Disjointed Heart

Chapter Twenty Five

It would be lying to say that Chester hadn't envisioned this moment a million of times, especially when he was in the clinic. Except his sister waking up, what had been replaying the most in his mind was the moment the fire had started, but he was saving her. Every. Time.

She would have never fallen into a coma, hell, the fire would have never started if he had been more careful.

How many times had he told himself that he was the stupidest person in the whole world, how many times had he gone down the guilt road, knowing that he was a failure as a human being.

How many times had he wished someone would call him to say that Amber was awake.

And now... now, it was for real. Not a dream, not a fantasy.

He walked behind his mother into the room and looked up to see his sister staring out the window as her long brown hair fell behind her back. She looked calm, rested. He felt tears well up in his eyes instantly and a breath escaped his throat.

She heard him and looked toward him, and as soon as her beautiful green eyes laid on him, Chester broke down, sobbing again. His mom took his hand before she squeezed it, as she led his son toward the bed where his sister was sitting down.

She stared at him for a while as they both said nothing, while Chester kept crying, tears spilling on his cheeks, and then, a grin appeared on her sister's face.

"Hey, weirdo."

Chester couldn't help but laugh at that, it was the nickname he used to call her to tease her before the incident. He let go of his mother's hand as he went closer to Amber before he sat down next to her so he could hug her close to him. A conflict of emotions ran through his head, but now he wanted to know that this wasn't a dream, that she was awake, and well.

He kissed her forehead before he took a deep breath. "I've missed you."

Amber only smiled and reached her hand to ruffle her brother's hair. "Blonde looks good on you." Chester chuckled and sniffed. Amber hadn't changed a bit. Except for her hair, that was longer, her voice, that was deeper and her kid's features, that had turned into a woman's features. But her eyes were still the same, her playful self was still the same and Chester could recall exactly how she looked and exactly how she sounded.

He had so much to say to her but he couldn't utter a word. "A cat got your tongue?" Amber joked as she dropped her hand to the bed.

"I... there's just so much to say but... no words to express my thoughts." The blonde explained and Amber nodded.

"Well, just start at the beginning I guess? You've changed a lot, Ches. You look handsome." She joked and poked his chest.

With a blush, Chester thanked her, "You didn't... you look the exact same little brat as before." Chester chuckled as he allowed himself to have a little fun. "I don't want this to turn into a sad moment but... I just need to say that... I'm so fucking sorry, Amber. I'm sorry for having ruined your life, for being such an irresponsible person and for being an awful brother. I know that my apologies will not bring back the time you lost here..." he choked out as more tears spilled out of his eyes. "But it's all I have to offer. It's all I can say... I'm sorry. If I had never gone out. If I had been faster to get you out of your room... I think about that every fucking day and I can't stop it. I am sorry, Amber." He sobbed and put his head down on the bed. His mother watched from the corner of the room with tears in her eyes at seeing how badly that accident had damaged her son psychologically.

"Ches... I've never blamed you, ever. And I still don't. I'm just glad that I'm alive and got to see your pretty face again. That's what matters. What's in the past's in the past. If you wanna hear that I forgive you, then listen, I forgive you, without a doubt, without thinking twice. You're my big brother... and the best one, just please, don't say that, don't blame yourself for something that's not your fault. I know you'd never want that to happen, but now, I'm okay. You're okay. We are okay and together again." She said as she passed her fingers through Chester's soft curls.