The one to remember

Xander

We were going to eat dinner at Laura's house. I can't believe she is our neighbour once again. This brings back all the happy childhood memories. Until that one year when they all left all of a sudden. I was heartbroken. All I wanted was to find the reason. Why did she leave? I have asked myself this question for the past 5 years. I tried to look for her everywhere. We both were only 16 when she left. She was the love of my life. My only best friend/ girlfriend. We knew each other since we were kids.
Me and Laura's sister; Zoey. My Zoey. Where are you Zoey?
"Let's go we are getting late" my mom shouted from the ground floor.  I am sure Laura must have heard her. Its just glass windows that are separating the house. There is not even a little ground space. It would be fun to scare Laura sometimes.

"Mom its already 12.35 we cannot get more late" I told my mom laughing at her impatience. I know mom missed the girls as she practically raised them for almost 4 years. Their parents usually left both the girls alone for months and years to do business oversees.  Then Laura and Zoey used to come to our house alot to eat, have fun and sometimes to sleep when they were scared. Zoey used to hate darkness that is why she use to sleep with me in my bed, in my arms. I miss her. Does she live with Laura or did she move out? Is she okay?
Maybe I can ask Laura. But not today.
I am happy to see Laura after so many years.

Mom rings the bell to Laura's house. 308! Zoey always wanted to own a house with this number for some weird reason. And she use to say that she will make sure I own 307. Her wish did come true. I wish she could see it.
"She is not dead.....she is alive.... just somewhere else. She is going to visit her sister eventually"

"Oh my god... come on in.... you guys are just on time" Laura said with a big smile on her face. She pulled my mother inside along with me. I can see she is excited and very happy.

"Sit Aunt April.... make your self comfortable.... I will serve the food in 10 mins..... sit Xee"
She pulled me down. She is pulling me a lot.
"Okay tell me what's new.... you start Aunt April .... I can't believe we are living like this. Like a neighbour..... I missed you so much..... I tried to make that cookie... the one that you used to make..... It didn't turn out that bad but it was not the same... and you know it did burn a little from the sides....."  Yes! Laura was excited
"Breath my child" mom said laughing at Laura's childish behaviour. Who would say she is 26 years old.
"Oh my god what happened to you Xee.... how much did puberty hit you?" She asked with wide eyes. She was making fun of me.
"Just the same amount as your old age Aunt Laur" I said laughing.
" still the idiot huh.....well you are...." she stopped in the middle.
Just then loud voice was heard from somewhere in the house. My mother screams like this most of the time.
"I don't care what you want to say..... fucking shit stop shouting.... I???? You want me to bloody stop shouting at you when you missed an important report..... I asked you so many times.... I don't....."

"She grew up weird" Laura said with a very silly expression on her face.
"Who grew up? Is this who I think it is.... Oh my god... she is here.... her voice is changed.... but it still sounds like silk... even when she is screaming like that... She is here.... I am sure it is her voice... but where is she... how is she going to react when she sees me.... does she know I moved here? Did Laura talk to her?
" I feel bad for the person on the other end" my mom says with concern. She loves them too much.
"Me too.... but I am sure that person had it coming... she doesn't scream until its very important" Laura said "wait let me hear what its about" and Laura picks up the receiver of the phone and dials a number

"Laura stop listening to my calls...and you listen to me you fucking idiot I want those papers by Saturday no matter what."
And just like that my angle walks down wear a sweatshirt with sleeves too big for her hand. She walks down the stairs and turns to go to the kitchen. I am looking at her after so many years. Even though I didn't have a proper look at her but whatever I looked at I can say women hood did do her justice. She looks like an angel even in sweats.
I was just standing and looking at the spot where she entered the kitchen from. Laura can feel the tension and so can mom. God I she hasn't even seen me yet and I am behaving like a scared cat. "Let's go eat shall we" laura said and throws a concerned look to me.
"Don't try to fuck with Maxwill.... I am warning you"
A deadly calm voice came from the dinning hall. By now were all there. Her back was turned to me. She has grown so thin from the last time I saw her. Her hair is also short but still had soft curls in them.
She was pacing up and down...I am surprised how she hasn't seen any of us standing there looking at her. Wait where is everyone..... Was I staring so much that I didn't feel them move out of here?

"I didn't work my ass off for this Max and you know it. I worked 18 hours per day to complete this report that was to be send today.... do you know what this would do.....ask the person responsible for sending the mail to meet me in the morning..... 7am..... tell him to be on time or else he can kiss his job goodbye..... yes I will be on the call with Chinese investors.... okay"

And just then.... at this moment she turns around. Breath gets knocked out of my lungs. She has changed so much. She looks so good and so different. So mature. And oh god she was wearing my hoodie and pants that we bought together as a joke when we were kids. One for her and one for me, XXL size. But I lost mine. Well certainly I didn't coz she has them. She kept it all these years.

She looks up frowning as if feeling eyes on her. And that's how time stopped for both of us. We were just looking at each other. Just us. Her eyes are still so innocent but so tired. She is tired. And over worked. Oh baby... what have you done to yourself... why are you working so much. She did work 18 hours everyday this week.
She needs to rest. I will make sure she rests. But what is she thinking. She is not moving and her eyes held sorrow and were wide as a soccer.

"Dinners ready... Zoey come here" Laura yelled from the kitchen. This pulls her out of her reverie. She looks at me once again and goes to the kitchen to help Laura.

"Oh my god... aunt April.....what are you.... how are you" a happy sound comes from the kitchen. Now she is happy. To meet mom. But what about me? Why did she behave like that with me?

"Come let's go and eat...its midnight"

Laura comes out first with food followed by my mom and Zoey. Zoey doesn't even spare me a look and walked past me towards the table. I went and sat across from her. She was talking happily and comically with mom and I just cannot stop looking at her. She didn't even look at me even once. What happened to her? Why is she behaving like this? She needs to much explaining to do and I will get my answers.

It was around 1.30 when we all said goodnight and went to our house. I cannot believe I found her after all this time, laughing....eating....working.... She has grown so much!

"Are you okay honey?" Mom asked me with concern. She knows how much I wanted to find the sisters, especially the younger sister. What she meant to me. What she did to me after leaving. I looked towards her house and saw her standing in the kitchen with her head hung low and having a glass of water in her hand. She suddenly looked up and saw me starring at her. Her eyes were filled with sorrow, love and so tired. Without breaking the eye contact with her I said

"I will be mom...very soon" I said to her with a promise, to fix everything and bringing my girl back home where she belongs.