Page 139 - Interior_SPRING SUMMER FALLING_2021

SPRING SUMME R FALLING | 139

I lean forward. All of my brain cells fire rapidly at once. I am awake and fucking
paying attention.
I do my best to shrug casually. “I just thought our bodies were a taboo subject.”
Sanya is packing the supplies back into her first aid kit as I speak. She stops and
eyeballs me with a frown.

“Who said that?” There is that tone again. The keep-the-fuck-up-Henri tone.
I feel as if an unspoken “duh” hangs between us.
I grab the opening I’ve been looking for during the last two weeks. I will tell
her exactly how I feel about her body.
“Sanya…”
“Knock, knock,” Claire cautions as she taps on the door.
I love my sister. I really do. But now, I am annoyed. I want to throw something
at her. Something hard enough for her to feel the thud, but soft enough to not hurt
her. I mentally start Googling items to buy so I can have it on stock next time.
“Come in,” Sanya calls to my sister. Her causal behavior doesn’t suggest she
knows I was about to pour out my heart.
Claire’s head slowly slides into view. Her blonde hair appears in the door
before her face. She looks in timidly. Her face looks exactly how I expect a sister to

look at the thought of possibly busting her brother in the act. I can feel the relief
bouncing off her when she sees a fully dressed and completely unruffled Sanya and
an almost fully dressed me.
“I reminded Mom and Dad that you were letting him shower first, just like you
told us.”
Sanya laughs before responding. It is a beautiful sound that I haven’t heard
much lately.
“It’s okay. My mom would have followed us into the bathroom to make sure
I cleaned the wound properly.”
It is my turn to laugh. I nod at the very accurate statement and Claire smiles.
“It’s true, sis. Sanya’s mother is an original. I love her personality. You need to
meet her.”
Sanya’s eyes are warm like chocolate chips in fresh baked cookies when she
locks gazes with me. She appreciates the nice things I say about her mother.
The moment passes when she focuses on Claire. “Help him stand while I pull
up his pants.”