I try to open my eyes, unable to remember where I am. Then, somewhere around me, I hear voices: "They're awake!"
I try to look around, still trying to fully open my eyes. When I attempt to speak out loud, my words get stuck in my throat. After what felt like an eternity, I finally get to open my eyes fully, lights looming above me and blinding my sight.
I am confused, cold, but wrapped in a comfortable blanket. I gaze to the side, and see something or someone truly beautiful. A face like no other, a face like only a goddess would be allowed to have. A small face with beautiful lips and shimmering lights for eyes, brighter than the stars.
I force my eyes away from her, looking in front of me. In front of me, I saw a woman, in her mid-twenties, holding me. Realisation dawned: I was a baby, her baby. And the person, with the face of a goddess, is my other baby sister.
* * *
Time has passed. I'm now an adult, 23 years old, just like my sister. I'm living inside a small town and I work at a diner, as a waiter. Pleasing their hungry desires, but all I can think of—all day—is my sister. A little later, after I served a couple sitting on a table for 2, I start dreaming again, dreaming of my sister and how lovely she looks. I forget—as I often do—to do my job, so a rich couple walks up to me, and taps me on the arm, demanding to have me serve them, and get them the food as fast as I can.
"Excuse me! What are you standing there for? Get me some food, and refill my drink. Faster!" She demands.
I sigh and nod: "Alright, I'll get to it as soon as I can." I hurry to the counter and grab the water and their food as it gets put onto the counter. I walk back across the room towards their table and the couple stares at me, as if I took an entire week to serve them.
It's been late for a while now, and while the couple is dining, I clock out. It's raining and it seems like my shift is done. I tell my boss that I'm going home: "Hey, I'm clocking out."
My boss looks over and answers simply: "Aight."
I turn around to face the door, walk over to the handle and open the door slightly. My sister is waiting outside with her umbrella, smiling in my face. I smile back at her, emotions filling my insides, wanting to spread out, but I shouldn't be weird. I tell her: "Do you want to grab a coffee on the way home?"
She laughs and answers: "Sure, but I'm getting a complementary bagel!"
I look at her, sigh, still smiling: "Alright!"
We walk to the coffee shop, I order and my sister is patiently waiting at the table. Her sitting there looks so precious and beautiful. I know that if I wait long enough, our bond might grow stronger and we could be together.
I bring the order to the table where she eats her bagel, while I drink my coffee. I offer her a sip alongside her bagel, and she grins and says:
"I'd love that, it would spice up the flavour!"
I hand her my drink, looking over to the couple next to us. They're enjoying their time.
Suddenly my sister stands up as it's getting dark. "I'm going home, I have stuff to do!" I look confused at her, before I could say another word she continues: "OKAY, BYE!" She runs out, as I continue sipping my coffee.
Soon after, the coffee shop closes up. I take my trash, walk to the door and go outside. It's still pouring like crazy and my sister took the umbrella. I search my pocket for spare change, gazing to the 1 dollar store across the street.
I run over the street, of course, looking both ways. And, obviously, I buy myself an umbrella. "I'd like one of these umbrellas, please. A black one." I point to the closed one behind the counter on the shelves.
The person working gives me the umbrella and asks for 1 dollar. Of course, since I searched my pocket, I know I have 1 dollar and 5 cents.
I walk home, turning a corner where more couples are walking around, sharing their umbrellas. A woman is leaning her head against her boyfriend's head. As they go up the stairs I hurry past them.
I am rethinking why my sister would have left, but I can't stay mad at her. I love her, I love her so much, any reason she could offer to run home would be good enough for me.
As I come to the doorstep of my 2 story house, coloured in brown white bricks, I open the door. By now it's completely dark outside. I expect my sister to sit on the couch watching television near the door like she always does. But she isn't there so I decide to check the other place she could be, into her room.
As I walk up the stairs, towards her room at the top, I hear scratching. The stair steps sound louder with each step. I'm not scared, just confused as to what my sister is doing. Chances are, she is doodling while listening to music. I love when she does that, but that isn't the case. Something is wrong with my sister.