The girls had been a source of light and entertainment during lockdown, and I never turned down an opportunity to spend time with them. “Sure,” I said, walking backwards. “Drop by my place this time tomorrow. I’ll be ready.”
“I’ve locked in a ticket home,” Ava said, her voice crackling with interference. “Your favourite sister’s coming back, yo.”
I pressed the phone so hard to my ear it ached. She was my only sister, but still. A guttural sound tore from my throat, and I paced the lounge room. “We’ve been talking forfiveminutes,” I said. “Why didn’t you lead with that information?”
“Because I was answering your other questions.Are you okay? Are you safe? What’s happening over there?”
“When’s the flight?” I asked, ignoring her poor imitation of my voice.
Ava had registered for the government supported charter flights months ago, but names were drawn in a raffle-like system, and I’d almost lost hope she’d get her turn.
“Sometime in the next two weeks,” she said, raising her voice to compete with the rattle of a lawn mower. “You don’t get a time and flight number until the day before—but don’t worry, I’m keeping my phone close, and you’ll be the first to know when I hear.”
Two weeks wasn’t long, but it felt like forever when we’d been separated for a year. “Where are they flying you out from?”
A door closed, and the noise on her end quietened. “Atlanta.”
I wandered over to the window and stared at the heavy clouds gathering, my heart racing at the thought of our reunion. “How far is the airport from where you’re staying?”
“A forty-five minute drive,” Ava said. “I gave up on hotels. I’m renting an Airbnb guesthouse on a property with a really nice family. The owner—Greg—offered to take me to the airport.”
Without knowing a single thing about him, I loved Greg. My throat burned, and tears flooded my eyes. “I’m so glad you’re okay.” I flattened my hand against my chest. “You have no idea how much I’ve been worrying about you.”
“You won’t need to worry much longer,” she said. “We’ll be back together soon.”
“I hope so. Everything’s falling apart so fast, I don’t know how much longer we’ll be able to keep in touch.”
“I’m banking on being back before it gets bad, but just in case—”
A knock sounded, and I turned away from the window.“Crap. Ellie and Willow are here." I'd left the door unlocked for them. "I’ll tell them to hang out for a bit while we talk.”
Ellie stepped into my apartment wearing a pale blue loungewear set, with Willow close behind in an oversized tee and flared yoga pants. They both smiled, and Ellie mouthedhiwhen she saw me on the phone. Their hair and features were so similar to mine, residents often used to comment we could be sisters. Funny, since my actual sister didn’t resemble me.
“It’s all right,” Ava said. “I have a few things to do. But if we lose contact, I’ll come to you, okay? Don’t. Go.Anywhere. Not to my place—not to the airport. I have no clue where I’ll be landing, and I need to know where to find you.”
For a younger sister, she sure loved ordering me around.
It felt all kinds of wrong ending the call when I’d been trying for days to get through, but I gave in. “Okay. I’ll be right here, I swear. Please stay safe. I love you.”
The phone line crackled as she responded, and I couldn’t make out what she was saying. A second later, the call dropped out, her words lost in the ether.
The silence stretched on, my pulse beating too fast, pounding in my ears.
She was fine. She’dbefine.
And I had the girls here as a welcome distraction.
I smiled to lighten the mood when the door opened again, and another familiar face appeared.
Theo.
My stomach bottomed out, and I almost dropped my phone. “Hi.”
We may have taken a few steps in the right direction, but he was right here. In my private space.
I’d never been inside his apartment.
Mine was filled with mementos from the past; furniture, art, ornaments and books. Almost every object I owned had a connection to the people I’d once loved. Being surrounded by memories usually brought me comfort, but I didn’t feel comfortable now.
