History Rewritten

Chapter 1: The Civil War

I woke at noon.

"Aahhhh," I sighed as I stretched. It was finally Spring Break, and I could finally relax.

I ran to the living room and saw mom watching TV, a little girl, maybe nine, nestled in her lap, asleep. I had never seen her before; she looked like a younger version of me, with the same red hair, but she wasn't bone pale like I was. "Are you babysitting for the neighbors again?" I asked. I sat down next to her. "You know you don't have to do that right? It's your week off! You deserve to relax."

Mom looked at me. God, she looked just like Brian. The same strawberry blonde hair, but she had hazel eyes that changed color like the weather. Today they were blue; like his. But, her features were softer, kinder, more caring. I was glad me and Brian were back to being friends. I would never tell a single soul, but I missed him. I really don't think I could ever love him again though. At least, not in the way that I did.

"Amy," she said slowly, "I'd like you to meet Cora." She gestured to the little girl in her lap. "You know how you always wanted a little sibling?"

I nodded, remembering my complaints that I didn't have a little brother or sister to take care of.

"And you know how I've been working 24/7?" She asked.

I nodded again.

"Well, I volunteered at the orphanage for work, and Cora just store my heart. So, I worked up the money, and went down to the orphanage this morning and adopted her," she smiled.

I looked again to the little girl in her lap. "I-I have a little sister?" I stammered.

She the corners of her eyes crinkled in delight. She's hooked Cora lightly. "Sweetheart, get up. I want you to meet Amy."

Her eyes fluttered open. She had the same starry blue eyes as me. "Hi Amy," she said in her sweet little girl's voice. "Is this my sister, Una?" She asked my mom.

She nodded. "Come on!" She said turning the TV off. "Let's have some family bonding time."

...

I threw on a hoodie and we took Mom's car to the nearest aquarium to get to know each other better. "Can we go look at the sea horses?" Cora asked my mom.

I had been to that exhibit a thousand times. It was my favorite when I was her age. "No, let's do something different this time!" I suggested. "Let's go look at the sea turtles!" I had never been there before.

"Okay!" Mom agreed. She took my hand, Cora trailing closely behind. I fawned over the turtles. I gestured for Cora to come over to me. "Read these plaques Cora!" I said, excited.

She screwed up her face. "I can't read it. We learned at the orphanage, but I was never really good at it. I just want to look at the turtles," she said, taking pictures with Mom's phone.

"No, let me teach you!" I insisted. I loved to read, and I wanted Cora to know how.

"No, just let me take pictures."

I hesitated. "Okay," I said grudgingly.

I spotted a sign for ice cream. "Let's get ice cream!" I told Mom.

"I just want to look at the sea horses," Cora said, biting her nail.

"Come on," I urged. "It's good!"