Chapter 8
Amelia Jordan sits at her desk as the new Deputy Director. She's never been so bored. It's only been a few days, but already it's gotten to the point where she's asking herself if it was worth it. She tells her assistant Derek to hold her calls before locking the door to her office, she heads back to the desk & takes out a picture. "Tracy, what would you do?", she asks it quietly. She thinks about her sister, Tracy Jordan, & what happened 15 long years ago...
Amelia, just a little girl at this point, not even a teenager, sees her older sister Tracy getting dressed. It had been hard since their parents passed away, but Tracy was always there for her. She was always there for everyone. "Hey sissy, whatcha up to?", Amelia asks. Tracy smiles as she turns her head, her long brown hair flutters softly, like a breeze was there just for her, just for that instant. She answers, "Nothing much, just getting ready for that volunteer thing I told you about.".
Amelia inquires, "Which one? Was it the firefighter thing or the other one with the puppies? You promised I could go help with the puppies, remember?". Tracy, a tall, statuesque girl, bends down to look into her little sister's eyes. She smiles warmly as she answers, "I remember little sis, and I'm keeping my promise. Tonight though, it's the firefighter's dinner. You don't want to go there, it'll be boring. I promise something else though, I'm going to bring back some cheese sticks for you. I know you love them."
Amelia smiles wide & hugs her sister, "Thanks Tracy! You aren't gonna be gone too long, right?", she asks. Tracy shakes her head & smiles, "Nope, just a few hours. Remember, keep the doors locked and don't sit on the porch waiting for me again. Something bad could happen.", Amelia protests, "but I'll be...", Tracy interrupts, "I mean it Amelia Denise Jordan. Don't.".
She hangs her head, kicks the couch softly & mutters, "Ok Trace.", Tracy hugs her sister again & says, "I'll check to make sure your homework's done, so don't think you can get away with not finishing it. I gotta go so I won't be late, stay safe sweetie.".
As Amelia watches her sister walk out the door, the only person she had after their parents died, she didn't think that'd be the last time she saw her. She thought about her coming home later that night, about cheese sticks. Maybe if she did she wouldn't regret not saying goodbye, maybe she wouldn't regret not saying how much she loved her one last time.
Amelia sits alone now, in a giant office with the door locked, tears streaking down her face uncontrollably. She remembers the car wreck, seeing her sister's car fly down the road as she sat on the porch. The scent of burnt rubber fills her nostrils again as she remembers standing there, the car burning her sister & some other man alive. Seeing her sister for the last time as the fire consumed her, but the cheese sticks were ok. She sat there in shock, just like she is now, unable to do anything but cry & wonder what her sister would think.
A part of her can't help but say how ashamed Tracy would be.