Brighter

                                    

                                          
Brighter
                          
I sat on the edge of my bed, alone in my room, the way I liked it. Suddenly the door swung open and Becca poked her head tentatively round the door, smiling at me warily. I just stared back, not moving a muscle in my face.
                          
“Hi, Rim. I-”
                          
“What?” I asked bluntly, my voice cold. 
                          
“Rim, I just wanted to say I’m sorry.” she paused, looking frightened as I stared at her.
                          
“Is that it?” I asked after a moment. She nodded meekly, then quickly changed her mind;
                          
“No! No, Rim. I want to say that I’m so, so sorry for… doing what I did to you-”
                          
“What, kissing Eli?” I interrupted. “Or showing him my letters to Adam? Which you somehow magically knew about by the way.” I accused, my eyes flashing angrily. She all but flinched as I spoke. 
                          
“Rim, I-”
                          
“No, leave it! I don’t care! If you want to call yourself my sister then go behind my back and go after the one good thing I have, then go ahead. Just go to hell in the process.” I said coldly and turned away, clenching my fists hard.
                          
“Rim, will you listen to me?!” she cried and I didn’t turn but I was silent for a minute, waiting for her to speak.
                          
“Rim, please forgive me,” she began tearfully. Pull yourself together. “I didn’t mean to hurt you so bad. It’s just that, I know you’ve gone through a lot, and you still are, but I’m sick of mum expecting me to be perfect all the time. I wanted to act a little bit…imperfect I guess, and I took it too far. But I honestly didn’t mean to hurt you. I got caught up in the moment and I was so mad at you, I couldn’t help it. I’m so sorry…” she tailed off and I twisted around to see tears snaking down her face. 
                          
“It’s ok.” I whispered softly, suddenly aware that this may be the only chance I had at fixing things with my sister. If she got hit by a train or something tomorrow, I wouldn’t forgive myself if we left things like it is. “To be honest, it was that that made me show Eli how much I cared so, well, thank you, in a strange way. And thanks for the apology.” I finished awkwardly. Becca smiled, a little uncomfortably, but still warmly. 
                          
“And the letters, I know you didn’t want him to see them and I’m sorry if I pushed things, I just didn’t think-”
                          
“Bec, it’s alright, I forgive you. It was nothing we weren’t ready for as it turns out.”
                          
“Why are you being so nice?” she asked. I thought for a moment before answering;
                          
I had to think for a moment. “’Cause you’re my sister, and we’ve been through a lot together, and you’ve done more for me than you have to hurt me, and God knows I give you a lot of shit so I guess we’re even.” I smiled wanly. “Doesn’t mean you weren’t a total bitch, but I just won’t hold that against you.” I smirked and she smiled in relief.
                          
“So we’re ok?” she asked, still a hint of nervousness in her voice. I nodded and she grinned, leaping over to hug me.
                          
“Get. Off. Me.” I huffed through gritted teeth but she held on for a moment before bouncing off, still smiling happily.
                          
“Twee fool,” I muttered, but there was a slight smile on my face as I said it.
                          
I sat at the side of the room, perched on a window sill and I smiled as I watched Eli dart about, handballing so outrageously that even I knew it was against the rules. I chuckled, seeing the mischievous grin on his face and he looked over, catching my eye and winking at me. That was enough to send my heart into a fluttering mess and I rolled my eyes at my own airhead-ness.