Sisters Stuff (3)
Hearing a knock on her bedroom door, Buffy hurriedly hid her stakes in a drawer before answering,
«Yes?»
The door opened, and Buffy frowned as her sister appeared.
«Oh, it's you...» she said in a hostile tone.
Dawn fidgeted in the doorway for a moment before entering. Buffy couldn't help but notice how despondent she looked.
«I came to apologize,» she said in a whisper.
Buffy looked closely at her sister's face. The little snot sounded sincere, but Buffy had been too hurt by her rebuke to forgive her instantly.
«Really? she asked doubtfully. Apologize for what?»
Dawn looked down. Her shoulders were shaking.
«For what I told you. I'm sorry.»
«Sorry? Buffy asked coldly. Are you sorry for telling me you hated me? That all the arguments between the parents were my fault? Or that I was crazy? That I should have stayed in the mental hospital? Or better yet, that you wished you'd never had a sister?»
Dawn flinched, as if the words now hurt her.
«For everything, she said in a small voice. I'm so sorry. I should never have said that to you. I apologize. I take it back, I take it all back. Please, Buffy... I need you. It hurts when you're mad at me.»
Buffy looked at her sister in surprise. She didn't want to forgive her yet, but she was beginning to feel touched by Dawn's apology. After all, her little sister had been so sad when their parents separated: she had cried for two weeks...
«Did you really have a nightmare last night?» Buffy asked with a hint of concern.
«Yes. It was a horrible nightmare. I dreamed that I lost you. That you died. You jumped off a tower, and it was my fault. I'm so sorry, Buffy.
–Really? Are you sure it was a nightmare and not a dream? Weren't you glad to be rid of me?»
Dawn turned pale, and Buffy thought she saw tears in her eyes. She answered in a broken voice:
«No. It was awful. I never want to lose you like that. I love you, Buffy.»
Unaccustomed to hearing such words from her sister, Buffy stood there speechless. Dawn insisted:
«I know I've been bad to you, but I mean it. I love you with all my heart. Please, Buffy… I won't feel better until you forgive me.»
Buffy sighed, and pulled her younger sister close to her. Dawn snuggled into her arms with a contented smile, and the teenage girl felt a surge of tenderness toward her. Deep down, Buffy couldn't stay mad at her sister for long.
It was physical. When she hugged Dawn, she felt closer to her than to anyone else in the world.