"Hey Deels." Ephram didn't know what he was supposed to say to his little
sister. All he knew was that it was harder than he thought to look her in
the face.
"Hi." The hostility in her voice was unmistakable. But Delia wasn't only angry; she was embarrassed as well.
"Ephram can we just get this over with as quick as possible? I know what you were doing with Madison. You can skip the sex talk and leave." Delia didn't want to look Ephram in the eyes; she felt her eyes prickle with tears and sunk her head lower so Ephram wouldn't see.
"No, Delia. We need to speak about this. I know you don't want to look at me – I'm kinda embarrassed too, but we need to discuss this." Ephram found the words coming out of his mouth before he even thought them over, and was surprised at his maturity.
"Whatever."
"Ok Delia. I'm going to talk, and you aren't going to interrupt me. When I'm finished you can have your turn. Okay?"
"Whatever."
"I know you are going through a rough time. I heard what you said to Madison. You should have told me you felt that way – I'm you're big brother! You should never have doubted that I would listen to you!" Delia tried to cut in, but Ephram just continued. "I can't bring Mom back no matter how much we miss her and how much we want her here. I can promise I will try not forget you again, and so will Madison. I can also put in a good word for that horse of yours." Ephram winked and continued. "I love Madison, Del. I wouldn't have done....that....what you saw....if I didn't. You should know that. And the love I have for Madison is a different kind of love then what I have for you. You are my sister, and nothing can tear us apart. The love I have for you – for my baby sister – never will fade. Ever. I know it must have been pretty traumatic for you to see that; even if you were older. I know I wouldn't have wanted to see my older brother and one of my best friends doing that – or anyone for that matter. Delia, I love you and it hurts me to see you go through this much pain. Please forgive me, Deels. I promise you that you won't ever have to see that again."
Delia took a deep breath tried to speak, but realized she had nothing to say. She didn't know how to accept Ephram's apology when, technically, he didn't do anything wrong. All he did was fall in love. And she happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
"Ephram –" All the tears that had been threatening to spill over throughout Ephram's speech now came.
"Ephram, I can't accept your apology." Ephram gave her a startled look. "It's not because I don't forgive you or whatever. I can't accept it because you have nothing to apologize for. It's not your fault I walked in at the wrong time. I should have knocked and I shouldn't have dragged Nina into this whole mess. And it's not your fault you fell in love with my friend. I'm happy for you that you have that with Madison. I just miss you, you know?"
"I know. I've missed you too." And with that they embraced. It was the kind of hug that was heartwarming and could have jerked a few tears from a passerby.
(A/N: I started writing a conversation between Nina and Madison, but I just couldn't get it to sound right, so I took it out. Hope it doesn't ruin the story that much. REVIEW!!)
"Hi." The hostility in her voice was unmistakable. But Delia wasn't only angry; she was embarrassed as well.
"Ephram can we just get this over with as quick as possible? I know what you were doing with Madison. You can skip the sex talk and leave." Delia didn't want to look Ephram in the eyes; she felt her eyes prickle with tears and sunk her head lower so Ephram wouldn't see.
"No, Delia. We need to speak about this. I know you don't want to look at me – I'm kinda embarrassed too, but we need to discuss this." Ephram found the words coming out of his mouth before he even thought them over, and was surprised at his maturity.
"Whatever."
"Ok Delia. I'm going to talk, and you aren't going to interrupt me. When I'm finished you can have your turn. Okay?"
"Whatever."
"I know you are going through a rough time. I heard what you said to Madison. You should have told me you felt that way – I'm you're big brother! You should never have doubted that I would listen to you!" Delia tried to cut in, but Ephram just continued. "I can't bring Mom back no matter how much we miss her and how much we want her here. I can promise I will try not forget you again, and so will Madison. I can also put in a good word for that horse of yours." Ephram winked and continued. "I love Madison, Del. I wouldn't have done....that....what you saw....if I didn't. You should know that. And the love I have for Madison is a different kind of love then what I have for you. You are my sister, and nothing can tear us apart. The love I have for you – for my baby sister – never will fade. Ever. I know it must have been pretty traumatic for you to see that; even if you were older. I know I wouldn't have wanted to see my older brother and one of my best friends doing that – or anyone for that matter. Delia, I love you and it hurts me to see you go through this much pain. Please forgive me, Deels. I promise you that you won't ever have to see that again."
Delia took a deep breath tried to speak, but realized she had nothing to say. She didn't know how to accept Ephram's apology when, technically, he didn't do anything wrong. All he did was fall in love. And she happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
"Ephram –" All the tears that had been threatening to spill over throughout Ephram's speech now came.
"Ephram, I can't accept your apology." Ephram gave her a startled look. "It's not because I don't forgive you or whatever. I can't accept it because you have nothing to apologize for. It's not your fault I walked in at the wrong time. I should have knocked and I shouldn't have dragged Nina into this whole mess. And it's not your fault you fell in love with my friend. I'm happy for you that you have that with Madison. I just miss you, you know?"
"I know. I've missed you too." And with that they embraced. It was the kind of hug that was heartwarming and could have jerked a few tears from a passerby.
(A/N: I started writing a conversation between Nina and Madison, but I just couldn't get it to sound right, so I took it out. Hope it doesn't ruin the story that much. REVIEW!!)