Even Angels get hurt

Chapter 19: Stay

The days had passed. It would soon be two weeks since Kyle had been shot. And in two weeks, Irene's life had changed as much as it had for the past two years. And that was... a lot of change.

The first week had started by discovering that two of her roommates had told Claire about all her moves. And one of them had shot Kyle. And then, she found out the secret of her birth, understood that the woman who she had lived with for her whole life was the mother of her ex-best friend, whom she had protected by using her company to break the life of anyone who might have hurt her. And that, including alienating Irene's real brother, obliterating the death of her fiancé, and orchestrating the rape of her future sister-in-law, all while using a shell company intended to sell drugs. And she had discovered that in two weeks.

How was she supposed to process that? Anyone else wouldn't have. She had. Because for years, she had known this moment would happen. The moment where she found out her whole life was based on lies.

But surprisingly, those revelations didn't break her. And that's not because she already was, but because if there had been one thing that the past years had taught her, even the hard way, it was that the person she was didn't dependent on others. She was who she was living as. She was the only one who could make mistakes in her life: Claire's mistakes weren't hers, nor were Kyle's. And mopping on the past wouldn't bring her a future. So now, the period of mourning was over. She had to make the ones who were gone proud of what she had become. They were gone, but she remained. And she was carrying a piece of her. She had to live. For them, for her.

And now, she was there, sitting on her brother's bedside, holding his hand as she was listening to the sound of the machine that kept him alive mixed to the one of his breath, and talking to him.

-You know, Kyle, I thought about what you said. Yeah, I did have changed. But it's not betraying the little me. It's just... that I've grown up. And I am proud that I did. You know, the little me thought I wouldn't be able to grow up. The little me thought I would have passed before I could drive, before I could drink or smoke legally. And now, I'm about to fly to Harvard to go to uni and study psychology. As the little me thought she couldn't even dream about it. But now, I am doing it.

And you know, I... I'm changing my name. I first wanted to take our mother's surname.

The "our" had come out so naturally.

-But now I... I changed my mind. In a few, I will officially be Iris Loather. I've changed, but still, I am proud of my past, I'm proud of what we want trough. But now, it's our turn. Our turn to shine, our turn to do what we're good at, our turn to live. And to finally be proud of us. The us of the present. Because I am proud of me, you know. I can finally say it.

-I'm also proud of you...

Irene wasn't sure if she had dreamt of this whisper or if her brother had truly muttered it, until she saw a light come to life in his bright, lively, vivacious and smart gaze. And then, she saw his hand, slowly grabbing hers, before feeling the contact of his skin.

-Kyle, she muttered slowly... My brother...

-Hi, Reine... Or should I say, Iris?

-I will always be your sister, and your Reine... After all, "time flies, but blood remains"...

-Reine, you... you... know?

-You've always known, hadn't you?

-Yeah, he muttered. I'm so sorry...

-Don't be... It doesn't matter... my brother...

Kyle pulled her in, and she slowly lied down on him, gently putting her head on his chest...

The nurses had found them wrapped like that. After a quick check, they had concluded that Kyle's awakening, as miraculous as it could seem, didn't assure his healing.

-Maybe I won't ever walk again, will I?

Irene nodded, looking down. She knew what not walking meant for Kyle. No more karate, no more driving planes...

-There is still a possibility that...

-I know. It's fifty fifty, isn't it?

-Well, more...

-Seventy thirty, isn't it? Like... a really small chance for me to walk again.

-I'm afraid that... that...

He slowly put his hands on her face, and gently he lifted it. His glaze in hers, and hers in his.

-I will survive. And more, I will live. I will live, Reine. And that's the most important thing, my sister. Let's live together. No matter what the future will bring to us, we will fight it together. As before. Let's live, my sister. Let's live our lives, Iris.

She gently lifted her hand to her hair, and ran it through her curls, all smiles.

-I love you, my brother.

A smirk on his lips, he patted her and muttered:

-I love you my sister.