He stood back to let her into the tiny apartment. She glanced nervously around and then looked at the floor again, her smile faded as she thought, “What am I doing here? This is crazy!”

“Sit down,” he offered. She did. She stared at her hands clasped in front of her.

“I’m surprised to see you.” He offered as bait to get her to talk.

“Yeah. I….I don’t really know why I came. I guess…I guess I just had to.” She sighed. It felt good to start talking.

‘Well, it’s been, what? A good ten years?” he raised an eyebrow.

“Twelve.”

“Well, divorces are hard on everybody.”
“But you’re my older brother! Why’d you have to go live with Dad?”
“I saw what Mom was doing, the lies, the betrayal. I wanted out.”
“Well she’s gone now. Forever.” She began to cry openly.
“I know.”
“You …You.. didn’t even come!” She sobbed.
“To the funeral? I couldn’t.”
“Why?” She spat out the word as if throwing it at him. She wished it would hurt and give her the answers she wanted.
“I didn’t want her in my life anymore.”
She was silent