Vulnerable

I glanced out the window, as the taxi drove into the outskirts of the town. I felt both warmness and anxiousness coming over me as I took in the nostalgic air. Fear of abandonment became my core belief because of events outside of my control when I was just a child. There were ways to fix and counter that, ways to learn by myself.

The driver pulled out in front of a big two-storied mansion, as the driver finished parking, my sister came running out of the house and down the stairs. I met halfway as Emilia collided into a warm embrace.

"Emilia," I contemplated as I took in her familiar scent.

"Aeval, it's been so long," Emilia whispered with tears in her eyes as she took a minute to look me over. "My God! You're more beautiful than I last saw you."

I chuckled heartily holding my little sister by the shoulders. "Have you been eating enough?"

Emilia playfully rolled her eyes. But she couldn’t fool me. I could see specks of sadness in her eyes.

"Oh come on, this is today's beauty stand