Studio 22 | Mary-Kate Olsen

Chapter Two

February 23rd 2017 - England - Family Military Base Camp Family Home

Packing up another room, in another country, to move again. It was like a routine at this point. Wrap the valuables in bubble wrap, and throw my clothes in a suitcase. Place the photos carefully on top and that's it. I've learnt over the years not to get too comfortable in one place. We've been here for just over two years, we moved just before Atlas was deployed on his first tour. This is the longest we've stayed in a house. We normally move every year for a year and a half. It was nice to actually be here for longer than a few months. I was able to make friends and plant roots here.

The difference about this move is that we're going home. Home, home. Not just another Army Base. But our actual home where I was born and raised for the first 5 years of my life. Our family was there and I was half looking forward to going home. Home being New York City. Though there's still a hole in my chest that longs for my brother's return. Sage and I have been trying to get information from our general about the situation, he's let a few things slip and we have pieces of a story. But one thing that all the pieces have in common was Atlas was 100% not coming back. Everyone was so sure of it. As the evidence that he was gone grew, so did the throbbing ache in my heart.

"Blue? Sage? Are you both nearly ready?" Dad called. I zipped the case up and looked around making sure I hadn't missed anything. Sage hung on my door frame. "Need help carrying your things down?" I nodded and pointed to two boxes on the desk. "Could you take them down? I got the rest." He agreed easily and picked them up with a huff. "They're my books," I say sheepishly. "A little warning next time." I chuckled and pulled my two cases of clothes into the hall. Dad took them from me. "Every time we move you're always the last to get your things in the car." "Ever thought it was because that way I get my things out of the car first?" I say with a smirk. "You always were the brainy one." I chuckled, though it was hollow and went back to my bedroom to grab my sewing machine and my old sketchbook.

I typically spent my free time designing and making clothes but since the news, I just didn't feel like doing it. I didn't feel like doing anything. I completed basic training last week, which is one of the reasons why we're still here. Sage and I had both completed our training, but we'd decided not to enlist right away.. We weren't in the head space to be going to fight right now. It would end in mistakes and cause more pain for others. Neither of us wanted to put our parents through this again, especially not so soon after they'd lost Atlas.

Our parents were trying to hold it together for our sake as we were falling apart but I could see the pain behind their eyes. Dad's eyes were almost vacant like he had completely shut down, but he'd smile and try to make us laugh despite that. And mum, I hear her crying every night. She thinks we're asleep, but Sage and I sit on the staircase listening to her. If we went down to offer her comfort and support, she'd pretend to be okay. So it was best we stayed out of sight so she could feel, so she can process it.

I put the last of my things in the trunk of the car and climbed into my seat. I tucked my curls behind my ears and slipped my AirPods in, ready for the long drive to the airport. When Sage climbed in and got settled, he laid his long legs over mine like I was his footrest. Growing up as his twin made me accustomed to this, so I didn't moan or shove him off. Every car journey he'd do this and he was stronger than me so he'd win and end up with his legs there anyway.

"Are we all ready to go?" Mum asked, I nodded. Dad clapped his hands together before he started the car. I closed my eyes as we pulled off. I felt guilt bubble up in the pit of my stomach like we were abandoning Atlas, leaving him behind. They haven't found a body, but the video served as enough of a reason to believe he was dead, and we were leaving the place he might try to come to if he wasn't. We were abandoning him. Giving up completely. Leaving him stuck there whilst we go home without him.