a little death ➴ ᵏᵃᵗᵉ ᵇⁱˢʰᵒᵖ

𝟶𝟿

➴

Kate turned to Remy, "You don't talk a lot," she remarked from the passenger seat.

"What?" Remy responded, her focus on the snow-dusted road ahead.

Kate had taken Remy up on an invitation to visit family for Christmas. The two were about ten minutes into a thirty-five-minute drive out of the city.

"You don't talk about yourself; You're quiet," Kate elaborated. "You listen, but you don't talk."

"Uh-huh."

"Have you always been like that?"

Remy drove cautiously, glancing at Kate with a quiet grin.

Kate settled under her small blanket. "I just mean, like, you don't tell me about yourself. You're taking me to your brother's house, who you've never mentioned until now."

"What do you want to know about me?"

"I'm not interrogating you." Kate laughed in defense. "I like you, Remy. I want to know you."

Remy's hands tightened nervously on the steering wheel. "My brother, Will— he and his wife raised me," she began. "They adopted me when I was seven."

Kate, pleased that Remy was opening up, gave a warm smile.

"I have a nephew, Theo. He's ten. He'll like you," Remy continued, glancing at the dashboard clock, which read 11:06 AM. "Will's dad, Don— He's an asshole— has two little girls, fourteen and seven." She paused, "I haven't seen them since the snap, everyone but Will and Laura."

"You and your brother close?"

"Yeah," Remy replied. "He disappeared in the blip too. I've seen him since he snapped back, though. 'Ts just been a while."

"I'm sorry," Kate offered.

"No," Remy insisted, "it, uh, it's good to talk about it."

"So, what's Don's problem?"

Remy gave a bitter laugh. "He left my mother— Left Will."

"Will I get to meet your mom?"

➴

"Remmy!" Theo yelled, catching Remy in a tight embrace.

"You're so tall!" Remy giggled.

"Is that for me?" The child asked, eyes fixed on a box wrapped in shiny green paper.

"It might be," Remy shrugged.

The house was modest but cozy, adorned with twinkling lights and a beautifully decorated tree standing tall in the corner. Kate glanced around excitedly.

"Ramona," a man called out in a deep, gruff voice. "It's great to see you. We were just starting lunch."

"Don, hi," said Remy, "This is Kate. Kate, this is Don, my stepdad."

"Hello," Kate waved with a grin.

"This one," Remy teased, "Is Theo."

Lucky raced through the door, tail wagging excitedly at the unfamiliar atmosphere.

"Who's this little guy?" Will called out, dropping to his knees to greet their furry guest.

"Will, Laura, hi," Remy said, greeting her sister-in-law in a warm embrace. "This is my friend, Kate."

"Hi," Kate waved.

"Kate, my brother Will," she introduced, "His wife, Laura."

Remy moved, placing a few small boxes carefully under the tree as Kate followed.

"Well, serve yourselves," Laura welcomed, "Lunch is ready."

Kate smiled warmly as the family fled to the kitchen. "Ramona?" She teased.