Page 27 of Petals and Strings
“Hello.”
“Caspian!” Sarah was always bright and bubbly. My opposite. “I’ve missed you. Last time we talked you weren’t feeling well.”
“Sorry,” I said automatically. She let out a sigh in response.
“You know you don’t have to say that, Cas. Are you feeling any better?” There was a spark of hope in her voice. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to nurture it and play along or admit the truth.
“It’s a good day,” I admitted, opting not to lie. “I’m not sure what changed but I feel a bit more clear today.”
“Really? That’s wonderful. I feel like you haven’t sounded this good since you arrived there, little brother,” she said, her voice cracking. “I’ve missed you so damn much.”
My heart broke for the pain I’d caused her. She was always bright and full of sunshine. She and Tatum got along so well because they were both like that.
After our parents died, I’d tried my best to take care of her, but it always ended up the other way around. She worked two jobs so I could finish school, then was able to take a bit of a break when I’d gone to college and started my life, but we always had our weekly calls and meetups.
How did I forget how much I needed her and she needed me?
I was a terrible brother.
“I’m sorry for being so messed up,” I said in a hoarse whisper. Fuck, being aware was painful.
“You didn’t ask to be broken, Cas,” she promised. I could hear her shaky breaths and knew tears were falling.
“How have you been? Tell me about the world outside of this place.”
She perked up them, rattling on about her job at a school and the little bookstore that opened next door. How she’d met the worker there and they hit it off. I could feel her excitement and sensed the smile in her voice.
It was nice to know she was finding her own version of happiness. I just hated that I was missing it all.
“I’m so happy for you, Sarah. I’m going to keep fighting to make it out of here. These meds are going well for me. Maybe this is what I needed,” I said, vowing to myself to make a change.
“That would make me so happy, Cas. I want my brother back,” she begged, her voice cracking again. “Maybe you’ll be up for me visiting again, soon. We could catch up more. I have so many pictures to show you. Plus, I could use a hug from my little brother.”
“I’d like that.”
She had no clue how badly I needed it, too. A connection outside of here.
We talked a bit longer before ending the call. Something new had settled in my chest. A reminder that I had more out there to fight for. That maybe the past shouldn’t have all of my attention, even though I had no intentions of letting go completely or forgetting my girls.
Sarah needed me, too.
When I stepped out of Cross’s office, he was waiting nearby. He smiled warmly at me like usual. When I smiled back, he seemed surprised, but pleased.
“Good call?”
“Yes,” I admitted. “I’m feeling… more awake? It was nice to hear her voice.”
The director looked like I’d handed him something amazing. His smile widened and he clapped me on the shoulder.
“That’s amazing news, Caspian. I’m so glad to hear it. I’ll be keeping an eye on your care team to make sure it stays this way. We’ll bring you back,” he promised. “Theo is running group therapy outside today, you can head out, it starts soon.”
He gestured to the front door that was currently propped open. Nancy, our usual nurse, was waiting nearby in case she was needed. She offered me a smile as I passed before returning to her charts.
Theo was waiting, sitting in a chair and facing a set of blankets laid out. Rydell was sitting in the back, Ansel in the opposite corner. I made sure to sit away from the omega, leaving space for Ledger and Kane. Both of which were a gentle buffer for his fear of alphas.
Kane walked out, all smiles as he soaked in the sun and sat down next to Ansel like this was an everyday thing we did. I couldn’t remember a single time he’d brought us out here.
Ledger found us next, settling next to me and leaning back, tilting his head up to the sun and soaking it in. He always seemed so sane and settled.
