The entire house smelled of bacon and eggs and pancakes. Up since six, Alex had worked tirelessly to prepare Tyson a monstrous breakfast prior to his day at school. She paced patiently in the living room, waiting for him to finish his morning routine in the bathroom. The second he exited with his bag, she made her way to the front door, nearly blocking it.
“Hey, Ty. I made you breakfast. I was hoping—”
“I’m not hungry. Please move out of the way.”
“Tyson, please…it’s been two weeks. I just I can’t do this. Talk to me or just yell at me or please, something—”
“Fine! Get the fuck out of the way!” With this he barged past her and out the door.
That was it. She’d tried everything. He wouldn’t even give the opportunity to attempt to offer a heart-felt apology. What was worse is she had no clue if he was planning on leaving the apartment for the dorms or if her lies had affected his studies—he’d blocked her entirely in such a short time.
Making her way back to the kitchen, she felt as if she’d been punched in the gut. Each time she cried she thought it might be her last—as if she had no tears left to give—but losing Tyson’s companionship was too much. He was more than just her baby brother. She’d been in a mothering position for years—coping with this loss was too much. She was certain it would destroy her. Tucked in the corner of the apartment kitchen, she bawled violently on the floor.
Just then the apartment door re-opened. “Okay…maybe just some bacon but I’m just grabbing it and…” As Tyson grabbed a handful of bacon from the plate on the counter he and Alex made eye contact. Instantly, he dropped the food as his face developed an intense look of concern. “Alex! Alex what’s wrong?”
“Tyson! I’m so sorry! I’m so sorry.”
Tyson instantly rushed to his sister, kneeling to her. “Why are you crying? What happened?” He frantically searched her face for clues.
“What happened? I lost you, Tyson. I lost my best friend.”
“What? Oh my god. Alex, you’re not…you’re crying because of me? Because we’re fighting?”
“Yes.”
“No! You hardly ever cry! Why are you crying?”
“I cry every time you leave the house without speaking to me, Tyson. It kills me.”
“Stop.” Tyson’s voice elevated as his eyes flooded with tears. “I didn’t mean to make you cry! I’m so sorry, Alex. Shit. You didn’t lose me, you just freaking pissed me off! Please stop crying.”
“Oh, Tyson.” His words were silk entering her ears as Tyson wrapped his arms around her.
“Please stop crying, Alex. I can’t handle that shit. Please don’t cry anymore.”
“Forgive me, Tyson. You know me…I would never hurt you. I’m so sorry. Forgive me!”
“Okay, Alex!” By this point Tyson was crying nearly as hard as his sister as the siblings continued their embrace on the kitchen floor.
As they separated, Alex wiped her face with the sleeve of her sweatshirt.
“You look atrocious, Alex.” Tyson sat back, his legs crossed as he slid his bag off.
“I know. I’ve already called in for the day. I couldn’t do it another day.”
“What the…I didn’t know you were this butthurt, Alex. We’ve never fought before. I’ve never been this mad at you before. How was I supposed to know you’d take it this hard?”
“Tyson, I love you more than anything else on earth. I’d literally die for you right now. Of course I’m going to take it hard when you say like seventeen words to me in two weeks, two of which being to eff off.”
“You shouldn’t have done that, Alex. I was at their house and I didn’t even know and you did. How the hell was that fair to me? You tell me everything. Why didn’t you just tell me?”
“Tyson, I wanted to—”
“Hold that thought.” Tyson stood from his seated position and grabbed the plate of bacon, the plate of pancakes and the bottle of syrup and sat back down.
“I wanted to tell you. I literally didn’t know how. I shouldn’t have ever went driving by his house. I should never have looked him up on Facebook…I know. But I did and I can’t change that now. Please…if you can forgive me for this I swear to you on everything that I will never keep anything from you again.”
“Done.” Tyson chomped his food loudly. “But I’m not going to class now so you need to get in the shower cause we’re getting out of here today.”
“Where are we going?”
“I don’t care. I kinda missed your dumbass. Let’s go get in some trouble.”
“Tyson…thank you so much. You have no clue how much it means…it’s like I can breathe again.”
“Ha. I know that feeling.”
“Oh…I didn’t mean—”
“Hush and go get ready. I’m gonna clean up in here.”
“You mean eat everything?”
“Possibly.”
“Good. That’s why I made it.”