Strawberry Kiss | OBX

o n e

. . .

Lizzy

"Welcome home Lizzy!" Sarah ran up to her and gave her the tightest hug ever.

I wrapped my arms around her just as tightly, it's been years since I've seen my little sister, "I hope you didn't miss me too much"

"Are you kidding?! I've missed you ever since you left" Sarah helped me with my bags. I only had two, since I was forced out of my home in such a rush.

Sarah entered our house, it was clean, not a spot of dust in sight. It felt weird not seeing endless white dimly lit hallways, and not seeing so many schizophrenic people at once.

"Does he know you are coming?"

"Who Ward?" I looked up to meet Sarah's face, "No he doesn't, you're the only one I called," I said bluntly

"Not even Rafe?"

"Nope, I thought it would be a nice surprise" I shrugged

Out of all people I missed Rafe the most, but I think everyone would logically think that. We've done everything together from playing hide and seek in the woods to sneaking out late at night to go swimming in the lake. During my stay, I barely called anyone. I don't think I had the willingness to call someone I loved just to have 30 minutes with them and to end on a simple goodbye.

"They should be here soon" Sarah spoke out taking me out of my thoughts, "I think I should help you unpack all your things, then when they get here you should stay in your room and I'll bring Rafe up to see you"

"Sounds like a plan" I smiled as I looked at the family pictures that were hung along the walls, "Who's she?" I asked apathetically.

"Oh that's um... Rose, she's dad's new wife" Sarah rolled her eyes not liking her one bit, and neither did I by just seeing her in the pictures.

"He's trying to replace mom" Sarah let out with a sigh, "It's been hard with mom gone and then you leave not even a day after it all happened, then dad brought Rose to live with us a week later. It was just so much to take in at once "

I frowned, feeling guilty for not putting up a fight to stay, and for not being able to save our mom. I was only an innocent thirteen year old; there wasn't much I could do. Now that I'm free I will not rest until I get justice for our mother and for the years I've missed with my siblings who are going to need me now more than ever once they know the truth.

. . .

"I have to go get the key, I'll be right back."

"Key? What key?" I was confused.

"Dad made a key to make sure that Rafe or I weren't able to get into your room" She sighed and looked at me, "Liz, he's changed so much ever since you left, he's much more secretive, and he's been going on so many business trips"

"Do you know what the trips are for?" I asked although I think I already knew.

"No, he doesn't tell us anything, and he's always with Rose."

I sighed and decided to pull out the bobby pin from my hair; I put it in through the lock and jiggled it around a bit before unlocking the door.

"I still got it" I chuckled to myself, "Sarah, come back!! I got the door unlocked!" I yelled for her.

I took small steps towards my room. It was left just as I had left it, it still had the small pile of clean clothes I didn't take with me, my bed was made and my stuffed animals were just as I had left them. The only one missing was a stuffed dog that my mom had gotten me when I was younger. I had taken that one with me because it was my favorite, it was old and had a lot of extra stitching from when my mother would fill it back up with stuffing.