My eyes suddenly turned red.
At dinner, Colton mentioned his skiing trip to the Northern Territories.
“You should join us. “I remember you’ve always wanted to see the snow.”
My hand froze while reaching for food.
Theo peeled a few prawns for me and put them in my bowl.
His tone was gentle: “We promised you long ago.
“But we’ve been busy with pack affairs, as you know.”
I lowered my head, tears nearly falling.
They remembered even after so many years had passed.
I spoke in hushed tones: “Our military camp is visiting another pack this Saturday; I probably won’t make it back in time.”
Theo continued to peel prawns for me, the oil staining his fair, slender fingers.
He responded: “Then we’ll go before Saturday and come back early. It won’t affect your work.”
I wanted to refuse, but the words stayed in my throat.
In the end, it appeared that there was still some hope that I could not dispel.
After so many years,
I would never forget that promise. I didn’t really want to travel to the Northern Territories or see snow. That would only make me think of my parents and how alone I was now.
I just miss our happy life together with the Sutton brothers.
Theo continued speaking to me:
“Sabrina, we’ll always be your brothers.”
I didn’t know what to say and remained silent for the remainder of the gathering.
Finally, Colton asked, “Are you staying at home tonight?”
I declined, but I didn’t say, “I won’t be coming back to stay anymore.”
Unsurprisingly, Maddox called the following morning.
His tone was reserved: “Amara doesn’t want to go to the Northern territories with you, and you’re busy with the lab work anyway…”
Maddox’s voice continued, unusually apologetic:
“After you finish your work and come back, early next year, the three of us will take you there separately.”
I softly responded, “Mm-hmm.”
Maddox remained silent for a moment before asking, “Sabrina, are you doing okay lately?”
What an odd question.
I suddenly heard Amara’s startled cry in the background.
Then came Colton’s worried voice: “I told you not to go into the kitchen. Let me see where you got burned.”
The call was quickly terminated.
I listened to the “beep-beep-beep” sound, and then my phone screen went dark.
Everything returned to silence.
Elias stood beside me and embraced me sympathetically. “I’ll make her pay for this.”
But I honestly didn’t care anymore.
Three days later, the plane climbed to 30,000 feet as Elias and I boarded for our covert research mission, leaving the past behind.
On the third day after landing, I officially entered the secure research institute.
The project director joined us for lunch.
He spoke to us seriously.
“This is a challenging mission. You won’t see your family for ten, maybe even twenty years. If there’s anyone you can’t bear to leave behind, make one last phone call.”
People around me began pulling out their phones and dialling, occasionally accompanied by suppressed sobbing.
I sat silently for a long time.
Finally, I placed the call.
But it was Amara’s cheerful voice that responded, “Sister, do you need something?”
My voice was hoarse, “Where are they?”
Amara chirped, “You mean the brothers?”
“They asked me to answer the phone.” They’re assisting me in preparing ski equipment. “If you have anything to say, please tell me.”
I heard Colton’s raised voice in the background: “Turn off your phone and come here.”
Amara smiled as she spoke.
