The days went by in a warm blur of connection. Elsa and Lucy hung out at the local burger shop and strolled through the park, talking for hours. Soon enough, Lucy stopped by the bookstore where Elsa worked—a familiar routine, much like Elsa visiting Lucy at her own workplace in the past.
As closing time approached at the bookstore, the sisters walked back home together. Elsa felt a bittersweet mix of emotions: she was happy they were spending this quality time together, yet a quiet sadness lingered knowing Lucy would be leaving in just a few days to live with her aunt. Walking back to their apartment, Elsa's mind drifted to another practical hurdle: I really need to start my driving classes, she thought. While Lucy could easily drive, Elsa couldn't, and her sister was about to leave for Brighamattan.
Jordin sat on his couch, scrolling through his phone while chatting with Benjamin, a close college friend.
"Got a girlfriend yet, Jordin?" Benjamin asked over the line.
"No, I'm single," Jordin replied.
Benjamin chuckled. "Don't worry, you'll find the right person." Changing the subject, Benjamin shared how thrilled his grandma was to have him home, and the two friends caught up on various things.
After ending the call, Jordin placed his phone aside and rested his head against the back of the couch. His thoughts immediately drifted to Elsa. He knew her home address, and she had occupied his mind all day at work. He thought about how genuinely nice she was—a struggling woman simply trying to earn an honest living. He knew she wasn't rich, and though her clothes were cheap, it didn't matter to him. She possessed a natural beauty that far outshone any woman he had ever met.
Even though she had naively accepted his money—blind to the implications of what she was walking into—he didn't blame her. In truth, he blamed himself. If he hadn't proposed sleeping with her, she never would have quit her job at the club, and he would still be seeing her every day. That realization made him hesitant to just show up at her apartment; she might still be afraid of him after his rough behavior. Yet, he desperately wanted to make things right. He wanted a girlfriend, and deep down, he knew Elsa was the right person. Her presence brought a soothing, peaceful energy into his life, making her a true companion unlike anyone else he had ever known.
Back at the Hoxton Apartment, Elsa and Lucy sat cozily on the couch, Elsa drawing her legs close to her chest as they watched television.
Holding up her phone, Lucy smiled. "This is my aunt Madison."
Elsa leaned in to look at the picture. Madison had striking brown hair and green eyes—the exact replica of Lucy. "Your aunt is pretty, and she looks so young," Elsa remarked, noting the strong family resemblance.
"Well, she is young. I talk to her on video chat all the time," Lucy said.
"It's nice having a pretty aunt. Beauty definitely runs in your family," Elsa joked, earning a soft chuckle from Lucy.
The sisters spent the evening chatting about random, interesting topics, snacking on junk food, ordering pizza, and enjoying a cozy sleepover.
A few days later, Elsa woke up with a heavy heart. Today was the day Lucy would pack her bags and head home to her aunt Madison. After freshening up, Elsa joined Lucy in her bedroom, where final packing was underway.
While Lucy was visibly excited and couldn't wait to see her aunt, Elsa maintained a bright, supportive smile to mask her own sadness. The next morning arrived briskly. While Elsa prepared a breakfast of fluffy pancakes with chocolate strips and syrup, Lucy rolled her luggage out to the living room.
"Good morning, Lucy," Elsa said, stepping out of the kitchen.
"Morning, Elsa," Lucy replied, setting her suitcase aside and taking a seat at the dining table.
As they dug into the pancakes, Elsa smiled softly. "These will be our last meals together for a while, until we meet again."
"Yes, but we'll stay connected," Lucy reassured her. "You can always call and chat with me anytime."
"I definitely will," Elsa promised.
After finishing breakfast, Lucy brought her luggage downstairs, and they booked a cab. The driver loaded the bags into the boot.
"Well, this is a see-you-soon for now," Elsa said, her voice trembling slightly.
Lucy pulled Elsa into a tight, emotional hug. "Me too, Elsa. I'm going to miss you so freaking much. I'm so glad to have a sister like you. You're my best sister and the kindest person I know."
Elsa smiled through her tears, hugging her back just as tightly. "Take care of yourself, Lucy, and call me always."
"I will!" Lucy promised before slipping into the car. As the taxi pulled away, the sisters waved through the window, exchanging final, fond farewells: "Miss you, older sis!", Lucy said.
"Miss you, younger sis!", Elsa said.
Watching the car fade into the distance, Elsa felt a sudden wave of emptiness. Without Lucy, the apartment would feel quiet and lonely after years of sharing every moment together, starting all the way back from their days at the orphanage. Yet, as she walked back inside, a gentle smile remained on her face, genuinely happy for her sister's new chapter.
Inside the taxi, Lucy's phone rang. It was Madison.
"Yes, Aunt Madison?"
"Lucy, are you coming today?" Madison asked,
"Yes aunt, Lucy responds.
relief audible in Madison voice. "I can't wait to see you!"
"I'm almost there, Auntie. I can't wait to be home," Lucy replied, her tone filled with delight.
A wide smile spread across Madison's face at the other end of the line. After a four-hour drive, the taxi finally pulled into a quiet neighborhood lined with beautiful homes, stopping right in front of a house with a mailbox by the gate.
Madison stepped out onto the porch. She was a pretty woman in her mid-forties, looking remarkably youthful in her early thirties, dressed in a yellow casual top and brown pants. With striking brown hair and green eyes, she was the spitting image of Lucy.
As Lucy stepped out with her luggage, Madison rushed forward and pulled her into a massive, warm embrace. "Oh, Lucy! I've missed you so much."
Madison insisted on carrying the luggage, and as they walked toward the grand, spacious house—the very home Lucy had lived in when she was three years old—Lucy could see the deep affection and lingering loneliness in her aunt's eyes through the years they had spent apart.
"Welcome home, Lucy," Madison said softly.
The interior was immaculate, featuring neatly arranged couches, large windows with elegant curtains, and a cozy dining room.
"Let me get you a glass of juice and some of your favorite cookies," Madison smiled, heading off to the kitchen.
Lucy took a moment to look around, soaking in the comforting familiarity of her childhood home. When Madison returned with a tray of chocolate, velvet, and vanilla cookies alongside a tall glass of fresh orange juice, Lucy settled onto the couch, her heart full, finally home.