Chapter Eight.
A MOMENT OR TWO
˖ ᡣ𐭩 ⊹ ࣪  ౨ৎ˚

It was well past their mama's bedtime when the Carter sisters finally pulled into the gravel driveway of their childhood home.

The headlights cut through the darkness for a moment before Kate turned them off, plunging everything back into the quiet stillness of the night. The house stood just as they remembered it, with its peeling paint and the porch light flickering faintly, a beacon of familiarity. Theodora sighed, leaning her head against the window for a moment before opening the door and stepping out. The night air was cool and carried a hint of pine, mingling with the faint scent of the nearby creek.

They'd been driving longer than Theo would've liked, the hours stretching endlessly as the road unraveled before them. By the time they'd arrived, she was sure the only ones awake were them and the crickets.

They moved quietly up the porch steps, mindful of the wood that groaned under their weight. Kate shot Theo a look when a particularly loud creak echoed through the stillness, and Theo shrugged, a
sheepish smile tugging at her lips. "Guess some things never change."

It was a relief to find the spare key still nestled beneath the chipped ceramic pot Theo had painted in second grade, the one with uneven sunflowers and streaks of green where yellow should've been. "Good old reliable Mama," Theo murmured as she fit the key into the lock. Without it, they would've been left praying their knocks would wake their mama—a near impossibility given how deeply she slept.

Once inside, the sisters closed the door as softly as they could, the latch clicking faintly. Every step through the familiar halls was a delicate dance, their feet navigating the spots they knew would betray them with groans and creaks. The house felt frozen in time, untouched by the years they'd spent away. The walls still bore faded photographs of birthdays and holidays, the same floral wallpaper stubbornly clinging to its place. It smelled exactly as Theo remembered—like lavender sachets and the faintest hint of wood smoke. The scent washed over her, a balm to the ache she hadn't realized had been building inside her.

They tiptoed their way into the kitchen, a haven of late-night talks and stolen snacks in their youth. Kate immediately reached for the cupboard, pulling out two glasses. She grabbed the pitcher of water from the fridge, the cool metal handle glinting under the faint moonlight that streamed through the window.

The two of them drank side by side in silence, the cold water soothing their travel-worn throats. Theo let herself lean against the counter, the weight of the day finally lifting as she stood there in the house that had always been their anchor. But then the faint shuffle of footsteps reached their ears, and both sisters froze, exchanging a glance.

"Mama, it's us," Kate called softly, her voice carrying just enough to reach the shadow moving in the hallway.

Their mama appeared in the doorway, her hair mussed and her eyes squinting against the dim light. "Kate? Theo?" Her voice wavered with confusion as she stepped closer, her brows knitting together. Then, as if the sight of them fully registered, her face softened, and she hurried to pull them into her arms. "What happened?"

   Theo practically melted into her hold, deeply missing the comfort that came from her mother's grasp, especially with her sister right beside her.

   "I'm sorry there's so much junk in here," Cathy said with a sigh, shoving a teetering tower of boxes and containers into a corner of Kate's old bedroom. The space was cluttered with remnants of a life long since moved on—old sewing supplies, unopened Christmas decorations, and stacks of magazines that no one had the heart to throw away. Cathy glanced apologetically at Kate, brushing a stray hair from her forehead. "I'll clear it out for you tomorrow."

Kate nodded silently, her gaze sweeping over the room. It felt foreign, stripped of the warmth it once held, transformed into something utilitarian in her absence. Across the hall, Theodora's room remained pristine, just as she had left it. She'd only been gone for short stints, making it easier to return and claim her space. Kate, however, hadn't been home in years, and it showed.

Theodora lingered in the doorway, watching Kate as her older sister moved toward the far wall, where a collage of photos hung. Most were old snapshots of friends, faded from the years. Interspersed among them were pictures of the two sisters: Theodora grinning with her arm slung over Kate's shoulder, Kate mid-laugh at something Theodora had said. Theodora's chest tightened as she took in the sight. She missed those days—the easy closeness, the way Kate had once been her constant, her everything. Now, there was something unspoken between them, a rift neither of them dared to address.

"And your friend Javi stopped by a few weeks ago," Cathy said as she tucked an extra pillow onto the bed. She paused, turning toward Kate. "Almost didn't recognize him with that haircut... You chasing again?"

Kate turned from the photo wall, a faint smile tugging at her lips. She shook her head as she lowered herself onto the edge of the bed. "No."

Cathy's eyes lingered on her eldest daughter, her gaze falling to the scar that stretched jaggedly up Kate's thigh. For a moment, no one spoke. Theodora's breath caught as she followed her mother's stare, the memory of how that scar came to be flashing through her mind like a lightning strike. It was the day Kate left—left her, left home, left everything behind. The wound hadn't just been physical.

Kate, sensing the scrutiny, tugged at the hem of her shorts, trying to pull them down far enough to hide the mark.

Cathy straightened, smoothing the wrinkles in the bedding. "Do you two need anything? Extra blankets? A snack?"

Kate shook her head. "No, I'm fine."

Cathy turned to Theodora, her brows lifting in a silent question. Theodora shifted her weight, her arms crossing over her chest as if to shield herself. She shook her head quickly, not trusting her voice. There was a lump in her throat that wouldn't budge, and she felt the tightness in her chest grow with every passing second. The familiarity of home, of her mother's fussing, should have been comforting, but it wasn't. Not tonight. Not with Kate here.

Cathy hesitated, her eyes flicking between her daughters. "Okay," she murmured finally, her voice soft and careful. "Good night, girls."

"Good night," they mumbled in unison, their voices quiet and strained. Cathy lingered for a moment longer, then slipped out of the room, leaving the sisters alone in the suffocating silence.

Theodora exhaled slowly, the sound breaking the stillness. "Guess I should get to bed," she said, her voice quieter than she intended. She stepped toward the door, hesitating as if waiting for Kate to say something—anything. When Kate didn't, Theodora nodded to herself. "I'll see you in the morning."

Kate didn't look up. She didn't even turn her head, just gave a faint nod that Theodora barely caught out of the corner of her eye. The younger woman's heart sank, but she said nothing else, slipping out and padding back to her room.

Once under the covers, Theodora stared at the ceiling. The glow-in-the-dark stars she had stuck there as a kid still shimmered faintly, a comforting sight from her childhood. Back then, they had been her guide to sleep, a way to chase away her fears of the dark. But tonight, they offered no solace. Her mind churned, every thought louder than the last, until she finally gave up.

Throwing the blankets aside, she got out of bed, her bare feet cold against the wooden floor. She grabbed her blanket and wrapped it around herself, moving through the darkened hallway with practiced quiet. When she reached Kate's room, she hesitated. Her hand hovered over the door, her chest tightening. She hadn't asked Kate for anything in years, hadn't wanted to risk being brushed aside again. But tonight was different. She couldn't shake the feeling of loneliness pressing down on her.

Finally, she knocked softly. The door opened almost immediately, Kate standing there with a curious look on her face. She glanced down at Theodora, her expression shifting as she took in the sight before her. Theodora stood there clutching her blanket, her arms wrapped tightly around herself to ward off the chill.

For a moment, Kate didn't see the twenty-one-year-old woman in front of her. She saw her little Theo, standing in the doorway of her bedroom after a nightmare, asking to crawl into bed with her big sister.

"Can I... Can I sleep in here tonight?" Theodora whispered, her voice trembling slightly. Her eyes darted to the floor as she waited for Kate's response, her heart pounding in her chest.

Kate's answer came without hesitation. "Of course," she said softly, stepping aside to let her sister in. She offered a small smile, hoping it would be enough to ease Theodora's nerves.

For the first time in years, it felt like they were just sisters again. No scars, no silence, no distance—just the two of them, side by side in the quiet of the night.

   The two of them lay curled up on Kate's old bed, their bodies mirroring each other's in the quiet room. They faced away, each staring into the darkness of the past and present, the weight of unspoken words pressing down on their chests. It felt like the air in the room was heavier than it should've been, charged with memories and regrets neither of them had the courage to confront until now.

   Kate was the first to break the silence, her voice barely more than a whisper. "I'm sorry, Theodora."

   Theodora stiffened immediately, her muscles tightening as though bracing for a blow. She felt Kate shift behind her, rolling over to face her, but something deep inside refused to let her do the same. Her body stayed frozen, her back turned, staring at the faint outlines of the room she used to know so well. She could feel Kate's eyes on her, her sister's gaze carrying the weight of years they had spent apart, the weight of the promise Kate had broken.

   Kate's voice cracked as she continued. "I'm so sorry for leaving you. I'm so sorry for breaking my promise. I thought I was doing the right thing, but all I did was hurt you. I'm sorry, Theo. I'm so sorry."

   Theodora's jaw tightened, her throat aching as she fought back the emotions rising in her chest. Slowly, she turned over, her body moving almost against her will. When her eyes finally met Kate's, the pain she had buried for so long surged forward like a tidal wave. Kate's face was full of regret, her tear-streaked expression reflecting every ounce of guilt she had carried.

   They lay close now, their knees almost touching, their bodies curled in a way that made them feel smaller, younger, like the sisters they used to be.

   "You lied to me," Theodora said softly, her voice trembling. "You promised me you'd never leave, that you'd always be there. But you weren't. You were miles away, Kate. Somewhere I couldn't find you, somewhere I couldn't reach you. You just... left me."

   Kate's face crumpled, and she brought a hand to her mouth, trying to hold back the sob threatening to escape. "I know," she whispered, her voice breaking. "You're right. I left you, and I'll never forgive myself for that. I thought I was doing what I had to. I thought I could handle it, but I didn't think about what it would do to you. I was selfish, Theo. I was so selfish. And I hate myself for it."

   Tears were streaming down Kate's face now, and Theodora swallowed hard, her emotions threatening to spill over too. She wanted to yell, to scream at Kate for the years she had spent feeling abandoned. But more than anything, she wanted to understand.

   "You always said you were supposed to protect me," Theodora said quietly, her voice shaking. "You're not, Kate. You're not supposed to protect me. I never needed you to. I just needed you to be there. That's it. That's all I wanted. I didn't need a big sister who could shield me from everything. I just needed you."

   Kate bit her lip, tears slipping freely down her cheeks now. "I know," she choked out. "I know that now. But I was scared, Theo. I was so scared of letting you down, of letting everyone down. I didn't know how to face my feelings, so I ran. And I'll regret that for the rest of my life."

   Theodora reached out, hesitating for just a moment before brushing a tear from Kate's cheek with her thumb. The simple act was tentative but filled with more meaning than either of them could put into words. Kate's breath hitched, and she looked at her little sister, who was no longer the girl she'd left behind but a young woman shaped by hurt and resilience.

   "I hated you for it," Theodora admitted softly, her hand lingering near Kate's face. "For leaving me. For breaking my heart. But I missed you more than I hated you. I just missed my big sister."

   Kate let out a shaky breath, her voice breaking again as she spoke. "I missed you too. Every single day. I thought about you every day, Theo. And I was too much of a coward to come back. I'm so sorry."

   For a long moment, neither of them said anything. The silence stretched out between them, not empty but full—of pain, of longing, of the slow mending of a bond that had frayed but never truly broken. Theodora shifted closer, her head resting lightly against Kate's shoulder. Kate wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close in the way she hadn't done in years.

   "You hurt me," Theodora murmured against her sister's shoulder, her voice muffled. "But no matter what, I still loved—love you."

   Kate's tears fell onto Theodora's hair as she whispered, "I love you too. And I'll never leave again. I promise."

   This time, Theodora didn't flinch at the promise. She didn't believe it fully yet, but for the first time in years, she wanted to try. They stayed like that, tangled together in the quiet room, as the past began to heal in the fragile light of their shared truths.

🌪️: OH MY GOD! it has been a couple months since i last updated this story and im SO SORRY for leaving you guys that long. CUE MY SAD THEO/KATE APOLOGY 😔 this is a chapter that i think was very needed. the sisters needed to talk about what happened, about their feelings, or they were never gonna move on from what happened all those years ago!

🌪️: ANYWAY, i hope you guys enjoyed and aren't too angry at me for leaving you all for so long!!! 🤍