Winter 1938
George sat on the bench in the garden, looking out into the snow-covered expanse.
Winter days like this always made him miss his father, especially when he was alone.
He knew his mother and father spent many afternoons on this same bench, and that made him nostalgic and upset all at once.
Despite only having met his father on the day he was born, he missed him on the daily. He wished for him to come back. He prayed that it was simply a nightmare and that his father had never died in that stupid car crash.
Of course, when he wished this, he instantly felt bad, because he knew if his father was still alive, he wouldn't have his stepfather or Caroline. He loved them, he really did. But everyone always told him he looked so much like his father, and he longed for Matthew himself to have been able to hear that.
"George? Are you all right?"
He jumped a little as he looked up to see his twelve-year-old sister standing in front of him. "Oh, hi, Carrie."
Caroline's frown deepened as she sat down beside him. "You look sad."
Sighing, he ran a gloved hand through his hair. "I'm okay, I'm just," he glanced over to observe her concerned and empathetic expression. "I'm just thinking about my dad."
She nodded slowly, and scooted closer to her brother. "Oh. I'm sorry, Georgie. I know you miss him."
"I do." his vision blurred as he gazed back out at the snowy grounds. "Some days I just, I can't bear to be without him."
That settled it for her as she closed the gap and hugged him as tightly as she could. "I'm so, so sorry."
He wrapped his arms around her in return. "I'm all right, Caroline." he whispered, knowing he wasn't really all right.
"You don't have to be."
He hugged her tighter. "Thank you." Taking a deep breath, he stroked her hair for a moment before saying to her, "I'm so grateful that you're my sister."
She smiled up at him. "And I couldn't ask for a better brother."