The only thing I noticed right away, everyone smelled so much stronger. But I chalked it up to three weeks away from civilization and its constant swirl of scent.
Those of my brothers who didn’t live with us said their goodbyes in the parking lot, promising to come by next weekend for a ‘welcome-home’ dinner. When we finally got in the car, just Dad, Father, and me, it was the first time we were alone.
Right away, Dad announced, "You’re staying with us for now, Winnie! We need time to hold on to our son again."
But before anyone could say anything else, I blurted out what had been eating at me, even if it seemed way too materialistic.
"Okay, but… what about my apartment? You didn’t sell it, right? It’s technically in your name in case of… you know. My death."
Father, who was driving, glanced back at me through the rearview mirror.
"Winter, your apartment and car are still there. We knew you were alive. From the very beginning."
"What…?" I stammered.
And then, in the next few minutes, he told me the whole story.
What had happened on their patio the day of the crash…
I listened with wide eyes.
Dad stayed quiet, just wiping away tear after tear as Father spoke about Snow and Summer, how they pulled off a miracle, how my parents tried to get in touch with Jacob, how Dad insisted they drive to DevApp and wait there for an entire week, refusing to leave until Blue finally helped him get to Jacob.
I sat frozen, staring at them, struggling to believe what I was hearing.
"Pull over," I said quietly.
Father eased the car to the side of the road.
I jumped out from the back seat, swung open the door on Dad’s side, and before he could react, I hauled him out of his seat, lifted him up, and spun him around twice in a tight circle.
"Winnie! Put me down, sweetheart, you’re gonna throw your back out!" he laughed, half-scolding.
Father got out too, walking over to us. That’s when it hit me, when I couldn’t hold back anymore.
"Thank you, Dad," I murmured. "For not giving up on me. If it hadn’t been for you, we’d still be on that island… and with the volcano erupting…" I trailed off.
He didn’t say a word, just pulled me into a tight hug.
"And you too, Father. Thank you for standing by him. I can imagine everyone in the DevApp lobby looking at you two like lunatics."
"Your dad believed it," Father said calmly. "That was enough for me."
I reached for him too, and soon the three of us were standing there, arms wrapped around one another.
Somehow it didn’t feel strange, even though I didn’t hug people often.
Lately… only Sariel.
Did something crack in me on the island for good? Or maybe healed would be a better word? I allowed myself to feel it, their love. That unique, absolute love only parents can give. Boundless. Unconditional. And for the first time, I really understood what they’d been trying to tell me with this embrace.
I mattered.
"Thank you for not letting me be forgotten," I whispered, my voice shaking. "For fighting until the very end."
Dad tilted his head back to look at me.
"Winnie, how could we ever give up? We never would have!"
