Healing Hearts

Chapter one

'The way her eyes crinkled when she laughed or the way her smile grinned from ear to ear didn't attract him. But the way she held a mournful expression in secret did.'

"What the hell are you reading?" Stewart leaned his head on Katie's shoulder, disgust plastered on his face. Katie harshly pressed her shoulders up to push her dim-headed brother off her. He winced.

"Nothing you would be interested in." Katie grumbled before she flipped to a page that would suit her brother's taste. "Here, try to read this one. Read it out loud."

Stewart cautiously took the book off Katie's hands; his lips puckered in distaste His hands caressed her silky silhouette as he kissed her neck and toward her bare br-" He
instantaneously tossed her an exasperated look, appalled at her for even touching a novel like this and hanged it over the crackling fireplace. She rushed toward the book, not caring if she accidentally pushed him into the licking flames instead.

She clutched her novel tightly toward her chest.

"Just so you know," Stewart said. " I have much more dirty books than the one you're currently holding in your hands. You want me to get them for you?" He said, brushing his hair from his brows.

She rolled her eyes, knowing he had no such books in his possession. Stewart didn't read at all.

"There are boys out here in the real world who are just as charming as your book boyfriends. "
He said.

"Ha, ha, ha. Very funny." Katie replied dryly. "But I will stick to books where the plots are much more riveting than the time to your trip to Alaska." She held in a chuckle at the fond memory of Stewart's lame attempting to show how safe the ice lake was by walking on it. He ended up shivering for weeks.

Stewart sighed a melodramatic groan and ruffled up her chocolate hair before plopping on the seat next to her and splaying his legs on her lap. If she didn't love her older brother so much, she would've knocked him over the head for being a nuisance. But she only had her mom and brother to rely on as family now.

"But for real Katie, I think you need a boyfriend."

"Boys are a distraction. I need to focus on my studies and-"

"You will get a boyfriend when you're 90 then."

Katie rolled her eyes but a hidden smirk played on her lips. If she rolled her eyes every time he made an incompetent comment, her eyes would pop out. She didn't need a boyfriend.

"See, look at this heart." Stewart exclaimed as he snatched the worn paper heart she used as a bookmark. He folded it in half and lectured,
"You're heart is like this. Not whole...But! If you meet someone special they can fill your heart!" He opened the red paper heart again and looked at his sister with child-like awe.

The heart was given to her by the most extraordinary women she met-her 4th grade teacher. She didn't just teach division or that sometimes we need to take a worthy nap with cookies and milk, she taught eye-opening life lessons as well.

On valentine's day, she gave everyone a thumb-sized paper heart with a note attached reading,
"If your heart is not whole, find someone who can fix it with you."

Stewart folded the paper heart repeatedly like it had flapping wings.

"Hey, careful! It's paper! And you're wreaking the crease so it might rip in half!" Katie hissed before snatching the treasure and placing it in her pocket. If she put it back in her book, he might take it again.

If her actual beating heart wasn't entire, she was content with it. Why wouldn't she be?

"Hmmm..." Stewart hummed delightfully before snapping up and extending his hand out to her.
"Alright, I will make it up to you by getting you french fries, mi' lady." Now, she didn't want to pass up her favorite food.

Katie put her best English accent and said, "Of course, peasant. Take me to my carriage."

Her brother laughed but shook his head lightly.
"Oh don't worry, I can go myself. I'Il be back soon."

Before Katie could work up a debate, Stewart kissed her cheek and walked out as he called out,
"Love you!" The oak door clicked shut, ensconcing the room in silence.

Katie sat in silence. Sometimes she hated be alone in the house. Although she was 17 and fully capable of herself, the thought of someone invading her home was petrifying. What if she took a shower and had to fight the intruder naked? Oh hell no. Katie glanced at the window and raised a groom brow.

The clouds had taken a grey hue, bulleting the streets with water the size of quarters and hammering upon the windows. There had been incidents when the rain had gotten so severe that it slicked the road and resulted in horrendous accidents. A sudden thought barreled into her.

Would Stewart be okay?

Of course he would.

He was her brother. And because he was her brother, there would be no harm to him. He was smart, he was safe, he was Stewart.

After an hour, Katie set down the book, stretching with a satisfied emotion settling over her like soft velvet. She gazed outside the window but something seemed...off.

The grey clouds had now abruptly bordered on charcoal black and sparked up flames of lighting.
The rain had no longer sounded like soft drums but now frenzy cracks in the sky. The whole world looked as if it was consumed in grim mockery.

Katie hadn't noticed she plucked out her paper heart for comfort.

What she did notice was the sudden alert of her house phone ringing, urging her to pick up the phone.

She let the phone ring out as her hands played with the paper heart. Was it that dreadful to have a heart that wasn't complete? Katie folded the heart and noticed that it started to tear down the middle. One more fold and it could completely rip in half. Who would fill one's broken heart? She had her dear family, what else is there? A pet? A friend? A lover?

Before Katie could fix the tearing crimson paper heart with tape, the home phone speakered a voice mail. She looked up, her mouth shutting off air as if she wanted to be utterly silent.

"Hello to the resident of 2216 Village Park." The speaker sounded grim, almost filled with anguish. There was a pause.

"We are wretched to inform you of an accident that has occurred by Harper Highway." Another pause.

Katie's throat tightened as her brows knitted
together. What accident? What's by Harper Highway?

She stood up and walked to the phone; listening carefully to the phone as her fingers dug into her forearm. She didn't realize she was holding her breath till her lungs made her take a shallow painful breath. Who was by the Harper Highway?

Before her mind could tie up the scattered lose ends, the voice pierced her thoughts along with a deep startled thunder from outside.

"Stewart Lee Reman was announced dead at the sight of a car crash. We are deeply sorry for your lost."

The paper heart she held finally ripped apart in her frail hands. And as the sky cried, Katie cried with it.

(i know this is sooo sad but it will get better you guys, trust me)