Sibling Bond

Memories Of Mom

It was a chill sunny afternoon in mid-October in Anaheim California. Ashley a young typically vibrant girl was sitting in her room looking through an old family photo album. She and her older brother Austin had just been through one of the hardest times in their lives. Their beloved mother Lori had just passed away from a 2-year-long battle with breast cancer and their dad had completely without any warning walked out of their lives leaving Austin who was 23 and a young thriving actor to tend to his younger sister Ashley who was about to go back to her sophomore year of high school. As Ashley was sitting there crying Austin walked in and saw her. With a look of concern on his face, he slowly walked in and asked her. "What's wrong? Ashley then looked at him with tears streaming down her face and said. "I miss her. Austin then sat down next to her and said "I know I do too. As they were reminiscing Austin was reminded of the time he got them lost in Disneyland because he swore he could read the map.
Austin smiled as he looked at a photo of them at Disneyland. "Do you remember that day when I got us completely lost because I was convinced I knew how to read the map?"
Ashley laughed through her tears. "How could I forget? We wandered around for what felt like hours. Mom was trying so hard not to laugh at us."
"Yeah," Austin chuckled, "I was so sure we were going the right way. I think we ended up in the same spot three times."
"And then Mom found us," Ashley added, "and instead of being mad, she just laughed and said, 'Looks like we had our own little adventure.'"
"She always had a way of making everything better," Austin said, his voice softening. "Even when we were lost, she made it fun."
Ashley nodded, resting her head on his shoulder. "I miss her so much."
"Me too, Ash," Austin replied, giving her a comforting squeeze. "But we still have our memories, and we have each other." Austin then flipped through to another page there was a photo taken from when he had to be about 8 or 9. He and his mom decided instead of doing school work they would take the day off and go to Knotts Berry Farm.
Austin flipped through the photo album to another page, revealing a picture of him and his mom at Knott's Berry Farm. "Remember this? It was just Mom and me. We decided to skip a day of schoolwork and have a mother-son day."
Ashley smiled warmly at the photo. "I remember how Mom always made time for those special moments with each of us."
"Yeah," Austin nodded, fondly recalling the day. "It was one of those rare times when it was just the two of us. Mom said learning wasn't just about books; it was about experiencing life together."
"I bet she made it unforgettable," Ashley said softly.
"She did," Austin replied, his voice filled with nostalgia. "We rode every ride, ate boysenberry pies until we couldn't move, and she told me stories about when she was a kid. It was like we had our own little world for a day."
As they lingered over the photo, the memory of that day brought a mix of joy and longing. They cherished the moments their mom had carved out for them, knowing how much she loved them both. Austin then said while looking at another photo from that day. "This ride opened that very same day. We were so excited about it that we ended up riding it 7 times in a row. Each time more exhilarating than the last.
After reminiscing, Austin and Ashley exchanged a smile, silently acknowledging the warmth of the memories they had shared.
"You hungry?" Austin asked, breaking the quiet moment.
Ashley nodded, wiping a tear from her cheek. "Yeah, let's go grab something to eat."
They left the photo album on Ashley's bed and headed downstairs to the kitchen. As they prepared dinner together, the comforting routine of chopping vegetables and setting the table eased the lingering ache of their memories.
"Did you finish that history project?" Austin asked, breaking the silence again.
Ashley nodded, suddenly feeling the weight of the schoolwork she had procrastinated on.After dinner, Austin offered to help Ashley with her history project.
"Need a hand with that project?" Austin asked, giving her a reassuring smile.
Ashley nodded gratefully. "Yeah, I could use some help. Thanks, Austin."
They gathered around Ashley's laptop in the cozy living room, textbooks and notes spread out before them. Austin patiently explained historical events and helped Ashley organize her thoughts into coherent paragraphs. Despite the solemnity of their earlier conversation, their banter and shared determination to finish the project lightened the atmosphere.
"You're actually good at this," Ashley teased, nudging Austin playfully.
"Hey, I've got some hidden talents," Austin replied with a grin.
After they finished the project, they cleaned up the study materials and prepared for bed. The house settled into a quiet hum as they brushed their teeth and changed into comfortable pajamas.
As they climbed into bed, (they shared a room) Ashley turned to Austin with a soft smile. "Thanks for helping me tonight. I really appreciate it."
"Anytime, Ash," Austin replied, adjusting his pillow. "We're a team, remember?"
They exchanged a knowing look, their bond strengthened by the day's shared memories and support. With a final goodnight, they settled into a peaceful sleep, ready to face whatever tomorrow might bring together.