Page 94 - The Houseguest

Brian had only gotten up to go to the kitchen before returning to his position in front of the computer. He logged on again with a heavy sigh. But then, there it was -- the accepted friend request. He smiled so wide he felt his cheeks stretching. He wondered what came next? Then he saw a notification of a message. He clicked on it: “Dearest Brian, I write you with overflowing joy in my heart. I am sorry I didn’t contact you in prison. I needed to follow my own path for a little while and that meant disconnecting from my past. But, please know that I have carried you in my heart everywhere I’ve been. We share a bond as brother and sister that will never be broken...not with miles, not with time. And now fate has allowed us to connect again. Please message me back. I love you, my brother.”
Brian couldn’t hold back the tears. He was thankful to have a room away from the main floor that had a door he could lock. He wept into his hands. His emotions took control of him as though he were possessed by them. He thought he’d never see his sister again and here she was within his reach. It took two hours for him to gain composure enough to respond to Laura: “Dear Laura, I was so happy to see your message. I’ve thought of you every day. In prison, I learned to block out the badness of each memory and concentrate on the good. The good...how you and I, together, somehow survived it all. I am your forever friend Laura, and I am doing well now. You would be proud of me. I have stopped drinking and I work for a law firm. I cannot believe this is real and that we are talking again. I thought you were gone from my life forever. Now, I know life is finally going to be good to me. When can I see you? With love, your brother, Brian.”
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The Houseguest by Linda Ellis www.LindaEllis.life