Nadia
The ride home was very silent. Father listened to his favourite radio station, totally engrossed in the commentary from tonight's baseball game. Mother, on the other hand, was extremely silent. I noticed it when she returned from the pharmacy. She was so lost in thought even Father couldn't get her to say much, and it was usually not hard for him to do. When we got home, father came around and carried me out of the car, telling mother to lock up so he could take me to my room. I pleaded with father to drop me down so I could walk by myself but he refused to listen to me. He gently placed me on my bed and left me to go get some water so I could use my drugs. Mother stood by the doorway, watching me with sad eyes.
"Are you now gonna tell me the reason why you've been silent ever since you returned from the pharmacy?" I asked.
"Was it that obvious?" She said, coming in to sit beside me on the bed.
"Well..." I left the concluding part unsaid. She smiled so sadly that I not only wondered but was also curious to know what happened.
"I saw Lyra today."
Her words had my heart hardening faster than my stomach. The hairs on my body stood as my blood ran cold.
"I don't know why she was there but she looked well.....and wealthy."
I stood up, clutching my right side as I went to stand in front of the window. I needed to catch my breath because I suddenly wasn't breathing well. Mother came and hugged me from behind, sobbing softly for me to calm down and breathe.
"It's fine, baby. You're fine. I am sorry I told you about her. I just wanted to see if you're strong enough to talk about her now." I didn't speak, not until my breathing was stable again.
"I don't know what it is you're looking for, mother. But I would never want to talk about Lyra again. She doesn't exist for me, not even in my memories. So please, don't bring her up again." I felt her nod on my back. Together, we remained in that position till father returned with the water.
That night my dreams were anything but pleasant.
~
Lyra
"Where are we going, sis?" My little sister said as she held my hands. Hers were encased in the pink leather gloves our lily-livered father got for her. He had bought mine too, but I rejected the gift.
We were trekking the streets of London on our way to a place only I knew.
"Nadia, please don't ask me any questions again. You're beginning to tire me out. " I complained, looking left and right before crossing the street with her. I had her blue luggage in one hand, her pink backpack strapped to my back and her hand in my other hand.
She fell silent, saying nothing again for the rest of the trip. I noticed that was how she behaved whenever I complained about anything she did. Especially after mother died.
Chancing a quick look at her, I saw her wipe tears off her pinkened face before sniffling. Knowing what I was about to do, showing her pity or concern would only make it harder than it already was for me.
I quickened my pace, causing her to stumble as she tried to keep up with me. I need to do this fast so I could get on the plane taking me to my new reality; A reality without any responsibility to anyone but myself.
Soon, we got to the dark building that offered me the solution I craved. I left her by the sidewalk, climbed the stairs and pressed the doorbell. I quickly ran back to stand beside her after ringing enough to get the attention of those inside. Nadia looked at me and smiled.
"Is this our new home?" The trust on her face almost made me want to turn and take her far away from this cold place.
"Yes, Naddy." For you... I added in my mind.
"I knew we lost mom and things went hard for us, especially you. But I never stopped believing you'd find a way for us. I can't wait till I get older so I can finally help us?"
Tears stung my eyes, causing me to blink rapidly before they fell. I was about to turn and take my sister away when the door crawled open slowly, revealing a woman in a long black robe and a stern face.
"Are you Lyra?" She asked, and I said no. I turned to grab my sister's hand when I suddenly found the space beside me empty.
I turned back and found her already being ushered into the building, looking back at me like I betrayed her. I yelled her name, moving to climb the stairs. But the stairs were no longer there.
"Give me back my sister!" I yelled, jumping up like doing so would magically take me where I wanted to be.
"It's too late. You brought her here so you could be free. Now, go be free." The woman with the unsmiling face said.
"I've changed my mind. Give her back to me! Now!" I tried to jump higher this time around, but I fell and twisted my ankle.
"Go be free, Lyra." The door finally closed, leaving me with nothing but the right hand of the pink gloves father brought for Nadia.
"I don't want to be free! Please!"
I yelled as I woke up from the horrible nightmare, clutching my rapidly rising and falling chest. Adam woke up and turned on the lamps in the drawer by his side of the bed. He brought me to him, cuddling my sweat-soaked skin. The aircon was on full blast but it didn't stop me from feeling hot.
"Shush." He kept saying into my dampened hair while rocking me. Tears poured down my face as I wept for my sister.
I cursed my Godmother and her guilt-wrenching words.
I wasn't sorry then. I won't be sorry fifteen years after.