Part 2Echoes of the River: Rewriting My Sister's Fate

I opened the door. It was Arthur.

He was holding a thermos of ginger tea. Seeing me, he looked a bit uncomfortable:

"Ginger tea... give some to Autumn... to warm her up."

He paused, then reluctantly added, "You should have some, too."

I took it and thanked him. Just as I was about to close the door, he reached out and stopped it.

"Summer," Arthur's voice was tight, his Adam's apple bobbing.

"You came back too, didn't you?"

As if he had made up his mind, he spoke faster:

"Summer, you know I’ve always liked Autumn. What happened in our past life was a mistake! I only saved you because you were closer!"

"Forget it ever happened. Don't come bothering me, okay?"

Arthur rushed through the words, as if pausing for even a second would mean I’d latch onto him forever.

From eighteen to fifty-eight, these words had been buried in his heart for decades.

And now, he had finally said them out loud.

"Okay."

I looked at him, my heart surprisingly calm.

"Arthur, you know I've never been into guys like you anyway."

A flash of stun crossed his face, but he eventually nodded.

"Good."