STOLEN SMILE [ GXG ]

CATERINA

  "If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain."

-Emily Dickinson

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THE WHISKEY WAS A MEMORY of warmth in my stomach as I sat on my haunches before my sister's TV stand. "Fright Night, Evil Dead, or Night of the Living Dead?" I placed the movies on my lap and waited for a response.

Audrey's muffled words sounded from the bed. "Sixteen Candles."

My eyes widened. "Sixteen Candles?" "Mmhmm."

This was bad. Very bad.

"You're absolutely sure?"

A sigh. "Yes, Caterina."

"Okay... let me go get it."

I eyed my sister like she'd grown two more heads as I headed out of the room. However, she only looked drunk and tired, covered by a Star Wars blanket.

I returned from my room a moment later, popped the DVD in, and climbed into bed next to her. Stealing half the blanket, I pulled it over the dress I didn't have the energy to change. Soft light flashed from the TV in the dark room as we watched the movie in silence.

"Caterina?" Her voice was quiet.

"Yeah?"

"What do you think of Jenn?"

I hesitated.

"I'm not sure," I finally responded.

"I talked to her a bit tonight."

"You did?"

"Yeah. It wasn't so bad. She's a little rude, but I don't hate her."

I focused on the movie because I didn't know what to say. I was glad for my sister, that she found something to talk about with her However, my chest tightened in a strange way.

"Caterina?" she said softly, grabbing something off the nightstand.

"Yeah?"

She handed her cell phone to me without looking. "Please send it. I can't."

I took the phone and read the text already typed out to Samantha -well, that was the codename for Ryan. A simple "Goodbye" was all it said.

My throat constricted, but I pushed the little button that could change lives and break hearts with nothing but an electronic word. I did it for Ryan's sake, and wished I could go back and do the same for another's.

"Done," I whispered.

We lay side by side and watched a girl fall in love.

One of us already had, and the other knew she never would.