Page 10 of Shattered Echoes

He seems like a decent guy, and it will be nice to have a conversation with him again if we were ever to meet during our runs. This town is a small, so that’s something that’s likely to happen.

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After about two hours of running, jogging, and walking in between to catch my breath, I finally make it back home.

As I approach, I see a truck driving into Henry’s garage. It catches me off guard.

Last night, while I was asleep, I woke to the sound of a truck driving in, but I was too tired to check.

This means I was not imagining things. Someone definitely lives over there.

I head over to see who it is just as a curvy blonde is getting out of the driver’s seat.

I freeze on the spot as soon as I see her, and so does she.

Wait… Colette? It’s Henry’s little sister. She is the last person I thought I would see there. She stands in her garage with a bag that is half closed. Peeking out of the bag are cans of spray paint, I presume, but pay little attention to it.

I open my mouth to say something, but not a word comes out. I’m shocked to see her. She is a drop-dead gorgeous woman, yet at the same time, it’s clear that life has dealt her a bad hand.

She has bags beneath her eyes, hinting that she's had countless sleepless nights. Her eyes, once bright and vibrant, now seem dull, deep and bottomless. The crease lines by the corner of her eyes tell a tale of pain. She looks like she has the weight of the world on her shoulders.

Finally finding my voice, I croak out her name. “Colette?”

“Antonio,” she calls back.

Damn! It's really her.

“What…What are you doing here?” I ask, unable to conceal the curiosity in my voice.

“I could very well ask you the same thing,” she shoots back, her tone defensive.

“Fair. But you don't look so good. Are you okay?” I ask with a tinge of concern.

She doesn't take it well. “You don't exactly look like a picture of health yourself,” she snaps.

“Oh, not much has changed, I see.”

“Who do you think you are to be asking if I'm okay while you look like that?”

My jaw tightens. “Well, excuse me for trying to show some decency.”

“That’s rich, coming from you.” A cynical smirk plays on her lips.

I forgot how insufferable she can be. Although Henry was my best friend, Colette seemed to have never really liked me. I don't think she'd ever been my favorite person, either. If ever we were in the same place, we would fight over everything.

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I can't remember a time where Colette and I coexisted in the same space for longer than five seconds without pissing each other off.

I think back to a time when I was playing a basketball game with Henry and a few other friends at the court in the backyard.

Colette sauntered over with this playful grin on her face. “Mind if I join you?” she asked her brother, while giving me a deadly and challenging look. I couldn't stand her, because of other occasions where she had made it a point of duty to piss me off.

We didn't like each other, but somehow, we’d end up either hanging out in the same spot or with the same group of friends. This often happened because she just liked to be around her brother.

I called out in response to her question to join us, “Sure, you can join. But don't expect any special treatment because you're Henry’s sister,” my voice laced with sarcasm.

She rolled her eyes. “Oh please, shut it. You know I can take you on any day,” she shot back.

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