It was exactly what I’d accused her of.
That answer hurt more than I expected.
Not because it was dramatic.
Because it was exactly what I’d accused her of.
Access.
“You don’t get that anymore,” I said.
“I know.”
It took longer than one phone call for me to believe her.
I told her I wanted my sister back.
I also told her I didn’t want our old arrangement back.
She said she understood.
It took longer than one phone call for me to believe her.
She does not have a key.
Andrew is polite to her, but the flirtatious jokes are gone.
She does not drop by unannounced.
She texts first.
Sometimes I say yes.
Sometimes I say no.
Andrew is polite to her, but the flirtatious jokes are gone.
Completely.
Eliza would text, Is three okay? even when she knew I was home.
For a while, every visit felt slightly formal.
Eliza would text, Is three okay? even when she knew I was home. She’d wait on the porch instead of walking in behind me. It was awkward, but I began to understand that awkwardness was part of rebuilding something she’d taken for granted.
Last Sunday, she came over for tea.
