Page 34 of These Bonds that Unite Us
Setting my phone aside, I push down the blanket to see what their message says. The sensation of a warm bear hug wrapping around me tells me it’s from Nebula, which makes sense with the words wrapped partway down the side of my inner thigh. His thighs are probably twice the size of mine.
‘After the tour ended, I started seeing a therapist again. To find better ways to deal with my grief. She gave me homework: once a day I’m to share a story about my sister’s life. One from before she was rejected. I’d like to share today’s story with you.’
I’m glad he’s finding ways to cope with his anger from the loss of his sister. The memories he shared with me on the beach in Norfolk had hurt him deeply. Even the funniest of them was painted with sadness. He deserves to remember her without picturing the worn-down omega she must have been before she died.
‘The year before she presented, Liz was determined to get our dad these seat covers he wanted for his truck. The super durable, slightly expensive, specialty ones. We woke up early on his birthday and drove three hours to the store to get them, only to show up and realize they were closed on Sundays. Liz was distraught. Staring out the window at the store with the teariest eyes. My dad tried to reassure her he wasn’t upset and they could come back another day, but nothing seemed to cheer her up.’
I assumed his homework was to share happy stories about his sister, but whatever helps him heal.
‘At least not until we were on the highway headed back home and my dad suddenly took an exit. We were still two hours away from Nashville, so we were all confused. Even Mom was questioning where he was going. He wouldn’t tell us. Not until we pulled into the parking lot of an amusement park. We spent the rest of his birthday riding rides and eating expensive junk food. There was so much laughter. Liz lit up when he swore it was the best birthday he’d ever had.’
My teeth dig into my bottom lip as I try to digest the feelings bubbling in my heart from reading his story. Jealousy is very clear. My family never had fun moments like that. We didn’t celebrate birthdays or go to amusement parks. My father’s idea of fun was scrubbing the church clean every summer.
A little joy peeks through the jealousy too. It’s nice to know he has these happy memories of his sister to look back on. If anything would have happened to Hannah… I don’t think I could say the same. Most of my memories of my sister are tainted by the evil touch of the cult-like community we grew up in.
Maybe I should change that. We’re both free now, so why can’t I make new memories with her to replace the ones we have now?
‘Anyways, thanks for listening. I know your family was awful to you. All except for your sister. Do you miss her? Is she still in New Hampshire with her husband?’
My heart nearly stops when he asks about Hannah. He hates my birth family, her included. Does he think she is still in New Hampshire because she supports our birth father? Is this someway for him to remind himself of who I really am so he can go back to hating me?
The panic consuming me starts to ebb as I realize this is my chance. Maybe if I talk about my birth family they will change their minds and leave me alone.
The marker slides over the skin of my opposite thigh with ease. It takes a lot of focus to send the words through our frayed connection, but I can feel the settling of energy proving it worked.
‘Hannah has been working for the DAU since she turned nineteen. She’s the one who helped get me out of New Hampshire when I presented. When she heard our father was sending teams after me, she had them pull her out. She’s staying with Foster and Shepherd right now. Her and my niece Kaitlin.’
My breath catches when I hear Nexus whoop from the living room. I freeze, half expecting him to knock on the door. It would be easy for them to assume replying means I want to forgive them. It doesn’t. I’m lonely and they’re the only option available this late in the evening.
Yep, that’s definitely what is happening.
It takes a few seconds before another message comes through, this time I can feel Callisto’s calming rainstorm energy. Oops, I must have sent my message to all four of them by mistake.
‘I’m surprised the Wilsons are the ones who took her in. Isn’t Shepherd helping track down the higher-ups in the church? -Cal’
A bittersweet smile slips over my lips when I see he’s using his nickname instead of his initials like they did when we’dfirst formed our connection last year. In a way, this feels more genuine.
‘He is, but his priority is Hannah. Partially because she is essential to their case against a lot of the church’s benefactors, but also because there is something between them. I think he and Foster want my sister to join their pack. That’s just a guess, but the way they act around her…’
‘They’ve always talked about expanding their pack, but with both of their jobs, it’s been difficult for them to find anyone else who fits in with them. -Neb’
And who can be trusted with Shepherd’s identity within the DAU. They can’t risk adding anyone without a connection to the group when he often goes undercover to take down anti-designation crime rings.
‘Did you get to see her after she escaped? -Cal’
‘I did. Donovan brought her to my safe house so she could explain her connection to them and tell me what our father’s plans were. I also got to meet my niece for the first time. Hannah is pregnant with baby number two, a boy this time, which is another reason she’s been staying with Shepherd. To prevent her husband or my father’s followers from going after her and the kids.’
‘Nieces and nephews are so fun when they’re little! You get to teach them all kinds of bad things! How old is your niece? -Nex’
I roll my eyes when I see his message. No one is surprised Nexus is the fun uncle who probably teaches them how to say naughty things to embarrass their parents. He’s the kindof person who would buy them karaoke machines for their birthdays and not the expensive kind. He would intentionally buy the cheap ones with two volume settings: loud and mega loud.
‘She’s almost four, and extremely shy. Aside from Shepherd and Foster, she doesn’t talk to anyone but my sister.’
My heart aches imagining the emotional abuse my niece has already suffered. I know Hannah will have tried to shelter her from as much of it as possible, but no one in that awful place can ever truly escape the abuse. Not unless they leave.
‘The best age! When is her birthday? I have so many ideas!’
Lost in his excitement he forgets to tag his message, but I can feel his comforting energy wrapped around me. I think even if they all stopped saying who they were I’d be able to recognize their energy signatures in my soul.
