Our Reflection

19• Sweet Dreams

Toni Topaz POV

The house was not well maintained.

Although Sweet Pea's family was well organized, clean and meticulous, the residents did not seem to care about the property's condition.

I rolled down the car window to get a better view and was startled by not seeing the grass, which was always green, just like a few years ago.

I felt Veronica's hand on my thigh and we exchanged glances, I offered her a smile without much emotion and she nodded at me to get out of the car.

"What if they don't want to see me?"

"Who?"

"His parents."

"Toni, you were not to blame for what happened."

"But ...I should have stayed here and helped his family, they needed me and all I did was escape to Los Angeles."

"You were scared."

"I was a coward."

"Look, we are not going back to that same discussion, okay? I didn't travel six hours by plane, I rented a car and drove here aimlessly. You were only twenty when it happened and Sweet Pea was your strongest foundation, his parents must understand that it was too hard for you."

"Too hard for me?! What about them?! Sweet Pea was just my best friend, but the people who live in this house were his family and..."

"Sorry to interrupt your little show, but there is a girl at the front door and she is looking over here as if Ariana Grande were standing by outside her house."

I stopped talking and took a deep breath, turning to look at the girl with short dark hair.

Amélie was nine years old if my calculations didn't fail, it was Sweet Pea's greatest passion and the reason he worked two shifts from Monday to Monday.

Everything he did revolved around his sister, he said that if he didn't work to give her a better future, his parents wouldn't be able to because he was a very poor family.

Despite everything, the effort he made for so many years, he failed to keep his promise to help her ... but Amélie was here now, a few steps away from me and scared.

"Veronica..."

"Go on, Toni .. it's time to lose your fear and face his family. Remember, you did nothing wrong."

She kissed me on the cheek and ran her thumb over my face.

"I'm going to Midge's to get a bass, I'll be back to pick you up in two hours."

"Okay, anything I'll call you."

I took some air and got out of the car, lifting my glasses so that it was on top of my head.

I fit my hands in the back pocket of my jeans and walked slowly down the cement path that led to the front door.

The condition of the floor was unfortunate, completely broken in parts and with grass growing between the cracks.

It hurt my chest to see how they were living after their eldest son died, especially since Sweet Pea was the one who brought the most money into the house.

I took a few more steps and bent down to be about the height of Amélie, who began to analyze me carefully.

Her eyes were the same as her brother's, the way her thin fingers roamed my face, feeling for every trace of me to make sure I was the right person, after all, she was only four when Sweet Pea died and I moved away from Miami.