SANDOR
"You seem different, Sandor." His sister was studying him with a curious stare as if he was a familiar puzzle that suddenly didn't fit together quite right. The two had been separated after their parents' deaths, his sister entering foster care while he was placed in a group home, too angry and violent for any family to take on.
As an angry twelve year old, hurt and bitter, Sandor often thought of his sister as he survived in the youth home with only his memories for company. Any memory of his mother was too painful to dwell on, so it was thoughts of his innocent little sister that had kept him sane for a while. Only seven years old and she had been his entire world.
After a while, believing that he would never see her again, Sandor had convinced himself that it was for the best. She was better off without him. Without any of them. Better for her to forget the broken family that she had been born into. As the years went by, it became easier to not think of her. Not thinking of her was the only way to relieve the pain that her memory induced.
But somehow she found him years later. The sight of her had nearly brought a twenty-two year old Sandor to his knees; frozen in shock and overwhelmed as he took in the seventeen year old young lady his sister had grown into. Brilliant and whole. Untainted. No longer the little girl with missing front teeth and pigtails. When she had tried to rebuild their relationship, Sandor bailed, afraid to contaminate someone so pure.
Now she was twenty-seven and they weren't as close as Sandor would have liked and he regretted it deeply. He had missed out on witnessing her develop and blossom into an incredible human being. His therapy sessions had inspired him to reach out to her and try to rebuild the connection that they once shared. Sandor still harbored his doubts about whether his presence in her life was the best thing for her, but he was no longer chased away by burning self hate. He was ready to attempt to mend what was broken and his sweet sister was willing to give him that chance.
This was the longest amount of time that he had spent with her other than when he'd driven to Chicago to visit her after she'd fallen ill with a serious case of the flu. Chicago, the thought caused a faint smile to flicker across Sandor's lips. The day he was to drive back to California he had ran into the little bird and ended up flipping around his entire schedule just to get her safely to her brother's. He didn't regret it one bit. The little bird had helped him more than he had helped her.
"I'm almost saintlike now. Do you think I could become a monk?" Sandor asked in response to his sister's statement.
There was a twinkle in her grey eyes as a smile spread across her face. "I'm so happy about your happiness. I used to pray for you when I was in my teens. I prayed for you to find peace. And that you would find me when you were ready and we could be brother and sister again."
An unfamiliar lump formed in his throat as he saw the hope that shone in her eyes. Gently he took her hand, feeling undeserving, but unbelievably grateful. "I think your prayers helped," Sandor told her. "Your prayers and a little bird."