4.

Maria

Today was truly weird, Anna is back and I really hope she is alright, she left to do God knows what right after Alex's funeral. I do understand that she was grieving, but she wasn't alone, she had me , she could have spoken to me but no, she had to run away. Even though she was my cousin, we grew up together, she was more of a sister than anyone else.

She survived the accident that killed her parents, and Alex was the only one whom she could call her own, her older brother, the one she always cared about and his death took a lot from all of us.

I was home now, the doorbell rang.

"Hi, I am here for my keys"

Surprisingly it was Anna. She wasn't alone there were two other girls my age with her.

"Oh, Maria, hi, I am your new neighbour, meet my friends Samantha and Ruchita"

"Seriously Anna Rose Zachariah, after three years you pop up out of nowhere in my workplace,

the place your brother co-founded and now you are here and all you can say is

'Oh, Maria, hi, I am your new neighbor, meet my friends Samantha and Ruchita'

and you expect me to just give you the keys to your apartment without any questions,

you were missing for three years,

three years,

we heard nothing about you,

my mother who is also your Aunt was worried sick,

I was worried sick ,

George blamed himself and my father,

that man has been searching for you everywhere and now you,

you come back and you have nothing to explain.

You might not consider us family but you have always been our family, you are my sister you stupid girl...

I missed you...

Everyone missed you...

What exactly are you three waiting for now, get in"

I was surprised at myself, I couldn't stop myself from bursting, well she was missing.

"Hey I am really sorry but I have a flight to catch. It's important can I meet you guys after I come back."

The girl named Samantha just announced,

"Maria, I'm really sorry, I should have convinced her to contact you earlier, she had her reasons and she was safe, I promise, she used to work for me until recently, I'll see you guys later bye."

saying this she left.

"Maria, I'm Ruchita Singhania, I promise you that Anna hasn't done anything horrible so far.

But you guys need to talk and I'll be leaving, by the way this is my card I'm a photographer and model and a really big fan of your work.

Oh sorry, not taking a lot of your time, I'll be leaving,

you guys have a lot to catch up on"

saying this she handed me her business card and left.

Now time for my lovely little sister,

"Anna"

"I'll explain Maria,

please, I'll explain everything but you need to calm down first, do you have tea because this is going to be a very long story"