Forgotten Souls

Chapter 18: HI There, Sister.

“Good morning Braydon.”

I looked up and smiled at her. Today will be a good day, I decided.

“Good morning Zeya, have some breakfast and then we can head off to get you whatever you need to start painting again. I wanted to ask you where you are staying and if you need a place to crash.”

“Actually Braydon, yes I am going to need a place to stay. My aunt called me last night and said that I’m old enough to be on my own now so she wants me to move out by tonight. She is the boss you spoke to yesterday, by the way. She only took me in because she had to after my mom passed, so yeah I’m actually going to need a place to crash but don’t worry I’ll figure something out.”

“Nonsense Zeya, you can stay here. You already have a room and there’s more than enough space for you here. We will get your things after we went to my parents. I just need to find something out and I was thinking maybe you can join me?”

“Yeah sure. Thank you Braydon. I can never repay you for everything you’ve done for me in the time span of  these two days.”

“It’s no problem Zeya, go get ready then we should get going. I’ll clean up quickly.”

When she left to her room I tidied up the kitchen and got my phone and car keys ready. I quickly texted my mom to see if they were home and when they confirmed that they were, I noticed Zeya emerging from her room.

As we drove to my parents’ house, I explained to Zeya that I wanted to know if there’s any possibility that she could be my sister. She was scared at first, but after I reassured her, she agreed. We needed to know if she was my sister or not, because it sure did feel like it.

I parked the car and before we got out I told Zeya, “No matter what happens today, you are staying with me and I will look after you as if you are my sister, even if it turns out that you’re not alright?”

She simply nodded and then we walked to the front door. My mom greeted me happily, but when she saw Zeya, I saw the smile on her face turn into confusion. She was probably thinking I have already moved on from Zaylee.. As if. I don’t think that will ever happen.

“Hello mother, this is my friend Zeya. I met her yesterday. I wanted to speak to you and dad for a second then we’ll be on our way again mom, I just need to find something out real quick.”

“It’s nice to meet you Zeya, I am Laura, Braydon’s mother. Come in, your dad is out back Brady.”

We walked through the house to the back where my dad was watering the plants. He too greeted me happily, however when he saw Zeya, the smile fell from his face almost immediately. I faintly heard him mutter, “It can’t be..”

“Hi dad, this is Zeya, my friend. We want to ask you and mom something before we are heading off again. We have a lot to do today, but this is just important.”

“No need son, I know what you want to ask. Let’s sit down alright?”

The four of us went to sit down on the benches on the porch. There was a long silence before dad finally started speaking again. He had a weary look on his face, but mom held his hand tightly, reassuring him to tell us what the two of us already figured out.

“Braydon.. 3 years after you were born, your mom and I experienced some marital problems. Neither of us were happy anymore, but we didn’t want to have you grow up in a broken home so we stayed together. One night after work, my secretary came into my office, comforting me about your mom and my situation. One thing led to another and 9 months later.. she gave birth to a baby girl.. my baby girl.

Your mom knew about this. She wanted me to have a relationship with my daughter, but when went to see my secretary at her home, I heard that she had moved over night and that no one knew where she went. She left me with only the name of my baby. Zeya. I thought I’d never see my girl again. I searched for her for so long, but after about 10 years of searching, I gave up.

I wanted to know my baby girl, but I never got the chance. Braydon.. Zeya is your sister.”

Both Zeya and I stared at my dad with eyes like saucers and mouths hanging open. She really was my sister. It wasn’t some weird connection we had. We actually had a connection because we are related. I have a sister that I didn’t know of. My sister was suffering while I was having a great life. It’s not fair, but from now on I will make it up to her.

We ended up spending the rest of the day with our dad and my mom. My mom wanted us to bond with my dad, but we didn’t want her to leave. Zeya wanted her to be her mother too. She told dad about her mother’s passing from cancer and how we met. The entire day was spent catching up on lost time.

The next day, Zeya and I went to get her painting supplies. We started looking at some schools for her that she could attend full time once she felt she was ready and when we were done, we went to a pizza place and shared a pizza, celebrating our new news.

I finally felt that maybe, I didn’t have to be alone anymore. I had another sibling now, someone who understood me from the moment she met me. Someone who allowed me to cry over Zaylee and all of my mistakes.

Over the next week, we started looking at apartments. We needed something bigger for the two of us so that she could have a spare room for her painting. We ended up looking at the apartment where Zaylee stayed. At first I was afraid to move into that apartment. It was a lot bigger than my current one, but I was also scared that I would miss her more.

Zeya ended up convincing me that it might be a good thing for me to do to feel closer to Zaylee, and since the apartment was on my name already, I agreed. We moved in on Saturday morning early and spent the rest of the day unpacking everything we had. I hung Zaylee’s painting above my bed and placed her photo next to my bed, where it belonged.

Zeya understood that it was tough at first being in the apartment again, so she decided to cook something special for the two of us. We didn’t talk much. We didn’t have to. She understood my silence almost better than I did myself. After supper she told me to go and take a relaxing bath while she cleans up the kitchen. I wanted to protest, but I couldn’t find the energy to do so.

Time flew faster than I thought it would. Days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months. By the end of a whole year and a half, I had fallen into a comfortable routine with Zeya. She started studying at a prestige art school. She was doing better than I ever though possible. She was truly talented in art and I am so glad that I gave her the opportunity to further her hobby.

I’ve been keeping myself busy with preaching the gospel to whoever would want to listen. About 18 people was converted since I became a Christian and it felt great. I was still donating to charity causes, but I also started a new project with my sister. We started an orphanage together and has some of the widows in the congregation take care of the children. It kept the widows happy, and gave the children someone to love.

It’s been two years since Zaylee and I broke up. I stopped keeping tabs on her facility. Zeya took over in that and she didn’t tell me anything about Zaylee. It still hurt too much being without her, so I distracted myself from thinking about her. I was doing perfectly fine, but when night time came, that’s when the pain of missing her would settle in. I still dream about her every single night. That, unfortunately didn’t change.  

I tried to move on from Zaylee.. I really did. I tried getting to know other girls, but no one was able to hold a candle to my baby girl, so eventually I just gave up trying. I couldn’t feel what I felt for Zaylee for anyone. My love for her ran too deep and so instead, I focused all of my time on my family and on God and spreading is word.