Gina shouldered her cotton bag, looking round once at the room that held so many memories; thoughts that should definitely not be recalled now if this was going to be a smooth exit. She looked in the mirror, a pair of green eyes stared back at her. Those eyes drifted to the letter and one photograph on her rickety desk; four people, smiling happily back at her. Gina felt an all too familiar prickling sensation in her eyes and angrily wiped away at the tears that threatened to make an unwanted appearance. She had promised that she would not cry. This wasn’t for her benefit, it was for theirs.
Spinning on her heel, she slipped quietly through the aging door, expertly navigating around it so it would not make a horrendous squeak, and glided down the stairs, tiptoeing towards the front door, pausing for a second to look back. She wished she hadn’t. The tears came then, pouring down her face. Sobs escaped her and she clamped a hand over her mouth. But it was too late. A door creaked open and the sound of footsteps came clumping down the stairs. A pair of brown eyes and a tuft of blond hair peeked around the banister, a surprised and devastated look appearing on her fourteen year old brother’s face as he spotted her.
“You were going to leave without saying goodbye, weren’t you?” he challenged. Gina didn’t answer. Her plan was not going as hoped.
“Mum would break with grief if she lost you too. “
Gina flushed with remorse and lowered her eyes from her brother’s gaze. “Ben, I couldn’t, because both you and I know that Mum would never understand, and then she would never agree to let me go! Please, let me do this. I’ve got to find out more about Dad’s death and to keep you both safe. “
“You can’t go like this! Mum would understand…“ Ben broke off lamely, for once recognising that his older sister was right.
Gina crossed the room and hugged him tightly. “Give Mum the letter that’s in my room. I love you.”
Ben’s voice was muffled, gruff with emotion. “Love you too. Stay safe. We can’t lose you now.”
Gina broke away and brushed away her tears, voice breaking, “I’ll come back, I promise.” She moved towards the door then paused and turned, determined. “I’m stubborn like that.”
