On That Winter's Night.

8-Answers In The Attic.

Time Jump-3 Evenings Later..

Mum and Dad were refusing to let Lily back into the family. "She is my sister." Katherine protested furiously. "Why can't you just accept that?"

"Oh for goodness sake, Katherine, your sister is not staying! First thing tomorrow, she's getting admitted to an orphanage!" Mum said stiffly, with barely any emotion. "There is so much you both don't understand."

"Then why don't you HELP us understand!" Lily yelled.

"I will not have this conversation with either of you!" Mum yelled back. "Lily is going to the orphanage and that's it!"

Dusk fell softly, but Katherine was boiling with aggressive anger and rage. Why were Mum and Dad being so difficult? Why were so they desperate to keep the sisters away from each other? Why didn't they love Lily enough to let her stay? Yes, she was flawed in a million different ways, but everyone was flawed, weren't they? Plus, surely a parent's heart had the capacity to love both the children? Well, whether Mum or Dad were happy with their decision or not, Katherine refused  to let Lily get taken away again. Not if she could help it. She had to stay by her side forever now that they'd been reunited. What else could a person do?

Night quickly came and when the coast was clear, Katherine tiptoed across the landing into Lily's room and gently shook her awake. "What's going on Katherine?" Lily mumbled sleepily, rubbing her eyes. When she slowly sat up, her sister was already by the door. "Need I remind you, I am the older sister." Lily said, half serious, half playful and with a hint of a smirk on her face. Katherine pulled a funny face in the dark. "I guess it feels like the other way round." She said in a playful response. Lily held back a laugh, afraid of waking up their parents. She then paused for a moment, realizing she hadn't yet asked the important question. "Hold on-what are we doing, awake at this time of night?" 

Katherine's answer was immediate. "Our parents don't want you when they should  and I'm pretty sure both of us want to know why." 

Lily didn't say anything. She just nodded. Katherine was right-they both did want to know the truth. It didn't matter if it was good or bad. They needed this. Even if their parents refused to reveal anything, they were going to find out on their own. No matter what happened.

Lily and Katherine snuck across the landing. A few minutes slid by. Soon, Katherine took a deep, calming breath and squeezed Lily's hand for courage. This was because, they were going to the one place in their home that they weren't allowed to go to, but they were going anyway. They were heading to the attic.

Once they safely climbed up the narrow stairs and inside, Lily turned on the torch and the two girls began to look around in silence. Until Lily motioned for Katherine over to her side and handed her an old sheet of paper. It had a few notes:

Firstborn Daughter-Lily, Diagnosed with mild autism/mental health problems, respectively.

Status-Given Away/Abandoned as part of deal.

Katherine looked up and saw her sister's wide eyes. She had been given away as part of a deal.

They had some answers now. But the two sisters still had half a dozen questions buzzing around in their heads like swarms of bees.