FLAMES

EPISODE FORTEEN 14 :REVELATIONS

AVA'S POV

I stepped out of the bathroom wearing my robe. I followed my nightly routine, pulling my hair into two sections and leaving my baby hairs out in the middle. I've always been obsessed with my blonde hair since childhood; it matched my sky-blue eyes perfectly.

I put on joggers with a band at the end, stopping just above my ankles, and a top that reached my navel. Stepping onto the balcony, I let the snowy breeze brush against my face.

Slow, low footsteps approached. I knew who it was before even asking. "What do you want, Avery?" I inquired.

"Can't I just come say hello?" he retorted.

"You're very annoying, you know," I remarked.

Just leave, I said.

He walked back to the door, but he stopped like he had had enough of it.

"You know what Ava, I'm not gonna leave and we are going to solve this, right here, right now, You can be unreasonable and stupid sometimes. What did I do wrong that you refuse to answer?" he asked angrily, a side of him I hadn't seen before.

"You have no right to be angry at me, Avery. If you think I'm in the wrong, then go take a hike," I said, tears streaming down my cheeks. My anger had melted into sadness.

I sat on the bed, tears flowing freely, feeling utterly desolate. When my older brother sat beside me and put his arm around my shoulders, I couldn't help but catch a whiff of his cologne.

"Let go of me," I snapped, pulling away.

"Ava, please, let's talk about this," he pleaded, his eyes matching mine, impossible to ignore.

"I'm not interested in talking. Please leave," I said, wiping away my tears.

"Ava, either we finish this talk or I sleep here tonight," he said, dangling the key to my room.

"Don't be stupid, drop my damn keys," I said, feeling a headache coming on.

"You know I never bluff," he said.

"Fine, you win," I conceded.

"Good," he said.

"You want to talk, Avery? Let's talk. Let's talk about the fact that you didn't call your sister, your only sibling, for five years. Let's talk about how you abandoned me, the only family I had. Let's talk about how you're the worst brother anyone could wish for," I said, my voice trembling.

I sat in front of my dresser, feeling like I'd emptied the void in my heart. Avery knelt in front of me, hoping for answers, but I wasn't ready to give any.

All those years he was gone, all those lonely nights, all those mistakes I made and now regret.

"Ava, please talk to me," he pleaded, his large hands hovering above my slim ones.

My voice cracked. "Avery, why did you never call me when I was in California?" I asked.

"Dad only visited once a year for business. But you never called, not even on my birthday. You were far away, yet still here in my heart," I said, placing a hand over my chest.

"Why did you do it, Avery? Why did you abandon me? How could you forget that I was your little sister?" I asked, tears welling up again.

"Avee," he said, his voice softening.

"I never wanted to stop calling you. I missed you every day. But Grandma severed all ties with you. She hated that you reminded her of Mom. You never listened to her, always defending Mom, even after everything she did. I'm sorry, Avee, I'm so sorry," he said.