Tent City

Chapter 23 - Kelsie

Andy and I held each other, we were both hurting, but that night, 5 minutes past midnight on Ben's birthday, Andy told me she loved me, and I told her the same.

It was a bitter-sweet feeling, resting my chin in amongst Andy's black hair. I was still hurting from seeing Andy kiss another woman, but then I felt relief because there was no longer any doubt in my mind that Andy loved me. After all, she chose me over the other woman, told me that she loved me, and I believed her.

I held her in my arms as she told me that Marcie was an ex-girlfriend that she dated for a  few years. She told me that their relationship did not lack passion. However, it ended on mutual terms as they agreed that they were bad for each other. Their relationship was borderline toxic.

As the tears fell down her face, and the sobs wracked her body, she told me more about her past life. She painfully recounted the innocent people, people exactly like Ben and I, that she killed to protect the bunker and the soldiers under her protection.

It was a shock for me to hear so much of Andy's past, but from what she told me, she didn't take pleasure in killing those people, in fact she remembered every one if their faces, she did it out if necessity. She never killed for fun or just because she could. I understood why she did those things, and I felt nothing but empathy and sadness for her.

I comforted her the best I could and whispered words of love and encouragement in her ears as I held her close.

"I'd probably do the same as you did in those situations. I'd kill, even innocents, to protect you or Ben. You did what you had to do, and I applaud your courage and bravery.

You're not a bad person, Andy. Please, even when the ghosts haunt your dreams at night, remember, if you were a bad person, Ben and I would not love you like we do and this bunker, our home would probably not exist now, it be empty and going to waste.

On hearing those words, I could tell that a huge weight had lifted off Andy's shoulders. We kissed and hugged. We had been hugging and just enjoying each others company for a while before I suddenly realized that Ben was still in the hallway. 

"Shit! Andy! Ben is still in the hallway."  

Within seconds of me saying this, Andy shot up from my bed, and we both rushed to the door. Before it was fully opened, we squeezed our way out, only to find Ben, curled up and sleeping on the floor. I felt extremely guilty for forgetting about him, I didn't want to wake him, but I had to apologize. So I knelt down beside him and gently shook him awake while Andy stood next to me. Ben stirred, and his eyes fluttered open. He smiled and groggily whispered,

"Hi Big Sis, can I come inside now?"

"Yes, my little man. You can come inside now, and Happy Birthday." I whispered in reply. 

Ben sat up and reached his arms around my neck and kissed my cheek.

"Okay." There was a slight pause as he looked over to Andy, 

"Are you and Andy having a sleepover?" he asked innocently. I couldn't help but chuckle to myself,

"Yes, if that's okay with you, little man?" 

Ben's eyes lit up, and he nodded enthusiastically. 

"Yep, big Sis, It's okay." 

"Alright, little bro, you wanna come inside, and I'll tuck you into bed. You've got to get some sleep as you've a lot to do today." I said, encouraging him to stand up. 

He stood up and held my hand as I led him into the room, while Andy picked up his pencils and followed us inside.  

I settled Ben and read him a book that he'd borrowed from the library while Andy watched me from my bed. My face flushed as I felt her eyes linger on me, I struggled to concentrate on reading the book, but even though my face felt hot, and my eyes seemed to always wander over to my bed, I finished the book with no issues. Ben thanked me for reading to him, and he rolled over, quickly followed by soft snores. It was a relief to see him fall asleep so easily.