Chapter Thirty-five.

As they hugged, the tension and resentment of years melted away, replaced by a deep sense of longing and connection. Catherine's tears soaked into Lina's bathrobe, while Lina's own eyes welled up with emotion.

They held each other tightly, the warmth of their bodies a comforting balm to their battered souls.

'I'm so sorry, Catherine,' Lina whispered, her voice cracking with emotion. 'I'm sorry I left, sorry I wasn't here for you. I was so caught up in my own pain, I didn't realize how much you were hurting too.'

'I felt so alone, Lina. So ignored. Mom and Dad were always worrying about you, waiting for you to come back. I felt like I didn't matter.' Catherine grip on Lina tightened, her body shaking with sobs.

Lina's heart broke at her sister's words, and she held her even firmer.

'You do matter, Catherine. You always have.' Her tears flow down into Catherine's hair, as she stoked it quietly. 

'When I left, becoming the centre of attention wasn't my intention. I had no idea my departure would bring so much sadness and chaos in your world.' She stated.

'I really didn't mean to make everybody's life revolve mine. That was the reason I stayed away in the first place.' She pointed out.

'But what did we do to hurt you so bad?' Catherine posed a question that sent Lina's heart into overdrive.

'I somehow feel part of the reasons you left may be dad. I see how you avoid him like a plague.' She voiced, slightly lifting her face to meet her sister's.

'But if dad had hurted you, did I too?' She posed another question returning her head back to Lina's chest.

'Did I ever do anything to hurt you?' She added.

'No, Cat.' Lina breathed roughly.

'Oh my God, Lina!!' Catherine expressed, drawing back from Lina sharply.

'Your heart is going crazy.' She stated.

'What can I do?' She panicked, clasping her hand in both side of her head.

'I'm fine, Catherine.' Lina countered. 

'No, you're not.' Catherine protested, reaching for the jug on the drawer by the other side of the bed.

She poured some water in the glass beside it, and handed it to Lina swiftly. 

'Have some water.' She blurted. 

'Okay.' Lina agreed, taking the glass of water from her sister.

She took a few, little sips, and set the glass down on a drawer beside her.

Then Catherine hurriedly placed her head on Lina's chest again to listen to her heart beat, which made Lina laugh.

'This is not funny, sis.' Catherine lifted her face, shifting her gaze to Lina's. 

'You're heart is still beating fast.' She said. 

'Uhmmmmmm..' She hummed as though thinking of what she could possibly do.

'The breathing exercise.' She blurted happily. 

'You need to take the breathing exercise.' She added, widening her eyes.

'Come on, Catherine.' Lina countered. 

'Lina, don't start.' Catherine retorted.

'Take the exercise now, please.' She pleaded.

'Alright.' Lina let out a frustrated sigh.

Then she inhaled deeply, chest expanding, shoulders relaxing, and calmness washing over her.

In a few second, she let out the accumulated air, forcing out every form a tension and distress out of her lungs.

'Again.' Catherine uttered, and Lina smirked.

With the grin on her face, she took in and let out a few breaths until Catherine was satisfied.

After which she placed her head on Lina's chest again, listening to her heart beat.

'Sounds normal, I presume.' She uttered. 

'What!!?' Lina interjected. 

'You presume.' She repeated with a chortle.

'Yeah.' Catherine nodded, returning her body back into Lina's arms.

'Such a baby.' Lina teased, wrapping her arm around her in an embrace. 

In each other's arms, the weight of their shared pain slowly lifted. Lina felt a sense of peace settle over her. They were sisters, bound together by blood and love. They had been through so much, but in this moment, they had found their way back to each other.

And she was going to do everything and anything, to make sure they never drifted away from each other, ever again.

'I missed doing this.' Catherine muttered. 

'I miss cuddling each other to sleep.' She added.

'Running around in the garden.' She went on.

'We could do that tomorrow, Lina, don't you think?' She suggested, shifting excitedly. 

'We are no longer kids, Catherine.' Lina countered. 

'We can't just run around, playing in nana's garden.' She added.

'Please.' Catherine pleaded in a sing song.

'No, Catherine.' Lina refused.

'I don't think I can still run around anymore.' She stated.

'You'd never know unless you've tried.' Catherine further persuaded her.

'Catherine, please.' Lina countered. 

'I didn't get the chance to do that anymore after you left. Even if it's just for one last time, Lina.' Catherine proclaimed. 

'Please.' She added before Lina responded. 

'One last time.' She went on pleading.

'We don't have to play a dusk, we can run around when everyone is out with their business in the morning.' She added. 

'Please, Lina.' She pleaded again.

'You never give up, do you?' Lina uttered in a tone that made Catherine believe she may have succumbed to her pleas. 

'I don't.' Catherine let out a subtle laughter. 

'So,' She started, hoping Lina already agreed.

'Let's run around the garden, dear sister.' Lina gave in.

'Yes!!' Catherine pumped her fist in excitement, like a kid blessed with a bucket of icecream. 

Lina laughed at her sister gesture, and spoke.

'Let's go to sleep.'

'So soon?' Catherine interjected. 

'Wouldn't we talk about the person you were thinking about, when I walked in?' She pointed out. 

'No, Catherine.' Lina protested, drifting away from her slightly. 

'Uhmm, okay.' Catherine scoffed, pulling Lina closer with her arms. 

'We should go to bed then.' She whispered. 

'Sure.' Lina replied, pulling away to arrange her pillow properly. 

'Move a little to the other side.' She instructed Catherine. 

'You still have changed, have you?' Catherine rolled her eyes.

'Always taking the right side of the bed.' She noted.

'You can go to your room if you want to sleep on the right side.' Lina suggested with a mischievous smile.

'Ugh, whatever. I'd stay, just because you can't sleep without me here.' Catherine uttered sarcastically, moving away to the other side.

'Of course.' Lina laughed, settling in her bed.

After she laid in bed, Catherine curved up beside her, placing her arm on Lina's waist. 

'I hope I don't sweat too much tonight.' Lina said, wrapping an arm around Catherine as well.

'The windows are opened, sis. And the AC is on.' Catherine replied. 

'Alright. Good night, Cat.' Lina muttered. 

'Good night, Lina.' Catherine whispered back in response, closing her eyelids.

Meanwhile, Christopher had barely made his way into his house.

It felt a little weird going into his own home after having a fight with his wife.

They had never argued about any so big, making Christopher oblivious on how to act around her.

He walked into the hallway, moving towards the rack to set his keys down first. 

After which he made way into the kitchen to get some water.

He grabbed a jug full of water and two glasses, incase either of them was thirsty at night .

Then he headed out, making way upstairs, to his bedroom. 

He struggled to reach for the knob, as both his hands were already occupied with glasses and a jug.

Eventually, he made his way in after pushing the door opened, and shutting it with his leg after he had entered the room.

His eyes shifted around the bedroom, it was empty, as Vivienne wasn't in there.

She must be in Sammie's room putting him to bed.

But they always did that together, she must be really upset.

His mind wandered as he set down the jug and glasses, on a table beside Vivienne's vanity.

He was taking his jacket off, when his wife walked out of the bathroom.

Her feet failed her for a moment after spotting him in the room, but eventually she proceeded to get in bed.

Christopher followed suit, watching her get under the duvet. 

'I'm sorry.' He proclaimed after halting at her side of the bed.

'I shouldn't have said the things I said to you. You didn't deserve it.' He went on.

'I know you were only curious because you cared for me and my family. I shouldn't have spoken to you in such a manner as though, you weren't a part of my family.' He stated.

'You are my family, Vivienne. And I love you so much.' He added, and heard Vivienne sniffled shortly after. 

Then, he leaned in just in time to see her tears rolling down the corner of her eyes into her pillow.

He squatted immediately, reaching for her arm, and apologised again.

'I'm sorry, babe.' His tone softened. 

'I didn't mean to hurt you this way.' He added.

'Why did you have to shut me out like that?' Vivienne voiced unsteadily. 

'I thought I was important to you.' She added.

'Of course, you're important to me.' Christopher retorted. 

'Come here.' He mentioned, helping her sit up.

He took a seat also, beside her, after she sat up.

'I haven't done anything or said anything to you in the past to make you feel this way.' He breathed. 

'But you see, Lina has a lot on her plate, that she doesn't want to share with anybody at all, and I respect that.' He uttered to Vivienne, whose eyes was now on him.

'She has suffered a great deal, and Lina is never someone to drag people down with her when she's hurt.' He pointed out.

'I hope she talks about her pain when she's ready.' He went on. 

'And if not, I hope you would respect the fact that it is not in my place to tell other people's stories.' He concluded, and Vivienne nodded. 

'You should have just said this instead of lashing out at me.' She chipped in, wiping her face with her palm.

'I'm sorry, love.' Christopher muttered, pulling her closer.

'I'm sorry too.' Vivienne responded, resting her head on his shoulder.

'I love you so much, Viv.' Christopher retorted, tilting his head sideways to place a kiss on her forehead.

'I love you more.' Vivienne proclaimed, causing Christopher to laugh heartily. 

'I guess I am the luckiest man alive then.' He said, wrapping her up in his arms.

Then pulled her face in, closer to his for a sensual kiss.