Let me explain...2

Stella had only seen this look on Liberty once before. That day is engraved deeply in her brain, she will never forget it. They had just moved into their one-bedroom apartment, and the place still reeked of mould and the walls were still peeling off. She was spoilt back then and refused to understand why they had to give up a perfectly clean and big house where she had her own room for a dump of an apartment which had a single bed. Most importantly, they even had to downgrade their phones to dull phones that couldn't even take proper pictures. She was furious with her sister, and to make herself feel better, she scoured through the unpacked boxes to find a small box with two rings tucked at the bottom of a vintage jewellery box that looked untouched by her sister. She could still remember her excitement when she found those two shiny rings; only thoughts of a new phone ran through her mind - she couldn't wait to exchange the stupid phone her sister got her. She sneaked out to a nearby pawnshop and exchanged the rings for money enough to get her a better cell phone - her sister may have been happy with her new lifestyle, but she refused to live like that, at least a nice smartphone would ease her mind.

With the new phone in her hand, she couldn't wait to go home and turn it on, she was a happy child again, and things were looking up. However, her blissful moment was short-lived because the moment she got back to the shabby apartment, she found her sister sitting quietly on the floor with an open jewellery box in front of her. All the boxes were torn and their clothes were all on the floor. Even the sun suddenly disappeared, and the rain started pouring heavily outside, it was as if all the colour and happiness were suddenly drained out of her. She instantly knew she had done something terribly wrong; she had committed the biggest sin, one look at Liberty's eyes, her hands began trembling, "S-s-sis", and Liberty gazed directly at her and said only four words, "What have you done?",

Without meaning to, she dropped her new boxed phone on the floor, "I can explain..."

Liberty stood up as calmly and quietly as she could, "No...you will not. You are going to take that phone back and bring back our parents' rings. The only thing of theirs we have left. Do you understand Stella?"

She knew she should've listened to her big sister, but the thought of owning a dull cell phone while her friends were using all the latest models tormented her. As the spoilt kid she was, she yelled, "No...I will not do that. It is hard enough that we have to sleep in this filth; we don't have a yard, and I don't have my own room, and we don't even have a TV, can't I at least have this...it's just a phone sis, please..."

Her sister retained her calm demeanour and gently tried to explain, once again, why they moved and why she needed to get the rings back. Still refusing to listen to reason, her next words may as well have been her death sentence, she raised her voice, oh what a fool she was, she snarled, "What's so special about those rings anyway...we can simply buy new ones whe-"

In the blink of an eye, she felt an open palm crushing heavily on her left cheek leaving her with a stinging and tingling sensation, and on impulse, she moved her hand to her soft red cheek with tears suddenly welling up in her eyes, "Did you just sl-", 

Without giving her room to be shocked, her sister hovered in her face, and with a sharp gaze, she whispered gently, "I said...return that gadget and bring back our parents' rings...", and those quiet words were accompanied by another hot slap on the other cheek, and that's when she knew a third one was not far behind.

With both her hands covering her pained cheeks, she yelled, "Okay...okay, I am going okay. I am sorry. I am so sorry. I just wanted my phone back...I am sorry Lee. ", she cried while rubbing off the burning pain emanating from her cheeks. She'd never felt pain like that before and she never wanted to ever again, especially from her sister. 

It's been a couple of years and that memory and the pain are still alive, reminding her to respect her parents' stuff. She always kept that rule, but it seems she unknowingly broke another one. Her sister was moving closer, and closer, and with every step, Stella's heart was clenching with fear. What was she going to say this time? Her sister was like a bulldozer headed directly for her, and monotonously asking the same question, "....who told you to quit my job for me?"

Not only was she running out of space to escape to, she was also running out of time to think. Out of fear and with both her hands covering her cheeks, Stella yelled, "Because it's time you chase your dream too!"

Liberty halted in her tracks causing Stella to drop her hands helplessly. She has been studying hard at school to get the scholarship so her sister wouldn't have to worry about her fees. Truth is she has always been burdened by the fact that her sister was always the one making the sacrifices, the one whose life was on hold, the one missing out on life...all because of her.

She unknowingly took a step towards her, then grabbed both hands, with tears dancing in her eyes, "I told you, didn't I? Today begins the rest of your life. Thank you for the sacrifices you have made without ever complaining or even expecting anything from me. You always tried your best to give me everything I needed, including back then when you secretly sold your phone and the stethoscope father got you on your last birthday just so you could get me the phone I wanted. Our parents wanted you to follow your dream, and I am just continuing where they left off just like you did for me. I am on my way to becoming the best sports lawyer this town has ever seen, and there with me, I want my sister...the next best physiotherapist in town. We are both getting out of this dump. Okay?", and her tears rolled, making her sister tear up as well, "But what about accommodation...food? the health college is on the other side of town. What about y-"

She reached for her streaming eyes, "I already spoke to Jenny. We will get an apartment together, her parents promised to help us with rent for the first few months and this money that we have...will be enough for both of us until I get a campus job, and I know you will be fine too. You took care of us for a long time...I am only worried about you flunking your grades...", Stella mocked making her laugh

Liberty was filled with joy and pride, all her worries had been for nothing. It looked like Stella really thought this through, the only thing that's left, was for her to make all her efforts count. She sniffled, "You have grown to be a wonderful woman, sis. Thank you so much..."

"It's all thanks to you...and I will continue to make you proud.", Stella grinned, 

"You better, just because I am no longer paying for your school, it doesn't mean you should slack off, okay?"

She hugged her tightly, "Yes, sis. I guess today marks the first of both our lives. Me as an independent woman, and you, finally becoming what you always wanted to be."

"Indeed it does".