Hey Arnold! Drabble Series
by Kaelanti
"Stolen Away"
She sees the darkness. She always has, since long before her baby sister was born. She knows it far more intimately than she'll ever let on, because the moment she allows herself to acknowledge it, the darkness has won. And she won't let that happen. She can't, if she wants to survive this life intact.
The darkness is why she chose to go away for school, hiding away from the harsh words, the dismissive tones, the voice so tired and unraveled. All through college, she stayed away, hidden behind a wall of books and papers. And it is only that one Thanksgiving, when her beautiful baby sister is nine and she can see the way the darkness has latched hold that Olga finally realizes the terrible truth.
She is a strong woman, filled with intelligence and grace and the knowledge that nothing she will face can be as bad as the darkness that pervades her home. But her sister, her dearest, wonderful baby sister, has let the darkness steal into her heart. Olga knew how to keep the darkness away, but she ran from it without ever whispering the secret to Helga.
And in those dark days surrounded by the biting chill of wind too cold to even produce snow, Olga wonders whether they can ever be the sisters that she wants them to be, close friends who rely on each other. Perhaps it is already too late for that. Perhaps the darkness has stolen Helga away.
Perhaps it was Olga who ran too far...