Scarlet stumbled into her apartment building blinking back the sleep that had come so suddenly on her drive from the airport. Unlike the ride to the airport, Lucas didn’t choose to join her. After their explosive conversation, he had avoided her all morning and although it hurt, she knew it was for the best. She had done what she told herself she would, it was good and now he was out of her system. The only problem was that she couldn’t get him out of her system. Images of them tangled together constantly flashed through her mind and drove her crazy. She hadn’t gotten much sleep the night before and so, instead of returning home relaxed and refreshed, she was tied in knots.

Using the elevator, she made her way up to her apartment. As soon as the door opened, Logan came rushing for her. He threw himself into her arms and she slowly lowered herself to the ground, so she could be on his level.

“Did someone miss me?” she asked

He nodded furiously with his spiky hair waving with each movement.

“Good because I got you something special.” She said pulling the little pouch she had been filling with rocks and shells from her bag.

He clutched it and held it to his heart before rewarding her with a wide smile.

“You remembered.” He said

She allowed him to run away to his room where she knew he would be cataloging them with the other rocks and shells he had been collecting over the years. She walked into the apartment and saw her sister standing in the kitchen over the stove.

“You learned to cook?” she teased

“I have to take a course” her sister replied, “I’m experimenting with some new recipes on your son.”

Scarlett chuckled and walked over to her. She gave her sister a hug knowing that it was more for her than it was for Cecile.

“Did you have fun?” her sister asked

“I did.” She replied,

“And did you accomplish your mission?” Cecile asked.

Scarlett chuckled.

“It’ not a game or a spy ring.” She replied,

“So you did.” Cecile insisted, “oh dear sister, I am the proudest baby sister you will ever know.”

Scarlett laughed,

“Don’t you have homework to do?” she asked

“Nope” she replied, “in fact, I’m on a little break,”

“A break?” Scarlet asked,

“Okay, I finished all my items for exams and now I’m waiting for them to be graded so I decided I would stay here with you and Logan,” Cecile replied,

“Aww,“ Scarlet said, “we would love that.”

“I know you would.” Cecile replied, “I already moved into your bedroom.”

“I hope you didn’t move any of my things,” Scarlet said kissing her sister on the forehead

“Gross” Cecile said wiping it away

Cecile followed her into her room where she threw down her suitcase and handbag.

“What was he like after all these years?” Cecile asked

“Phenomenal” Scarlet replied with a smile that was soon replaced by a frown.

“That’s not good news is it?” Cecile asked,

“It is not,” Scarlet said turning to look at her sister, “I don’t know how to feel. All this is new to me.”

“Do you like him?” Cecile asked

Scarlet let out a sigh and stood.

“I don’t know how to feel,” she said looking down at Cecil, “I’m just very confused.”

“What do you mean?” Cecile asked, “why would you be confused?”

“Well, when I’m with him all I can think about are the good times.” Scarlet said, “then I take a step back and then I remember and that’s all there is, pain and I, I can’t live like that.”

Cecile was silent,

“Do you still love him Scarlet?” her sister asked

The question was so surprising that Scarlet gasped. She thought about it and slowly let out the air in her lungs. She still loved him. She had never stopped loving him although he had stomped on her heart and ruined her life. She had loved him all these years through their son and she had known it the very first time she saw him at that club. It was as If her heart had been dormant for years waiting for a trigger and seeing him reignited a flame within her, a flame that promised that she could love again, could dream again; could live.

“I can’t” she replied, “I can’t love him, Cecile. It would be a tragic mistake.”

“How can you be so sure?” Cecile asked, “what do you have to lose if you love this man?”

“I,”

Scarlet had never told her sister exactly what had happened. Cecile had been so young back then that to tell her would have been inappropriate. By the time she was old enough to hear the story, her parents had voluntarily forgotten and disowned her, and she had decided not to tell anyone for fear of having to relive the situation. The only thing her sister knew as that Lucas had broken her heart on her nineteenth birthday.

“I can’t” Scarlet replied looking into her sister’s eyes and pleading with her for understanding.

“Will you ever love anyone else?” Cecile asked standing and walking over to where she sat at the edge of her bed. They were so alike at this age that Scarlet could see her younger self in her sister. She could only pray her sister never experienced heartbreak like this.

Scarlet looked at her and felt the single teardrop roll down her cheek. Cecile wiped it away and pulled her in for a hug.

“I don’t think so” Scarlet replied thinking of the years she had spent looking for Lucas, the many men who never seemed to measure up and the wasted hours crying over a pain she didn’t understand.

“I’ll be fine.” Scarlet said pulling away, “plus I think whatever you have on the stove may be burning.”

Cecile glanced towards the kitchen and then back at Scarlet.

“I’m the big sister remember,” Scarlet said, “I’ll be fine.”

She waited until Lianne was gone before she threw herself unto her bed and wept silently. As she drifted off to sleep she felt when small hands smoothing her hair away from her face. She looked up to see Logan sitting on the bed beside her. He had a confused and sad look on his face and so she pulled him towards her.

“It’s all right,” she said, “mommy’s just not feeling well”

He didn’t respond, together, they fell asleep and she only dreamt of happier days, days with Lucas.