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“I want that too,” I tell her and mean it. I want my brother back. I’ve given him space since I’ve been back to give him time to get used to the idea, but it’s time to get over his tiff and accept the fact I’m here and will be part of his life, whether he likes it or not.
After a few more minutes of talking about nothing important, we hang up. I snag my beer off the table and finish it on the way to the kitchen. Headed back out, I stop and flip the TV off, deciding to forgo watching the rest of the game. My bed sounds really good at this point after my stressful and disappointing day working on Rebecca’s case.
I pull the string that lets down the attic door and bring down the stairs. The air is slightly warmer up in the small space, and I have to bend my head to fit my tall frame. Pulling the drawstring to the hanging light, I look around and spy several boxes throughout the space. I search for the light green box Mom told me holds the old patterns. When they moved and I decided to take over the place, they told me they’d left several boxes up here.
I come across a small stack of boxes and notice a few more behind them. Spying the green one on the bottom, I start lifting the others. I pause when I see my name written in black marker on one of the boxes. Curiosity has me crouching down and sliding the box closer to me.
The flaps aren’t taped down, so I flip them back easily. My hands freeze on their way inside the box, and my heart slams in my chest when I see a big red envelope inside. I know exactly what it is.
My ass hits the floor as my eyes stare at the box, stupidly scared to pull out the envelope but desperately wanting to. I pull in a deep breath, reach out with shaky hands, and slide the envelope from the box.
In reality, the envelope is light, but it feels like a hundred pounds sitting in my hands. This was one of the last things I ever got from Aislin. How it ended up in this box, I have no clue. I searched and searched for the damn thing for weeks after she disappeared, and I never found it. It’s something so simple but means the world to me because it came from her.
With my heart pounding in my ears and my palms sweating, I pull the white piece of paper from the envelope. It’s over fifteen years old, but I swear I still smell her innocent scent on the paper as I unfold it and start reading.
Niko,
Roses are red.
We all know it’s true.
But violets are purple.
Not freaking blue.
I bet you’re laughing right now, right? Yeah, you are. You can admit it. But seriously, who made that poem? It’s a total lie. Anyway, I know this isn’t much, but I wanted to do something for Valentine’s Day. Even if I had the money to get you something, I would have no clue what to get you. What do girls normally get boys on Valentine’s Day? For some reason, I don’t see you wanting flowers, or chocolates, or a soft fuzzy teddy bear. At least this way, I know you’ll genuinely smile and be happy with it. Okay, I’m going to go now so I can get ready to meet you at the treehouse. I’ll see you soon.
Love Always,
Your North Star
The paper shakes as I bring it up to my lips and kiss it right over her name. She was right. Nothing else she could have given me would have made me smile bigger or make me happier. I always loved her homemade gifts. Those items came from her heart.
And her smile was just as big when she saw mine. Aislin didn’t have much to smile about in her life, but she always wore a big one when she was with me.
Tears prickle my eyes when I think about that smile being one of the last ones I ever saw grace her beautiful face. Seven months later, she was gone. I only had two hundred and twenty-five more days with her before she was taken away from me.
The paper crinkles in my trembling hands as I carefully refold and place it back in the envelope. Grabbing the flap, I tip the box over and look inside, finding it almost empty except for a few old schoolwork papers. I must have accidentally put it with the papers when I was packing. Mom always wanted me to keep my old schoolwork. She said I would want to look back at them when I was an adult.
Pushing the box away, I climb to my feet with the red envelope in my hand. It’ll go in the box I have in my closet. It belongs with everything else I have from Aislin.
I grab the green box for Mom, pull the string to the light, and leave the attic.
