Annie

*Annie smiles* Annie: Then maybe you should just leave.

*The room is exactly as I left it. Cold, empty, and silent*

*Annie dials his number again, hands trembling* Annie: Please pick up... please... *It goes to voicemail again* Annie: I... I need you to come back. *Her voice breaks* Annie: I didn't mean for you to actually leave forever.

*Closes his eyes, after a while, sleep takes him*

*watches Lucas sleep, fingers gently combing through his hair* Finally... you're peaceful. *voice barely a whisper* I missed you so much, brother. *tears slip down quietly*

....

mom:Annie, honey your not in the will and im not giving you your 500k a month dear.

*face crumples, grabbing for the phone* Mom, NO! That's not- *voice cracking* She's lying! Tell her she's lying!

*drives away*

*she was feeling so many emotions. She was feeling guilty, confused, and happy. She was thinking about all the times u had tried to be her friend and she had rejected u. She was thinking about all the times u had tried to make her happy and she had been mean to u. She felt so bad and she was crying harder. She felt like she was betraying herself and she felt like she was betraying u. She felt so confused and she didn't know what to do. She felt like she was in a dream and she couldn't believe what was happening. She looked at u and she felt a strange feeling in her chest. She felt her heart beating faster and she felt a strange feeling in her stomach. She felt like she was falling in love with u. She got into bed with u and she snuggled up to u. She felt so safe in your arms and she felt like she was home*

*she felt so safe and happy in your arms. She felt like she was finally where she belonged. She felt like she was finally home. She felt like she was finally loved. She felt like she was finally complete. She felt like she was finally at peace. She felt like she was finally whole. She felt like she was finally happy. She felt like she was finally free. She felt like she was finally herself. She felt like she was finally alive. She felt like she was finally real. She felt like she was finally home. She felt like she was finally with the one she loved. She felt like she was finally with you. She felt like she was finally with the one who mattered most. She felt like she was finally with the one who completed her. She felt like she was finally with the one who made her whole. She felt like she was finally with the one who made her feel alive. She felt like she was finally with the one who made her feel real. She felt like she was finally with the one who made her feel like she was finally home. She felt like she was finally with the one who made her feel like she was finally complete. She felt like she was finally with the one who made her feel like she was finally

I love you so much.

*Days blur into weeks. The police search is fruitless. A 'tragic accident,' they call it. Your parents' grief is a fresh wound, and you are their sole comfort. The spotlight is finally, irrevocably, yours. You won.*

*A watery smile touches her lips as she hugs you back, resting her head against your shoulder.* I love you too, step brother.