desertion

167

LYDIA

I couldn't bring myself to move. The soft light from the window was too bright, even through the curtains, and every time I heard Dad's voice down the hall, telling me to get up, I curled further under the blankets.

"Lydia," Dad called again, knocking on my door. "You can't stay in bed all day. Come on, kiddo. Breakfast is ready."

I bit my lip, clutching the pillow tighter. My throat felt dry, my chest heavy. Yesterday had been good. Better than good, actually. Mason and I had gone to the diner, laughing over burgers and milkshakes. For a little while, everything had felt... normal.

But then I saw her.

She was sitting a few tables away, sipping coffee and scrolling on her phone. Her hair was darker than I remembered, but her face... her face was the same. Identical.

She looked exactly like my mom.

I squeezed my eyes shut, willing the image away. It couldn't be her. No one could be an exact copy of someone else. But the way she tilted her head, the curve of her smile... it was all too familiar.

"Lydia!" Dad's voice was sharper this time, pulling me from my thoughts.

"I'll be out in a minute!" I called back, my voice cracking.

The floor outside my room creaked as he walked away, and I sighed, forcing myself to sit up. My limbs felt heavy, like they were weighed down by the memories swirling in my mind.

For a brief second, I thought about heading to the station, pulling up the police database, and searching for answers. But I stayed where I was. I was always at the station, always working. I needed to be here today, at home.

Even if it felt impossible.

After dragging myself out of bed and throwing on a hoodie, I wandered down the hall to Chris's room. The door was open, and I could hear the familiar clicking of his laptop keys, the muffled sound effects from whatever game he was playing.

I leaned against the doorframe for a moment, watching him. His face was scrunched up in concentration, his fingers flying over the keyboard.

"Hey," I said softly, stepping inside.

Chris glanced at me briefly before returning to his game. "Hey."

I sat down on his bed, pulling my knees to my chest. The blankets smelled like laundry detergent, warm and familiar. I rested my chin on my knees, watching as he played.

He was good, better than I'd ever been at video games. His character darted across the screen, dodging attacks and taking down enemies with practiced precision.

When the match ended, Chris leaned back in his chair, finally noticing me. "What's up?"

I shrugged, offering him a small smile. "Nothing. Just wanted to hang out."

His brow furrowed slightly, like he was trying to figure out if I was being serious.

"Do you want to watch a movie or something?" I asked, my voice quieter than I intended.

Chris blinked, surprised, before nodding. "Yeah. Sure."

I smiled again, this time a little wider. "Cool."

He stood up, closing his laptop, and followed me to the living room. The couch was piled with blankets, and I grabbed a few, tossing one to him as we settled in.

"What are we watching?" he asked, flipping through the streaming options.

"Your pick," I said, curling up under the blanket.

He settled on an action movie, one I hadn't seen in years. As the opening credits rolled, I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye. He was already engrossed, his attention fixed on the screen.

For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt a little lighter. Sitting here with Chris, wrapped in blankets and sharing popcorn, I realized how much I'd missed this.

I'd missed him. My little brother.

The movie played on, and I found myself laughing at the ridiculous stunts and over-the-top dialogue. Chris laughed too, nudging me every now and then when something especially absurd happened.

By the time the credits rolled, I felt more like myself than I had all morning.

"Thanks," I said softly as Chris started picking up the empty bowls and cups from the coffee table.

He looked at me, confused. "For what?"

"For this," I said, gesturing to the couch. "For hanging out."

Chris shrugged, a small smile tugging at his lips. "You're welcome, I guess. It's not like I had anything better to do."

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't stop smiling.

For now, the questions about the woman at the diner could wait. Right here, with my little brother, was exactly where I needed to be.