Chris

5 years later

"Chris" Pete shouted asi stumbled into the bar carrying several boxes of crisps.

"yep" I said flipping his keys on the bar and I tried and failed to set the boxes on the bar.

"phone call." he said holding out a post it I frowned at the bright yellow note. It was from a gallery that sold a lot of my work.

"Tom what the hell does he want?"

"I don't know but maybe if you stopped messing around in here and actually worked on your art you'd know."

"should I be hurt that you are so desperate to get rid of me." Pete smiled,

"mate you know I love you. Your like family now but you are hiding here. You have an opportunity to make a living as an artist do you realise how rare that is and you are too scared so you play around with it and hide in this flea pit."

"nice assessment of your own bar." I picked up the phone and dialled the mobile number scrawled at the bottom odd but now it was after 9 so the gallery was closed anyway.

"hey Tom its Chris you called."

"yes 7 hours ago this is a record for the fastest response yet."

"well I need a pay day."

"well I can't help with that but I have a genuinely wierd situation here. I got a call looking for you."

"me."

"and you not Romeo Brayley."

"wow do I have a stalker." I laughed

"I don't think so she was claiming to be your sister."

"what?" I said gripping the bar and slowly sitting down. The room had suddenly lost all its air.

"yeah she said her name was Sarah and left me a number asking you to call her urgently. I refused to give her your number but promised to pass the message on Chris... Chris are you OK?"

"um... The er... Yeah do you have the... The... The number."

"oh sure" he rattled it off as I numbly scribbled it on my arm. "are you sure your OK?"

"I.... Just... I'll let you know." I said and hung up. I vaguely considered going up to use the office phone but instead my fingers moved without direction Pete bless him tried to be busy but I could tell he was listening. The phone rang once twice three times and suddenly it was answered.

"hello." my heart stopped as I heard her voice my breath froze in my lungs. I instantly saw her face so clearly, her long light brown hair, pale skin and bright blue eyes and of course that 10,000 watt smile. Her petite frame small but perfectly formed with femine curves in all the right places. I shook my head trying to bring myself back to reality. "hello?" she said again. I could picture her chewing her thumb nail absently as she does when she's thinking.

"eerrr... Um"

"hello,"

"umm... Sarah."

"Chris?" she whispered, "is that you?"

"yeah." I whispered, I heard her gasp in a shaky way.

"my god Chris." I gripped the phone tightly.

"it's so good to hear your voice." I said,

"you too. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"no no no it's me that should be sorry I fucked everything up."

"Chris" she said suddenly "that will have to wait I... I... I had to find you.. It... Its our dad."

"your dad." I scoffed,

"he he passed away a few days ago. I gripped the bar again for support.

"he."

"it was a car accident."

"a car accident."

"I wanted you to know, you deserve to know."

"where are you Sarah?"

"I've come back to him house to arrange everything put things in order. There's nobody else."

"what about your mom."

"she's in San Marino. She left about a year after.... Everything they divorced dad married and divorced again we also have a two year old little sister. Anyway none of that matters its me."

"could I. I can be with you in about 3 hours..." I wished I wasn't so hesitant but I had to ask I couldn't have the door slammed in my face. "can I?"

"of course he was your dad too."

"not in his eyes."

"well it's late maybe leave it till tomorrow."

"nah I'll just drive faster." she laughed and my heart rate doubled. I hung up and Pete held up his car keys.

"call me if you need me bro."

I arrived at the house just before 1 am my limbs trembling more and more the closer I got as I pulled up to the gate. I just pressed the button nobody answered the intercom the fates just swung open. I bit my lip suddenly realising that maybe inviting myself around at 1am might be a bit rude but I couldn't wait to see her rude or not. And anyway it was a bit late to be considering manners now. I slowly drew up the driveway. It was dark but I could drive by memory this place my home for so long. It felt wrong yo be back. Familiar yet so different. I pulled into the drive and hesitated as I saw the door open spilling a bright yellow square of light. I slowly got out of the car. I walked slowly towards the door my feet feeling so clumsy. And I stumbled to a halt as my eyes landed on her. She looked different it had been six years but she actually looked more beautiful becoming a woman suited her. She was still petite with her long brown hair pulled back into a high ponytail. But those piercing blue eyes were exactly the same and they sparkled as she looked at me, I saw a bright smile appear on her face.

"hey Romeo." she said gently and that did it my legs snapped into action and by the time I reached her I was half running. I grabbed her pulling her into my chest. She wrapped her arms around me tightly. I kissed the top of her head. Keeping her body pressed to mine. I could feel her heart beating hard against my chest. Neither of us spoke we didn't need to speak right now we were together. For the first time in six years the constant ache in my heart was gone. I was with her, for The first time I was whole.

Thank you for continuing to read. As always I'm always keen to receive any feedback. Hope your still enjoying the story ❤️❤️❤️