The girl sat on the ledge of her old cabin home, legs dangling over the edge of the balcony. Her brother was out there, but she needed him with her. She knew he needed her too. So she sang. She sang the song she’d sung to him when he was scared, when he needed reassurance, when they were alone together, whenever she could, since the day he had been born, the day her life changed forever. The boy was scared. He would die in this forest, he knew he would. He should’ve listened to her, he should’ve stayed, but he hadn’t. Gosh, he’d messed up. Then he heard it. The faint sound of his sister’s melodic voice singing a song. No, not any song. THEIR song. He changed directions faster than one would think possible. I love you, dear brother. The boy ran as fast as his legs would carry him and his lungs would allow him to breathe. My whole heart and soul involved. The picture of his sister, sitting by his side under a deep green oak under a blue sky burned clear in his mind. I love you, young child. Her smile, her laugh echoing in his mind, drowning out the sounds of the forest and his pursuers. Our lives eternally intwined. He needed to find her. He needed to be there. Only she could save him, and only he could save her. I love you forever, I love you for always. He’d messed up, he’d messed up so bad, so many times, but she’d forgive him. That he knew, because she always had, she had told him she’d never abandon him. As surely as the flowers bloom, the birds sing and the wind blows. He pushed himself to go faster, farther towards their childhood home. She would be there. She had to be. As long as I’m living, my brother you’ll be. He pushed through the leaves and thorns, past stones and the old brook, finally collapsing in front of the old stone steps. He looked up, his vision blurry, a figure standing over him. “Welcome back little brother.”
