♡~Linked~♡

Choice

-Amira's pov-

The lack of life within the ruins of my house left a damaging hole in my heart.

I stood, before what I'd once called my home. The building in which Camilo would slip into almost every night for over a decade, the building that held all of the delicate memories with my parents. The same house I'd first learnt the damaging news of my Pa's death.

Blaring lights shining in my face while I stared into the emptiness ahead. Seconds turned to minutes, minutes into hours. That feeling of loneliness gnawing at my sense of time.

I wanted to puke, I wanted to cry. I wanted to let go of all the emotions churning up inside of me.

Sick to my stomach, I couldn't understand what had happened.

They're gone, I thought.

She's dead.

(A certain amount of time prior)

"No."

"Hermanita, I promised you a night at casita, and we got that." I reached for Peggy's hand, and my try was quickly rejected. My desperate attempts at persuading her to return home with me to talk out our issues with our parents/parent were exceptionally pleasant at failing.

"It's not that easy to get over, Amira!" A face of hurt, angst is plastered over her betrayed eyes. 

"I get it, I understand you need time to heal. But avoiding your parents won't do you any good." Experience taught me well, I'd completely dismissed my mother from months after learning of her remarriage and I'd only been miserable at home. Especially since hearing her joyous laughs sounding from downstairs, knowing it wasn't her fault she was being happy. I was the one holding the grudge, not her.

"I don't care! I don't want to see them, talk to them, or just, be anywhere near them." She dismisses me out of hand, storming out of the room. My legs automatically take me, following after her.

"Peggy, I know this is best-"

"Why don't you go on your OWN then!?"

"Because I wasn't the one who it had a bigger impact on!" I slap a hand over my mouth, not meaning to shout. I'd been trying to keep my cool over the course of our talk, but not even I couldn't be that persistent. "Look Peggy, I get I'm not that much older, or wiser, but I do know that this would help us figure it out." I pause momentarily, giving her another chance to refute. When she doesn't respond, I don't hold back from continuing my point. "Please give it a shot, for both of us."

Her stiff stance falters, her eyes half-lidded while she stares at the floorboards between us. "..." A small mumble makes it's way to my ears, not audible enough for me to understand the words.

"Pardon?"

"Nothing, I just don't want to. Can't we just get one more day? Why does it have to be now? I'm not ready."

"You'll never be ready, Peg. So you can go before you start to consider even more negative outcomes. What could go wrong?" Trying again I reach out for her hand, and reluctantly but nonetheless she wraps her hand in mine.

"...A lot of things. Just one more day, please?"

I shake my head, glum of her opposition to my suggestion. Consideration was something I'd been hoping for from her, rather than immediate denial. She pauses briefly to contemplate more, without having her emotions overcome.

A doubtful breath escapes her lips, eyebrows furrowing further. "Can you go first? And if it goes well, I'll stop by too?" A pleading tone.

"Sure, yeah. That'll work, as long as we figure things out today." With matching cordial grins, a memory is collected in my head.

"Hm!" A squeak from behind me catches my attention. I whip my head around to see Dolores Madrigal in the doorway.  "Sorry to ruin the moment, but if you want to see your parents you might want to do that now. They won't be home forever." Before I can give a reply, she scurries off, seemingly in a rush. Personally, I found her rather interesting as a person. Her behaviour would either be quiet and quick, or warm and friendly. Not that I minded, it meant she couldn't get boring.

"Alright, guess I'm off then. I'll see you soon hermanita." I leave a peck on her forehead and let her say goodbye as well, before I head off to town.

My hidden anxiety left momentarily, a breath of cool wind whisking through my hair. A grin fell as soon as it came.

What am I supposed to say?

I hadn't a proper idea, sort of just hoping it would figure itself out when I got there. I was counting on it.

My gut sinks, sensing the coming tension as I knock politely on the wooden door to ny home. A wave of insecurity floods over my confidence.

Though, it's not like they knew why we'd stayed at casita. I never actually told them we were staying at casita, I think Dolores or Luisa informed them instead. Which would've confused them, considering Peggy had run off earlier.

Standing awkwardly, a couple seconds pass by. No sign of anyone answering.

Are they home?

As I contemplate taking a peek in the window, or simply walking in, a clicking sound resumes as the door pulls open. I'm met with my mother.

"Oh, I'm so glad to see you!" She wraps me in an endearing embrace.

"Uh, heh... me too..." A sheepish, puzzled smile is plastered on my face, I can see my stepdad grinning towards us.

"Come in, come in." Mama gently pulls me in with a hand on my left shoulder, seemingly not taking notice of my absent sister. She continues gesturing me to follow her while she takes a seat next to her husband. I hesitantly oblige, keeping up an awkward grin. I'm sitting on a couch opposite them, with only a coffee table separating us.

I get the idea that they want me to start, since they show no sign of beginning as they watch me.

"Okay, uh, so me and Peg stayed at casita last night..."

Mama raises an eyebrow but nods.

"Because she's... mad? At both of you." I didn't know how to put it in a proper explanation for them.

"Mad?"

I nod, "I am... as well..." tapping my thigh I glance around the room, everywhere except for them.

"Querida, did we do something something upset you?" She shuffles closer to me, elbows on her knees while she leans forward.

"Yeah? I mean, yes. Yes you did." It couldn't have been anymore awkward. I was hoping to sound more upset and angry with them when I got there, but puzzlement was all I could manage. She opens her mouth to start talking  but I cut her off.

"We found Margaret's birth certificate, and it says you two are the parents. Care to explain?"
_________________________________________

I'll keep this one short.

She's going through a lot right now, and there's not much I can do. But, it's really her own fault this is happening. She's lucky I'm not abandoning her.

I would never abandon her though, she knows that. Which is probably why she didn't give a second thought into dragging us in this mess.

She has a choice, and I know who she'll choose, I always have.

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