𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐄 𝐀̂𝐌𝐄 , 𝗋𝖺𝖼𝗁𝖾𝗅 𝗀𝗋𝖾𝖾𝗇

𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗻𝗲

As the brunette approached Flat 20, she wasn't sure how she felt. Uneasy? The answer was obviously no. Valerie Buffay wasn't especially proud of her name, but nothing could undermine her confidence. However, she was always proud of her ability to handle any situation with grace and poise. She was also extremely wealthy, always dressing head to toe in expensive yet simple clothing. This did not improve her attitude; rather, it made it worse. Her luxurious lifestyle was quite different from her start in life, but she never forgot her roots. That's why she was here.

To settle things with her sister. The last time they talked, there was a heated argument. It ripped apart their already strained relationship. She raised her hand to knock on the door, keeping one hand holding a box. The woman couldn't help but wonder if her sister would even want to see her after all this time. Her past haunted her, playing over and over in her mind like an endless cycle.

She inhaled deeply, reminding herself that time had passed. With a mix of hope and nervousness, Valerie finally knocked on the door.

An unfamiliar face greeted Valerie as the door swung open. The petite, black-haired woman was not who she expected.

"Hello, may I help you?"

Was she at the wrong apartment? This is the number that was given to her; surely it is not incorrect. She gathered herself and politely inquired, "Is this where Phoebe Buffay lives?"

The woman shifted to the side, revealing a view of the cosy living room behind her. She smiled warmly and said, "This isn't; hers is just down the hall, but she is on the sofa if you want to talk to her."

Valerie nodded as the woman moved her body again to let me pass her. She did not understand how the woman had let her in so easily; she could be a robber, for all she knew. It was definitely not like this in France, and it was not what she was used to.

As she approached Phoebe, she wondered what her sister might have to say. She couldn't really argue with her. She had a right to hate Valerie for leaving her by herself, just like her parents did to them.

''Who is it?'' the blonde asked, still looking at the TV.

"Your sister."

Phoebe shifted her head, her eyes meeting the new face in the room with a mixture of surprise and indifference. She paused for a moment before responding to Valerie with a curt nod. The tension in the room was palpable. Valerie couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt for her previous actions, which had brought them to this point in time.

''So, did you miss me?'' Valerie asked, her obnoxiousness kicking in again. Phoebe rolled her eyes, not bothering to hide her annoyance. "Not really," she replied flatly, turning her attention back to the TV. Valerie's attempt at reconciliation fell flat, leaving a heavy silence hanging in the air.

Valerie began to tap on the cardboard box with her red painted fingernails which only seemed to amplify the tension in the room. Their relationship had always been complicated, but Phoebe couldn't deny that a part of her still longed for the relationship they once had. As they stood there, facing each other, the past came flooding back to them.

"Let's not dwell on the past, shall we?"

Valerie approached her and sat on the sofa, eliciting a sideways glance from the woman she had met at the door. Not that Valerie cared.

''I have something for you," she said, handing Phoebe the box she was carrying. She paused for a moment. Then, reluctantly, she took the box from her sister's outstretched hand. As she opened it, Valerie couldn't help but smile to herself. Inside was a small white kitten with bright blue eyes, exactly like the one she had wanted since they were kids .