𝐄𝐃𝐆𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐅𝐀𝐈𝐓𝐇 | 𝓙𝓪𝓿𝓲𝓮𝓻 𝓟𝓮𝓷𝓪 |

~ 29 ~

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆ ｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆ ｡･:*:

The cab ride to the restaurant felt like it took hours, though it was only a short trip. My heart pounded in my chest, and my palms were clammy. I had left Javier behind at the apartment, giving him the freedom to focus on his work and visit his New York branch. I didn't want to force him into this emotional maelstrom that was about to unfold. Plus, part of me felt this was something I needed to face alone.

I hadn't seen my siblings, Olivia and Mark, in years. Olivia was 24, four years younger than me, and Mark, the youngest, was 22. My relationship with them had always been complicated. Growing up, we were close, but things changed when our parents divorced when I was twelve. My father abandoned us, leaving my mother to care for us—or so she claimed. In reality, I was the one who had to step up, taking on the role of a surrogate parent to my younger siblings. I loved them dearly, but it was a heavy burden for a twelve-year-old. I was forced to grow up too fast, acting as a mother while my own mother treated me more like a maid than a daughter. By the time I turned 22, after graduating college, I couldn't take it anymore and left for Los Angeles to build a life of my own. The guilt of leaving them behind, though, had never truly left me.

As the cab pulled up to the restaurant, I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. I stepped out, smoothed my white dress, and walked inside. The host greeted me with a warm smile.

"Good evening, ma'am. Do you have a reservation?"

"Yes," I replied, my voice trembling slightly. "Under the name Olivia."

"Right this way."

Following him through the elegant dining room, I felt a mix of dread and anticipation. I hadn't spoken much to Olivia and Mark since leaving home. Occasional texts and holiday cards, but nothing substantial. I felt like I had abandoned them, and the guilt weighed heavily on me.

The host led me to a table where Olivia and Mark were already seated. Olivia, with her chestnut hair and striking blue eyes, looked up and smiled nervously. Mark, the spitting image of our father with his dark hair and brown eyes, stood up awkwardly.

"Madison," Olivia said softly, her voice trembling with emotion.

I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes. "Hey, Liv. Hey, Mark."

We stood there for a moment, unsure of what to do. Then Olivia stepped forward and hugged me tightly. I hugged her back, feeling a wave of relief and sorrow wash over me. Mark joined in, and we stood there, a tangled mess of emotions.

After what felt like an eternity, we broke apart and sat down. I wiped my eyes and smiled at them. "It's so good to see you both."

"You too, Maddie," Olivia said, her voice still shaky. "It's been too long."

Mark nodded. "Yeah, way too long."

The waiter came over, and we ordered our meals. Once he left, an awkward silence settled over the table. I took a deep breath and decided to break the ice.

"So, how have you guys been? What have you been up to?"

Olivia smiled. "Well, I'm working as a graphic designer now. I love it. It's challenging but really rewarding."

"That's amazing, Liv. I'm so proud of you."

Mark cleared his throat. "I'm studying marketing. I just finished my junior year."

"Marketing, huh?" I said, genuinely impressed. "That's great, Mark. What made you choose that?"

He shrugged. "I've always been interested in business, and marketing seemed like a good fit."

I nodded, feeling a sense of pride mixed with guilt. They had grown up without me, and I had missed so much of their lives.

"What about you, Maddie?" Olivia asked, her eyes full of curiosity. "What have you been doing?"

I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. "I've been working as a lawyer. I specialize in corporate law and joined a new company."

"Wow," Olivia said, clearly impressed. "That's incredible."

The conversation flowed more easily after that. We talked about our jobs, our lives, and everything we had missed. It felt good to reconnect, but there was still an elephant in the room that needed to be addressed.

"Do you still live at Mom's house?" I asked cautiously, not wanting to upset them but needing to know.

Olivia exchanged a glance with Mark before answering. "No, we both moved out a couple of years ago. I have a small apartment on my own."

Mark nodded. "And I'm sharing a place with a couple of friends near campus. It’s cheaper that way."

I nodded, feeling a mix of relief and curiosity. "Where do you guys live now?"

"I’m in Williamsburg," Olivia replied. "It's a nice area, lots of creative people. Feels like a good fit for me."

Mark added, "I'm living in the dorms at NYU. It's convenient for classes and not too expensive."

"I'm glad to hear that," I said, genuinely relieved they were doing well on their own. "And what about...Mom and Dad?"

Olivia exchanged another look with Mark, and this time he spoke up. "Mom's still in the same house. We don't really see her much. She’s...well, you know how she is."

Olivia nodded. "Yeah, she’s still kind of bitter. Blames Dad for everything. And Dad...well, we don’t really talk to him. He’s off somewhere, doing his own thing."

A pang of sadness hit me. Our family had been broken for so long, and it seemed like it might never fully heal.

"Do you ever talk to Mom?" Mark asked, his tone curious but not accusatory.

"Not really," I admitted. "It’s complicated. Leaving was the hardest thing I ever did, but I needed to for my own sanity. It doesn't mean I don't think about you guys every day, though."

"We understand," Olivia said softly. "It wasn't easy for any of us, but we're here now."

I smiled, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. "Yeah, we're here now."

The rest of the meal passed in a blur of conversation and laughter. We shared stories, reminisced about the past, and talked about our hopes for the future. It was like a dam had broken, and all the pent-up emotions and unspoken words flowed freely.

As we finished our desserts, I felt a sense of peace that I hadn't felt in years. Reconnecting with Olivia and Mark was the first step toward healing the wounds of the past.

We stood up to leave, and Olivia hugged me again. "Don't be a stranger, okay? We missed you."

"I missed you too," I whispered, holding her tightly.

Mark hugged me next, his embrace strong and reassuring. "Take care of yourself, Maddie. And don't be a stranger."

"I won't," I promised, feeling a renewed sense of purpose.

As we left the restaurant, I felt a mix of emotions—relief, joy, and a lingering sadness for what could have been. But most of all, I felt hope. Hope that we could rebuild our relationships and create new memories together.

I took a deep breath of the cool evening air, feeling a sense of clarity. I had taken the first step toward healing, and I knew that with time, things would get better.

As I walked back to the apartment, I felt a sense of calm wash over me. Javier was right—I was stronger than I thought. And with him by my side, I knew I could face whatever challenges lay ahead.

For the first time in a long time, I felt truly at peace. I was ready to embrace the future and all the possibilities it held.

[To be continued...]