Chapter 18 i miss you

Chapter 18

Sylvia’s POV

The air in Leah’s room felt heavier than usual, like the weight of unspoken words and unexpressed emotions lingered between us. I hated seeing Leah like this—sad, distant, and unsure of how to spend her summer vacation. She sat cross-legged on her bed, clutching a pillow as if it were the only thing anchoring her to the moment.

“I can’t believe you’re leaving,” Leah said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

“I know,” I replied, sitting beside her. “I didn’t want it to happen this way, but my parents made the decision for me. My aunt just had a baby, and they saw it as the perfect excuse to turn it into a family gathering.”

Leah let out a humorless laugh. “Perfect for them, maybe. What about us? We had so many plans for the summer. The beach, the movie marathons, the road trips…” Her voice trailed off, and she buried her face in the pillow.

I reached out, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. “I know it sucks, Lee. But it’s not like I wanted this either. If I had a choice, I’d be here with you. You know that, right?”

Leah lifted her head, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Yeah, I know. It’s just... what am I supposed to do now? Everyone’s going somewhere, and I’ll be stuck here in this empty mansion with no one to talk to.”

I bit my lip, guilt gnawing at me. Leah rarely let her vulnerable side show, but when she did, it hit hard. “You’ll figure something out,” I said, trying to sound hopeful. “You always do. Maybe this is a chance for you to do something different, something you wouldn’t normally try.”

Leah gave me a skeptical look. “Like what? Knitting?”

I chuckled, glad to see a hint of her usual sass return. “I don’t know. Maybe you could explore the city, take up a new hobby, or even volunteer somewhere. You’re Leah. You’re fearless and adventurous. You’ll find a way to make this summer unforgettable.”

She sighed, leaning her head against my shoulder. “I guess I don’t have much of a choice, do I?”

“Nope,” I said, trying to lighten the mood. “But hey, we’ll call and text every day. And I promise to send you pictures of all the boring family stuff I’ll have to endure.”

Leah smirked. “You better. And don’t forget to FaceTime me when the baby cries at 3 a.m.”

“Deal,” I said with a laugh.

---

The next morning, I found myself standing in the bustling airport with my family, clutching my suitcase and trying to shake off the heaviness of saying goodbye to Leah. The flight to Texas was uneventful, but my mind was restless, replaying our conversation over and over again.

When we finally landed, the warm Texan sun greeted us as we stepped out onto the family ranch. The sprawling fields stretched as far as the eye could see, dotted with wildflowers and grazing horses. It was beautiful, but it didn’t quite feel like home.

“Welcome back!” My aunt’s voice rang out as she came to greet us, cradling the newest addition to the family in her arms. The baby was tiny, her face scrunched up as she slept peacefully.

“Congratulations, Aunt Claire,” I said, giving her a hug and peeking at the baby. “She’s adorable.”

“Thank you, sweetheart,” she said, beaming. “Go on inside. Lunch is ready, and everyone’s waiting.”

Inside the ranch house, the familiar smell of baked bread and roasted chicken filled the air. My siblings were already at the table, chatting and laughing as if no time had passed since our last visit.

But as I greeted everyone and took my seat, I couldn’t help but feel like something—or someone—was missing. My eyes darted around the room, scanning each face, hoping to see the one person I hadn’t seen in years.

“Looking for someone?” my mom asked, raising an eyebrow.

I hesitated, not wanting to give away too much. “No, just... taking it all in.”

She didn’t press further, but her knowing smile told me she wasn’t entirely convinced.

After lunch, I wandered outside, letting the warm breeze ruffle my hair as I walked through the fields. Memories of my childhood came flooding back—playing hide-and-seek among the haystacks, racing through the meadows, and laughing until my sides hurt.

And then there were the arguments. The teasing. The constant bickering over the smallest things.

Despite how annoying they had been, I missed them. I missed him.

I found myself standing by the old oak tree where we used to carve our initials as kids. Running my fingers over the weathered bark, I smiled at the faded marks that still bore traces of our mischief.

“Still the same sentimental fool, huh?” I muttered to myself, shaking my head.

I stayed there for a while, lost in thought, until my mom called out to me from the porch.

“Sylvia, come inside. I need to talk to you.”

Her tone was serious, and my stomach churned as I made my way back to the house.

“What’s up?” I asked, trying to sound casual.

“There’s been a change of plans,” she said, her expression unreadable. “He’s not coming.”

My heart sank. “What? Why not?”

“Something came up at work,” she explained. “He had to fly to Paris.”

I nodded, trying to mask my disappointment. “Right. Of course. Paris.”

But inside, I was crushed. I had spent so much time hoping to see him again, imagining what it would be like to catch up after all these years. And now, that chance was gone.

I forced a smile and excused myself, retreating to the quiet of my room. Sitting by the window, I stared out at the fields, wondering if he even thought about me as much as I thought about him.

Despite everything, I couldn’t help but feel a flicker of hope. Maybe next time, I thought. Maybe next time, we’ll finally have the reunion I’ve been waiting for.

For now, all I could do was hold on to the memories and hope that they were enough to bridge the distance between us.