Page 109 of Return Policy
I push the door open, ready to show Elijah my most cherished space. Stepping through the threshold, I’m met by a nuclear bomb knocking the breath from my lungs.
What the fuck?
I take small steps into the room, my mouth slightly parted, heart rate accelerating like a jet engine as I struggle for air.
“Soph?” Elijah says quietly, placing a hand on my shoulder.
Nothing comes out when I try to speak.
“Babe, are you okay?” He hugs me from behind, and I collapse against him.
“I-It’s-He just—It’s gone,” I stutter out, tears blurring my vision. “She’sgone.”
My legs buckle, and I fall to my knees, with Elijah following me to the ground as my heart shatters into a million unfixable pieces. The same position I was in when my dad told me the two worst words I’ve ever heard in my life: “Chloe’s gone.” Two words that were simple and unrelated until they were placed side by side.
In a moment of strength, I lift my head, forcing myself to take in my surroundings. The only place in the world where I still felt my sister has been turned into a fucking craft room.
30
ELIJAH
I’ve just finished pouring waters when the front door opens and voices flood down the hallway. I look up to Will and his girlfriend walking into the kitchen.
“Oh, hey,” Will says after noticing me.
I abandon the waters and walk over, extending my hand. “Hi, sir, thanks for having me.”
He returns the gesture. “Of course.”
“Hello, ma’am,” I say to the woman, and she laughs.
“Please, call me Di, sweetie,” she says. “Ma’am makes me feel a hundred years old.”
“You got it.”
“I’ll be out back setting up,” Di says, giving Will a kiss before walking out to the back yard.
Footsteps barrel down the stairs, and Sophia runs into the kitchen.
“I can’t believe you!” Sophia wails, barging toward Will, tears streaming down her face.
“Sophia?” Will says, his tone full of alarm as his eyes bounce between us. “What’s wrong?”
“How could you clean out Chloe’s room and not even tell me!” she sobs, and Will’s mouth parts open.
“Sophia…” He releases a heavy breath. “Chloe’s room has been empty for nine years… I thought you would have gotten the things you wanted out of it by now. I donated everything weeks ago.”
“How was I supposed to move her pink chair to my room? It weighs a ton!” she shrieks. “I went in there all the time. It wasmyplace.” Her voice cracks again, and every time I die a little more. “It wasourplace.” Her voice is so quiet it’s almost lost to the air. I’m frozen in place, unsure if I should stay and support her or give them privacy.
“I’msosorry, Bear, I didn’t know.” Will places a hand on Sophia’s back, and she jerks away from his touch.
“How would you have known?” she spouts through the tears. “You were barely here. You were always working.”
“That’s not fair.” His voice breaks, and the agony in his eyes has my heart aching for him. “I did my best.”
“I don’t feel her,” she whispers. “I don’tfeelher anymore.”
“Sophia,” he pleads, tugging her to look at him. His eyes are glossy, and I have to wipe my own tears away from the overwhelming emotion flooding this room. “Chloe isn’t gone.” He places a palm on her cheek, and she leans into it. “She’s here.” He gestures around the room. “She’s everywhere.”
