Chapter 21: Bond That Can't Be Broken

"I didn't know."

I told Amelia everything, every detail I could remember, every emotion I felt at the time.

She covered her mouth with her hand, shocked to learn about what my perspective of the events looked like.

Amelia slowly uncovered the truth that hadn't been revealed for so long, the one buried deep in Alexander's memories.

Our heart to heart talk felt like the sleepless night in my memories, it was like we again turned 9, sharing each other's deepest feelings.

Throughout the whole conversation we didn't avert our eyes even for a moment, we keep our gaze as a way to truly feel what the other did.

In a way we were like our past selves, a pair of twins that finally reunited. A duet who overcomed their difficulties.

But it's only similar, there are too many changes for it to be the same. The biggest one is that Alexander is dead. I'm not the brother Amelia had, I'm someone else entirely.

I slowly brought my hand to Amelia's right cheek, placing it there. I wanted her to feel my intentions in my actions, for her to feel warmth, that she hadn't experienced for so many years.

She got startled by my touch, but she didn't pull away. Warmth coming from my palm soon started to relax her and with it, she rubbed her face on it, trying to dig herself deeper into this pleasant state.

After calming down she nearly fall asleep from how comfortable she was, this is when I decided to tell her my thoughts.

"It's not your fault. I'm the one to blame for what happened and I'm not only takling about our relationship."

"NO! I was the one that left you." Amelia jolted awake, her eyes focused on me like never before.

With my hand, I gently rubbed her cheek. "Amelia, listen to me! I know you. That means that I know how much pain you were in when it happened. I don't blame you for anything. I can only blame myself for keeping it a secret for so many years. I didn't only hurt you, I hurt Mira, Mom and of course Valerie, she wasn't home as much as the rest and she didn't show it, but I know that her heart was breaking in half."

I balmed all of it on Alexander, but with him gone, I'm the only one that can take the blame for the whole situation. I knew it will be easier for me to deal with it, than it would for Amelia, even if both of us took a part of the blame in how the things turned out.

My heartful resolve nearly brought Amelia to the verge of tears, almost making them fall in that exact moment. Before they did, I run my thumb on corner of Amelia's eye, wiping away the moisture that gathered there.

"Hey. Don't cry, it will ruin your beautiful face."

"Stop it. You can't make fun of me." Amelia started chuckling a little, showing me her genuine smile.

(Finally!)

When this smile appeared, I knew our relationship will be great again. I could even see the smile of young Amelia in her grown up self, the same smile she had when we entered through that gate.

I just ejoyed the happiness it provides, learning why Alexander's fears disappeared when he saw it.

(It's like a sunshine flooding my whole soul, brightening my day.)

While bathing in this feeling, I heard Amelia's voice.

"Alexander?"

I slowly looked at her, prolonging the moment until that state washed itself off me.

"What?" I asked Amelia, who were slightly averting her gaze. It surprised me, because I couldn't think of any reason why she would do that.

"Can you.....sleep with me?"

I choked on my next words "*coughs* Can you repeat what you just said?"

Amelia blushed even more, realizing the maeaning her previous words had "Can you lay with me until I fall asleep, like when we were young?"

I felt like I was going 100km/h when I suddenly hit a wall, stopping my beating heart. Her question was nothing else, but innocent request.

"Of course I can."

Then, I laid down on the bed, grabbed the cover and raised it so Amelia can get under it with me.

"Come, don't make me wait."

Amelia looked at my actions with shining eyes, happy that I didn't hesitate to agree. She jumped right next to me and grabbed the cover herself, putting it on both of us.

"Someone seems excited." I teased her.

Amelia disregarded my teasing and cuddled up to me. After finding a comfortable spot, she looked up at my face.

"You don't know how long I dreamed of this...I..I.. I'm just so happy that we can be together like we used to. No more misunderstanding between us." She snuggled up even closer "I just want to fall asleep in this position, like we did when we were younger."

"Go ahead, there's nothing stopping you. I will be happy to be your pillow for the whole night if it can repay you for what I did." I hugged Amelia back, letting her feel the warmth emiting from my body.

"Thank you, but you don't need to do this...Just stay with me, until I fall asleep."

I nodded at her words, showing my agreement.

I thought it will be the last thing Amelia says before closing her eyelids, but then I heard..

"I love you, Alexander." While saying so Amelia showed me her bright smile.

This sentence shocked me so much, that I couldn't reply before Amelia closed her eyes, finally falling asleep.

I considered waking her up, but I decided against it. She already exhausted herself today and I don't want to be the one to ruin it.

I just stared at her and simply smiled.

(I know you said to leave when you fall asleep, but I don't think you will be upset at me staying a little longer.)

*******************

I laid with her in my arms for 15 minutes, feeling relaxed and happy, but like all good things in needs to end. I decided to carefully grab the arm Amelia had on me and slipped away from her hold.

After doing so, I stood next to the bed and made sure that I didn't woke up Amelia.

Fortunately, Amelia stayed asleep. In her dream state she cuddled up to the pillow, replacing me with it.

With nothing else to do, I bagan taking my steps to the room entrance. There, I grabbed the door's handle and slowly pulled it behind me.

I closed the door with no sound, after which I turned to my left, spotting two figures standing there.

Taken aback, I asked "Mom? Mira? What are you doing here?"

They didn't answer, instead they took a step forward and hugged me tightly.

"You did it!" Mira's excited voice rang out in my ear.

"Like I promised." My words made her hold on me tighter.

(This hug is something that I needed. Today's emotions overwhelmed me much more that I expected.)

Soon, both of them let me go. They took a step back, returning to their previous spot.

"I'm so proud, Alexander. You were able to resolve the issue between the two of you....I knew you can do it." Olivia's tone was gentle like always, but it contained something else, pride for my actions.

"I only did what I had to. After all, I'm the man of the house."

This sentence sounds simple, but it has a deeper meaning. I wanted to let Olivia know I was there for her, that the burden she was carring won't be supported by her alone.

(You choose to accept me and I will show you that you can rely on me. You won't be alone, not anymore.)

Olivia quickly picked up on the meaning of my words. Her eyes shine with new light, but I knew proving myself wasn't as easy as that, it was just a start.

While those thoughts were going through our minds, Mira just stood there and I didn't want for it to turn into an akward mess or for her to feel left out.

"Mira, how long were the two of you out there?"

"The whole time!"

(The whole time? I didn't expect for them to linger behind the door.)

Mira's excitement made Olivia look at her and whisper.

"Mira...shhh, we don't want Amelia to wake up."

Still enthusiastic Mira, replied " Sorry, Mom. I didn't mean to."

"I know, but you should go to your room and wait for Amelia to wake up. Then you will be able to scream all you want."

"Ok" Mira didn't hesitate to turn back and run to her room.

"Don't ru.." When Olivia wanted to slow Mira down, I put a hand on her shoulder.

After she turned to me, I said "Let her. She is too excited to listen regardless."

"You're probably right" Olivia didn't prussure the matter any further.

And when it became quiet, I realized one thing. It was the first time we saw each other alone, from the moment of my confession.

Well, time of it for me and Olivia is different. I had over 3 months to process it, but Olivia had less than 2 days.

Uncertain of how to proceed, I took a look at her face and saw a gaze full of emotions.