The Loneliest Stars

Chapter 2

For the second time in about 2 years, Natalia was gazing at the entirety of her life stuffed into two suitcases. She was getting quite adept at it too. She made a mental note to limit her purchases this year whilst she was away so the return trip would be as easier.

She was staying with her brother, she had put her two-bedroom flat up for rent and the new tenants had already moved in. An agency was going to take care of property management whilst she was away. Everything was coming together quite nicely. Now all she had to do was get on the flight.

"Are you all set and ready to go?" Her brother asked, popping his head around the door.

"Yeah." Natalia smiled back at him. Whilst they weren't the best of friends, her older brother was always there when she needed him. This time in the form of a place to stay and a ride to Heathrow.

Plus, it always depressing leaving home without anyone to say goodbye to. It always summoned a lump to her throat. She'd done it countless times when she worked abroad. She was glad that she had at least made up with some of her family. It had been a harrowing couple of years. She'd hoped she was over the worst of it.

She watched her brother load up his car, a sleek navy blue BMW with her suitcases. He was doing well for himself. Last year he had quit his job as a registrar doctor to take his health-tech startup to the next level. He was very modest about the whole thing but his name had been featured on Forbes, the Financial Times and the Economist several times.

"A cheeky Nando's before we get to the airport. what do you say?"

"I thought you'd never ask. Let's go."

They settled in the car. Natalia looked sideways at her brother and wondered if he'd give her the aux cord for the journey. They lived in the North West of London about an hours drive - if traffic was moderate - from the airport - plenty of time to belt out her favourite tracks.

Her brother resembled her somewhat. They shared the same warm sepia-coloured skin tone and curly hair texture. His was cropped closely with a sharp shape-up, whilst hers fell to her shoulders in tight, multi-toned brown corkscrews. Their eyes had similar almond shapes. His was a dark brown and hers was a lighter tawny brown.

All of her family were tall, except Natalia. She came in at barely 5'5. Whilst her brother could eat what he pleased and never gain a pound, Natalia only had to imagine food and she was piling the stones on. Her saving grace being that she occasionally made time for the gym and ate healthily-ish. She wasn't happy with her body and curves but she was learning to love herself.

Ashley pulled into the parking lot of the multiplex shopping centre, that had a Nando's conveniently located inside. It was on the way to the airport just off the entrance to the main road, A406 also known as the North circular that connected much of North and South London.

Once they had ordered, and Ashley had done the obligatory sibling mickey-taking about her white-girl taste buds that couldn't tolerate anything spicier than mango-lime flavoured chicken, they sat down to eat.

"So, Natty - you're running away abroad again," Ashley commented coolly regarding her from downcast eyes.

"I know. I just -" Her throat constricted. "I don't know how to live here without him. I see him everywhere..."

"Natty, hear me now," Ashley started sternly, the patois twang in his accent becoming prominent. "What happened to Nick was not your fault."

"I know that logically...but he was my twin. I should have known something was wrong. I should have been there..." The tears poured, not even bothering to roll down her cheeks, they just splashed on the table like big fat sad droplets of rain.