gained some weight and her face was a bit fuller than the last time I saw her.

"I'm better. Me and Wayne broke up but I'm trying to put my energy in more productive things. We both decided to get better but he... he just wasn't really sticking to our plan. It was a hard decision but I had to end our relationship." I knew how much she loved him.

"I'm staying with a friend now and I started doing some part time jobs." She grinned while she began talking about her work. I was glad she found a way to make her life better.

"There is a lady next to my friend's apartment and she needs someone to help her with the chores. And I also started working as a cleaning lady in one of the buildings. The black ones that are really tall. You probably know them."

"Yeah I do."

"The people are nice there. I'm thankful for that." I didn't expect to see so much change in her life but I was thankful.

"I really wanted to see Ian in the past year but Elsie,... I didn't want him to see me like that."

"It's up to you and Ian, Sally. I can't force you on anything. I know you'll do the right thing once you decide."

"How is he doing? He's in school now right?" I noticed tears fill up her eyes again and I took hold of her hand again.

The waiter bought us our coffees in the mean time.

"He's doing really good. Even in school the teachers always praise him. He's an amazing kid. Very intelligent and kind."

"It's because of you. I knew you were going to take care of him." She squeezed my hand. "There is so much guilt in me for putting you in this situation. I placed a burden on your shoulders without even asking you." It was hard but I would never change anything. Ian was my everything and I can't imagine what I would have been doing without him.

"It's okay, Sally. I'm just glad you realised that the environment you were living in was not good for him."

"I'm glad he has you." Her smile reached her glossed eyes.

The food arrived as well and Sally dug in. I was worried for Fenix because he was still waiting for me in the car but I couldn't just leave Sally to eat alone.

She told me more about her job and her friend. I have never met Riley before but I have heard Sally talk about her when she was in high school.

It was good that she had a place to stay. Even if I offered her, she wouldn't have accepted it.

"You got married?" She pointed to the ring on my finger.

"Yes I did recently."

"That was your husband earlier right?" I instantly felt hotness build up on my neck and then face at the mention of Fenix.

"Mhmm." I only hummed, not being able to speak.

"You look really good together. You look happier." Was Fenix really the reason I was feeling like this lately? He always made me feel giddy and excited.

"Thank you. I am happy these days. And I'm glad we finally are able to see each other."

I never even comprehended how much I needed to see her and talk to her.

I really hope we are able to be like this from now on.

Just another short chapter....

In the next one they are going to the engagement party👀

🤍🤍🤍