Page 3 of Revive

In the corner of my eye, waving arms catch my attention. Turning, I’m shocked to see Dakota, my fifteen-year-old niece bouncing around excitedly on the spot. I feel the smile spread across my face with ease at the unexpected relief of seeing a familiar face; more importantly hers.

Dakota is the most remarkable human being on the planet, and undeniably my favourite person. We have an unusual bond, forged through some strange circumstances, but the fact that she’s here when I told her not to be, doesn’t surprise me. Selfless in ways no other teenager is, I’m lucky to have her in my life.

Jagger, my brother, and Dakota’s dad stands beside her, his arms wrapped around his girlfriend Emerson’s waist, who is happily leaning into him. Wherever Jagger is, Emerson follows, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

After spending twelve years in prison, this is how his second chance should be.

Walking toward them, the crowd separates, Dakota running straight for me. I drop my backpack, and free my hands of my suitcases, Catching her in a big bear hug.

“You’re here,” she squeals.

I chuckle at her excitement. “In the flesh.”

“We’re so happy you’re home,” she says as I put her feet back safely on the floor. At the mention of others being happy to see me, I look around, scanning our surroundings for brown eyes I know won’t be here. Eyes I shouldn’t be looking for.

Jagger waits for my gaze to land on him, giving me a sad smile and slight shake of the head. She didn’t come.

Shaking hands, he pulls me into a one-armed hug. “Nice to have you back, bro.”

“It’s good to see you too.” Letting go of one another, I lean over and give Emerson a hug; long enough to irritate Jagger.

“You guys didn’t have to come and pick me up.”

“Don’t be silly,” Emerson chides, while looking over at Dakota with a knowing smirk on her face. “It’s not like we had a choice anyway.”

Placing my hand on Dakota’s head, I ruffle up her hair. “I missed you too, kid.”

“Don’t,” she whines dramatically. “Do you know how long it takes to get my hair looking this good?”

Wrapping my arm around her neck, I pull her close so we’re walking side by side. “Shouldn’t you be at school today?”

“I took the morning off.”

I gasp in mock horror. “But you hate taking days off school.”

She laughs at my theatrics. “It’s not a whole day. I just didn’t want to miss you coming home.” She looks down at her watch. “I’ll be back after recess, and Mum agreed it would be a nice welcome.”

The mention of Sasha brings the reality of coming home crashing down all around me. The young girl in my arms, with a smile a mile wide isn’t someone I can avoid. She’s my brother’s daughter. My niece. My blood. But she’s also a blatant reminder of someone I thought I had done well to forget.

This is why living overseas was perfect, I thought of her on my own terms. Usually when I was chasing the end of a bottle, or conjuring up images of her body while another woman was underneath me. Relentlessly trying, and failing to recreate the high from being inside her.

It’s taken longer than it should’ve to finally realise Sasha will always be a scar on my heart. A deep cut held together by one single fraying thread; threatening to tear open and bleed over every bit of progress I make.

I don’t want her to be a setback anymore, or a dull ache I need to learn how to live with. I don't want to think of her with hate, regret or bitterness. We both deserve better than that.

I just want her to be in the past.

A memory.

An experience.

A movie I once watched.

A song I once heard.

I want to remember her and I for exactly what it is... A moment that was.

“I’ll be back after school.” Dakota’s voice brings me back to the present. “Dad’s going to drop me off on our way home, and you’re going to sleep while I’m gone.”

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