Author's Note: Hey everyone, I'm new to the whole writing thing so please go easy on me. I haven't been caught up on Corrie so this might not follow events to the tee or be very accurate. Also, I'm not from the UK so feel free to add your own English accent in your head!
Eight years. It had been eight years since Sian lived in Weatherfield. Eight years since she said goodbye to everyone there. Eight years since her heart was shattered on her wedding day. And now she is forced to come back.
She received the call from a neighbor who said she hadn't seen her father for a couple days. She went over to check on him and found him laying in the chair in front of the tele. The coroner said it was a heart attack. "He went peacefully; didn't feel any pain," the neighbor assured her. That didn't make her feel much better but Sian knew she was trying to be comforting.
Now Sian was stood in front of her dad's house trying to build up the courage to enter. It had been eight years since she last visited that house. Her dad visited her in London at least once a year but it had been over 7 months since she had seen him last. She didn't even know he had cardiac problems. They never talked about him when he visited her. Now she wishes they had.
Sian climbs up the front steps slowly and opens the door to her dad's flat to find it almost the exact same as she remembers. The only thing missing is her dad. Sian puts her bags on the couch and heads out the door. She didn't want to stay there and mope. She knew if she fell into that trap it would be too hard to get out so she decided to go grab a bite to eat. She took the first train from London that morning so she didn't have time to eat breakfast and she was starved.
She was happy to find that her favorite kebab place was still right down the road. God, she hadn't eaten a kebab since the authentic restaurant closed in downtown London two years ago. All of a sudden her mouth began to water and her stomach grumbled at the sight of the shop. Guess she did miss this little town a bit more than she thought.
There were only a couple people in front of her in line, which was a surprise. She used to have to wait much longer to get her food. But then again, so much could have changed since then.
"Hello ma'am what would you like today?" asks the woman at the counter.
The woman looks a little older than Sian but Sian doesn't recognize her. Sian is about to place her order when she hears a voice that stops her breathing immediately. The color in her face drains, her eyes widen, and she feels her heart stop for a fraction of a second. "Ma'm are you okay?" Sian can't answer the cashier. She doesn't know if she can move, nevermind speak. Maybe her ears were deceiving her. It is her first time back in town in a long time so what are that chances that she would run into her? Sian uses all of her willpower to turn around to put a face to that voice. Her deepest fear yet greatest dream came true at that moment. As soon as Sian turned around Sophie looked up. Sophie's eyes bugged out of her head, her breathing halted, and her heart skipped a beat simultaneously.
"Sian?" she whispered.
Before Sophie can say anything else, Sian runs past her and out the door without even placing her order. Sian is halfway down the street before she can stop to think and catch her breath.
"Sian? Who's Sian?" Maddie asks Sophie.
"Huh? Oh no one, it's nothing…" Sophie says to her girlfriend.
"Okay… so what do you want to eat babe?" asks Maddie.
"I'm uh… actually not feeling that great so I'm all set" replies Sophie.
"Suit yourself!" Maddie orders her food without questioning Sophie again.
Sophie makes up an excuse about going home to help Rosie and rushes out of the shop with barely a "bye" to her girlfriend. Luckily, Rosie is at the house when Sophie arrives. Both Sophie and Rosie have their own apartments, but they spend a lot of time at home. They think the other doesn't know that it's because they miss each other but no one is fooled.
Sophie practically runs through the door, tripping over a rug and falling into the couch.
"You never cease to amaze me, sis" Rosie mocks.
Sophie just looks up at her with tears threatening the back of her eyes.
"Oh my gosh are you hurt?!" Rosie gasps
"I just saw Sian."
"What? That's impossible! How many years has it been since she's been in town? I heard she lives in London now. You probably just saw someone who looks like her, don't worry."
"No Rosie it was her. I could never forget her face. Trust me I've tried."
As much as Rosie hates to admit it, Sophie's right. Rosie was there for the aftermath. She knows how hard Sophie tried to talk to Sian again. And once she knew there was absolutely no chance of that happening, she tried to forget about her completely. But that never happened and Rosie knew that. After a while Sophie pretended that she was okay. She stopped spending her days in bed and plastered on a fake smile for long enough that she might have actually tricked herself into believing she was alright.
Rosie pulled Sophie in for a hug. "Aw babes I'm so sorry. Did you talk to her? Do you know why she's here?"
"I have no idea. But I don't think she would come back if she didn't have to."
Just then the phone rings and Rosie answers. The person on the other line speaks and Rosie looks surprised but her eyes soften. Sophie can hear the other person's voice and she recognizes that it's Deb, the woman from the Corner Shop. She always loves to gossip and Sophie has never known her sister to pass up a juicy story so she waits for Rosie to get off the phone to tell her what's going on.
Rosie hangs up and stares at Sophie carefully, trying to find the words to tell her.
"For God's sake Rosie just spit it out!" Sophie urges.
"Sian's dad died, Soph."
Sophie's mouth falls open. Her eyes widen and face pales for the second time that day.
"That must be why she's back in town," Rosie explains.
Sophie just looks at her, unable to form any coherent words. Mr. Powers was never Sophie's greatest fan. He kicked Sian out when he found out that Sophie and her were dating. Sian and his relationship was always rocky, but he loved her. He didn't know how to show it, but Sophie knew that he loved Sian and in that moment Sophie's heart broke for her all over again.
"Oh God," Rosie said, "Is she staying there?"
That thought had never even crossed Sophie's mind but Rosie had a good point. Did Sian have to stay in the place where her dad passed?
It was as if Rosie was talking to herself because before Sophie could answer Rosie spoke again. "You know what I'll offer her my place. Jason is out of town and I have a spare bedroom. It would be God awful staying there. I mean, have you seen his living room? It's a designing disaster!"
Ha! Sophie smirked. Leave it to Rosie to turn this into a fashion learning experience. Wait, is Rosie serious?
Rosie was out the door headed to Sian's dad's flat before Sophie finished processing what just happened. Rosie was going to offer Sian her place? As if they're just two old mates and the past eight years never happened? Sophie was going to be sick.
