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Chapter 11

Three days later, I found myself consumed by nerves, the familiar weight of uncertainty pressing down on my chest. I had agreed to meet my brothers, but the unknown of it all made my heart race.

Noah was by my side, quietly reassuring, as we made our way to a small café in the city center a place where I could feel comfortable, somewhere neutral.

When we arrived, my eyes swept the room, and my heart skipped a beat as I spotted two familiar figures by the window. It was Orion and Felis.

I relaxed slightly, relieved to see that it was just the two of them.

As I approached, Orion and Felis stood, both visibly nervous, their hands fidgeting as they watched me come closer. I felt a wave of mixed emotions these were my brothers, yet in so many ways, they felt like strangers.

Taking a deep breath, I glanced at Noah beside me. He gave me an encouraging nod, grounding me.

“Hi,” I managed, my voice soft but steady as I took a seat. Orion and Felis returned my greeting, their voices barely above a whisper.

Orion broke the silence first, clearing his throat. “Estella… thank you for coming. We didn’t want to overwhelm you, so it’s just us today.”

Felis nodded, sincerity etched on his face. “The others wanted to be here, but we thought it would be better to start small. We don’t want to make this harder for you.”

I appreciated their consideration. Taking another deep breath, I looked down at my hands for a moment before meeting their gazes. “I… I need to understand. Why did you all just leave? Why did you think I’d be better off without you?”

Felis’s face softened, regret evident in his eyes. “We were young and didn’t know how to handle what was happening in our own lives and with our mother."

A surge of emotion washed over me pain, anger, and something like relief at finally hearing an answer, even if it didn’t erase the hurt.

Noah gently squeezed my shoulder, grounding me as I spoke. “But I needed you. I spent years wondering if I had done something wrong, if I wasn’t worth staying for.”

Orion’s eyes filled with remorse. “I know, and we can never undo that. I don’t expect you to forgive us today, or even soon. But I’m hoping… maybe we can start to rebuild. Slowly. However you want.”

I paused, looking at my two brothers. I saw both their regret and their genuine hope for a chance to make things right. For the first time, I allowed myself to imagine a future with them in my life again.

“I’m open to trying,” I said quietly, feeling the weight of my words. “I don’t know what that looks like yet, but… I’m willing to see.”

A faint smile crossed Felis’s face, and Orion nodded, relief softening his expression.

As Noah and I left the café, I felt a strange, cautious sense of relief. It wasn’t a perfect ending, but it was a beginning a chance to start healing, in my own way, on my own terms.