"Sometimes it's the smallest decisions that can change your life forever." –Keri Russell

I had been sitting in the police station for almost four hours before they actually showed up. My aunt and my uncle. At first they just looked at me, hardly believing it was actually me. Not that I blamed them, I was having the same trouble.

I hadn't seen them in two years. But to be completely honest, I wanted it to be longer. I wanted to stay hidden in my own world forever. Apparently they had different plans though, because as soon as Aunt Trixi saw me she ran over, grabbing me up into a tight hug before she began sobing hysterically.

"Cammie," she whispered "oh, Cammie. I thought I'd never see you again."

"Hey Aunt Trixi, Uncle Wayne" I tried to fake a smile, tried to make them believe I was happy. But, as the look on my uncle's face suggested, they didn't believe it. Not even for a second.

My aunt finally relinquished her hug, allowing me to breathe once again. "Sweet heart," she said, pushing a stray piece of hair behind my ear "we never stopped looking for you. How could you do this to us?" She demanded, beginning to look a little angry.

"Beatrice," my uncle said, cutting me off before I could answer. Thankfully, I had no idea what to say. "Why don't you go talk to the police officers, see what we need to do to get this straightened out."

She nodded before leaving the room. I watched as she walked over to a police officer and began questioning him, glancing back into the glass room every so often to check and make sure I hadn't just disappeared. My uncle cleared his throat and I knew that ignoring him was no longer a good idea. I looked at him, he looked at me and I couldn't help but wonder what happened between the two of us.

Oh yeah, I survived a car crash that killed his brother, sister-in-law and nephew.

"Cameron," he said, desperately trying to think of words "I-It's just-Why?" He finally managed to get out.

He had no idea, no one did. I'm sure they all just assumed I ran away because of what happened. They probably thought I was 'emotionally compromised', like that stupid councilor kept telling them I was.

I shrugged in response to his question, not really sure what to say or how to say it.

"Was it because of what happened? Was it because of your parents and brother?" He looked uncertain of how to talk to me.

"No," I stammered, walking up and giving him a slight hug before backing off "I just needed some space."

"Cammie, you were gone for over two years. We looked everywhere for you. We hired private investigators, we put out an amber alert, put poster everywhere and we still couldn't find you. When your parents died," I flinched at this and it didn't go unnoticed by my uncle "they left you in our care. Do you have any idea what it was like having no idea where you were? How upset Pogue was? How upset all the sons were? Your brother was one of their best friends, they already lost him, and then they had to lose you too."

He finished his rant and looked at me like he had no idea who I was. He didn't, at least, not anymore. Way too many things had happened since I left; things were probably never going to be the same.

"Honey," Aunt Trixi said, popping her head into the room "they said the need proof of guardianship before they can release her into our custody. "

"Already," he sighed, running his hand through his hair "I'll call Pogue." He left the room to make the call, coming back in less than two minutes later. "He's surprised, but he's coming and brining the papers."

Pogue, he had always been more like an older brother then an older cousin. My brother Eric and he were only a couple of months apart, and growing up they had been extremely close. After my birth Pogue had assumed all the same roles as Eric. Still, after all this time, chances were things had changed…drastically.

"Cameron, we have to establish some boundaries." My aunt said, trying to sound as reasonable as possible "You need to understand, we never want anything like this to happen again. So, until further notice you're grounded. We don't want to upset you, but we need to know that we can trust you."

I don't exactly blame them, but it didn't really matter, first chance I got I was planning on making a run for it. We waited the next hour in the same room, them asking me questions about myself.

So what have you been up to?

What have you been doing for school?

What's your favorite color?

When did you cut your hair?

All pointless questions that really, why did they matter? We had lost time; they didn't need to try and make up for it. Finally, after what seemed like a year, Pogue ran into the room, face red and holding a file folder. He had gotten tall, he wasn't the awkward little fifteen year old he had been last time we had seen each other. But to be fair, I definitely wasn't the thirteen year old I had been.

"Here Dad." He said handing over the folder before his dad left the room. His expression betrayed nothing as he looked me over, trying to find some trace of the little girl that he had once known. There wasn't any. I had changed, and so had he.

"Cammie?" He asked uncertainly. I simply nodded, not knowing what to say.

"Isn't it wonderful Pogue? She's back." Aunt Trixi said, trying to ease the strange situation. It didn't work, not by a long shot. Where years ago there had been a strong bound, a healthy relationship, a connection many couldn't understand, there was now nothing. We were just strangers in a room.