Can't Let You Go

Chapter 21

***TALLY***

When I went to Korea, I was on a non-stop flight, seated in business class. That fifteen hour flight was hard enough, but not nearly as tiring as my flight back to Alaris in coach. Eleven hours to cross the ocean and arrive in Los Angeles. Then a couple hops across the country, with layovers, to reach Alaris. I've been traveling for nearly twenty four hours. The only thing keeping my feet moving at this moment is that Zayan is waiting for me.

"Honey!" Hearing his voice in person after so many years nearly brings tears to my eyes.

"ZAYAN!" I shout across the crowded airport, not caring if other people gawk at me.

He's holding a sign with my name, but it's of course not just a paper printout like others I see around. Zayan's huge sign is multicolored and bordered with a red tinsel garland from Christmas decorations. It matches his vintage red leather pants. I run towards him - as much as is possible for me with my travel weary legs and carry-on bags. With arms wrapped around each other, Zayan lets his tears flow. It is about eleven at night by the time the taxi drops us off in front of his place.

"So, what do you think?" Zayan stands with his arms open wide as he beams towards the building. In the shop window in front of us I see a creative display of goods. After graduating, Zayan's parents helped him open a store of his own.

"I think it's amazing and I can't wait to see the inside with my own eyes, but right now I need a bed."

"Yes, of course you do Baby Girl! Let's get you inside and tucked in." Zayan moves to a door next to the display window and swipes a pass card across the sensor. "I don't know if you remember me telling you, but this is a walk-up building." Zayan grabs my suitcase, leaving me with just my carry-ons. "Fortunately I live on the second floor. Floors three through six have two apartments each. There's some really great people living here." We huff our way up the staircase to his door. "The passcode is your birthday."

I nod and kiss his cheek. "I missed you."

Despite the fact that we didn't meet until we were fourteen, I'm positive I've spent more time with Zayan than I have with my own family. As terrible as it sounds, it was harder to be living far away from him than it was to be living separate from my own brother. We texted and video chatted while I was living in Korea, but that's not quite the same. Taking in his space with both admiration of Zayan's skills and with slight sadness that I wasn't here to help him, I sling my arm over his shoulders. "This is even better in person. So Adult Zayan."

The apartment, which runs front to back of the building, seems more like you're in a brand new, modern building and not this very old brick and beam place. The walls, cabinetry and large furniture are in black or white and there's touches of brushed brass as the metal. The color comes from the art and accessories.

My eyes land on a familiar painting. "You had it stretched and framed." As a present for earning his degree, I'd painted a canvas and sent it to Zayan, having first deconstructed it so it could be rolled and mailed.

"I'm not as lazy as I once was." He winks at me. "Your room is that one there." Zayan points to a door off the living area. "Mine is next, then the bathroom is there." He points to a door at the end of the corridor.

"And the last room is your closet, right?" Half of our video chats take place while he's in there getting ready to go out.

"You know it. I opened up some space for you because your room is tiny. Feel free to raid it and wear anything you like. You can also go down to the shop and hit up the vintage section. If you want something from one of my artists or a new item, you'll have to buy it and I don't give discounts." He wags a finger at me in rhythm with the last few words.