Age Recommendation: 18+
Little sister takes care of her brother, after his world falls apart.
Floor, meet face.
I shook off the impact, and struggled upright on my walking stick, limping over to the door to see who had come to gawk at the cripple.
The bitterness was deep seated. A month ago I had been a top athlete, a martial artist competing on the international stage. Now, I was re-learning how to walk.
I opened the front door slowly, looking at surprise at the woman standing on the step.
The purple-eyed nineteen year old lit up excitedly, holding out a small container, "Announcing the commencement of the Little Sister Delivery service!"
"Vi?"
She breezed passed me, into the house and into the kitchen. "Take a seat. You haven't eaten yet, have you?"
"No..." I said as I closed the door and turned, "Uh... What's happening here?"
"I made lasagne." Violet said excitedly.
I nodded uncertainly, and walked over to the breakfast table. The apartment was small, an open kitchen, and loungeroom in the same space. Easier to manage.
I was confused on multiple fronts.
Most of my family had tried after I first became obviously sick, but they didn't understand. Couldn't. So they grew frustrated, and I was too tired to walk that bridge every time.
Some didn't believe the diagnosis. I was in my twenties, and had been fit. There was no way that they missed some illness and so clearly I was making it up for some damn reason.
Others just didn't know how to deal with the fact that there was literally nothing they could do to even reduce how much pain I was in on a day to day basis.
In short, I had been abandoned.
Not entirely their fault, either. I stopped reaching out. I hated the sympathy looks, and the lack of actual understanding.
So, Violet turning up like this, was completely unexpected.
I was also confused because she absolutely could not cook. When she'd first moved out of home, I had been the one to try and teach her. After she nearly burned down the house making microwaved noodles.
Her goal, back then, had been lasagne.
The last front on which I was confused, was the way she was dressed up. Her brunette hair tucked into a messy bun that was already falling apart, the rest of her stuffed into a thin black dress that sparkled and seemed more like something she'd wear if she had a date than for visiting family.
I wiped a tear from my eye before it could have a chance to form, right as she turned back, walking over with two plates.
She slid one over to me, smiling warmly. Her hand brushed mine, and she grinned sheepishly, "You... Okay?"
"Surprised." I tried to hide my thoughts, and looked down at the food. Which was definitely completely black underneath. "Crispy lasagne. Your speciality. Th... Thanks, Vi."
"The stomach is the fastest way to a guy's heart." Violet teased and then scooted her chair so it was closer to mine. "Though... Not quite sure this qualifies."
I hugged her shoulders, "I still love you."
"You better." Violet said and then surprised me with a kiss on the cheek. Soft, gentle, and lingering.
"So, you just come from a hot date?"
She raised an eyebrow, not getting it.
I looked her up and down, "So... You always look this good, then?"
Violet blushed and smiled nervously, "Oh. Um... Thanks. No, I wasn't on a date. I just... I like dressing up. Makes me feel better about me."
"You carry it off. Just like when you used to drive all my friends nuts at home." I teased her.
She smiled wistfully, "Oh, it was tent city back then. All I had to do was flash a little skin, make a cute little smile, and you'd end up getting so mad at them."
"So, you did do it on purpose."
"Duh." Violet rolled her eyes, "It felt nice to be the one with the power. To be appreciated. None of your friends would dare to step over the line. You'd kick their asses."
"Probably." I admitted, "Though, I did wonder if Nick ever asked you out. I was sure he would have, if he didn't think it'd end with my fist upside his head."
"He didn't." Violet said, a hint of irritation to her voice, "Actually... I asked Nick out, a bit over a year and a half ago. When I was in year twelve. His first year of uni."
"Huh." I said, wanting to know more about how that had gone. He hadn't let on about that at all.
She sighed and flicked my forehead, "Jerk. He turned me down flat. Wasn't comfortable dating his friend's little sister."
"His loss." I shrugged, "Though... With who he's dating at the moment, that was a serious loss."
Violet cocked her head, "Yeah?"
"Guessing you're not still in touch with Katie, then?" I named her best friend from high school.
She shook her head, "Not after that bitch blew my boyfriend under the table at graduation. Wait. Nick is dating her?"
"She's crazy possessive. Screens his friends, including yours truly." I nodded. "Most of what I hear makes me pity the guy."
Violet sighed, "Damn. Well, now I'm sad."
© Copyright 2024, James Milne