Echoes of the Silent Realm

Chapter 36: times passage 

**Chapter 36: Time's Passage**

As the years went on, the new baby, named Alicia, turned three, and Aaly was now sixteen. The house was filled with the sounds of Alicia's laughter and tiny footsteps, a constant reminder of the new chapter that had started when she was born. Alicia had become the heart of the family in her own way—her bright eyes and boundless energy brought joy to the house, especially to Jason and Kelsey, who doted on her every move.

But for Aaly, things hadn't been as simple. Sixteen brought its own challenges. The gap between her and Alicia felt like a chasm sometimes, with Aaly caught between wanting to be a part of Alicia's world but also feeling like an outsider looking in. It wasn't that she didn't love her little sister—Alicia was sweet, full of life, and adored Aaly. But the nagging feeling of something *different* had never quite gone away.

On her sixteenth birthday, the family had thrown her a small party. Alicia had toddled over to Aaly, proudly offering a crayon-scrawled card with shaky letters that spelled out "SIS." Aaly had smiled, her heart warming at the sight, but there was still that quiet voice in the back of her mind, wondering how things would've been if life had turned out differently.

Now, as Aaly sat at the kitchen table, her textbooks scattered in front of her, she watched Alicia playing with a stack of building blocks in the living room. Alicia's golden curls bounced as she laughed, knocking the tower over with a dramatic giggle.

"Look, Aaly!" Alicia called out, beaming up at her with those wide, innocent eyes. "I made a castle!"

Aaly smiled softly. "That's great, Alicia. You're getting really good at that."

The little girl grinned and went back to her game, completely content in her world of make-believe. Aaly's gaze lingered on her for a moment, before she sighed and turned back to her books, trying to focus on her homework. But it was hard. Hard to focus, hard to feel grounded, hard to shake the sense that she was drifting, especially with so much changing around her.

Luke had left for college a few months ago, and without him there, the house had felt quieter in a way that unnerved her. Isaac was still Isaac—full of energy and joy, but he was growing up too. He was twelve now, and even though he adored Alicia, Aaly could tell he felt the same growing distance that she did.

The front door creaked open, and Jason stepped in, followed closely by Kelsey, who was balancing a few grocery bags in her arms. "Hey, Aaly," Kelsey said, offering her a tired but warm smile. "How's the homework going?"

"It's going," Aaly muttered, flipping a page in her notebook without much interest.

Jason glanced at her, sensing something was off. "Everything okay?"

Aaly shrugged, trying to mask her feelings. "Yeah, just a lot on my mind."

Jason exchanged a look with Kelsey before setting the grocery bags down and walking over to Aaly. "You know, if something's bothering you, you can always talk to us."

She nodded but didn't say anything. Talking about what was bothering her felt complicated. She couldn't quite explain the mix of emotions that came with watching Alicia grow up in the same house, with the same parents, but still feeling like she was standing on the outside of something.

Later that night, after Alicia had been tucked into bed, and the house had settled into a soft hum of quiet, Aaly found herself wandering outside to the backyard. The cool night air was refreshing, and she sat down on the porch steps, staring out at the trees that bordered their yard.

"Hey," a voice called from behind her.

She turned to see Kelsey standing in the doorway, her arms folded across her chest. "Mind if I join you?"

Aaly shook her head, and Kelsey sat down beside her. For a while, neither of them spoke. The night was peaceful, with only the faint sound of crickets in the distance.

"I know things have been... different since Alicia was born," Kelsey finally said, her voice gentle.

Aaly stared down at her hands, feeling the weight of the words. "It's just... hard sometimes. I love her, I really do. But it's not like she's... you know, *my* sister the way I thought I'd have one."

Kelsey nodded, understanding flashing in her eyes. "I get it, Aaly. I really do. It's complicated, having a blended family. But just because things didn't turn out the way you imagined doesn't mean they're any less important. Alicia looks up to you, you know? You're her big sister, no matter how things started."

Aaly sighed. "I guess. It's just hard to feel like I fit in, sometimes."

Kelsey put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You do fit in, Aaly. You always have. It just takes time to figure out how. We're all still learning how to be a family, but we love you—and Alicia loves you. You're an important part of her life, whether you see it or not."

Aaly nodded slowly, the words sinking in. It wasn't easy, but maybe Kelsey was right. Maybe it wasn't about how things were supposed to be, but about finding a new way to be a family—a way that included Alicia, even if it felt different from what Aaly had once imagined.

For the first time in a while, Aaly let herself relax, allowing the night to wash over her, the weight of her thoughts lightening just a little. Tomorrow would be another day, and maybe, just maybe, she could start figuring out how to bridge the gap between herself and her little sister.